The initial days of the year have been relatively promising for altcoins, with many experiencing double-digit gains. An example is PEPE Coin, which managed to increase its price by 50%, achieving this feat within merely three days. Such surprising events in the crypto space often provide joy to investors, despite not benefiting those who sold at a loss last year, hoping for deeper lows. The focus now shifts to one of 2021’s favorites, NEAR Coin, and its potential future value.
NEAR Coin’s Prospects
NEAR Coin, distinguished as one of the notable altcoins in 2021, faced a significant setback during the 2022 FTX collapse. The FTX’s strong backing of protocols like NEAR and SOL led to these altcoins being shunned during that period. Despite experiencing a drastic price setback, NEAR managed to survive. Although reaching its all-time high (ATH) will not be straightforward, analyst Poppe is optimistic about its recovery from the depths.
“NEAR is appearing quite promising and approaching a significant resistance zone. Since hitting a low of $1.43, it has rebounded upwards. Surpassing the $1.80-$2.00 range could lead NEAR towards breaking past $3.”
If the first quarter of 2026 experiences the anticipated bullish trend, NEAR’s price might easily approach $4. This is due to its reaction to the general market sentiment recovery seen during similar periods, where liquidity flows through altcoins sequentially, creating peaks among many popular cryptocurrencies.
Altcoin Season
Had there not been so many fake surges in the last quarter of 2026, the current rally might have gained better momentum. However, investors have come to learn not to hastily trust every upswing. Regardless of belief, as liquidity starts flowing back into crypto, the fundamental condition for an altcoin season is forming.
The analyst known as CryptoBullet suggests that Bitcoin’s market dominance (BTC.D) will decline to support levels this year, paving the way for a relief rally for altcoins. Even at a BTC.D level of 54%, many cryptocurrencies could achieve substantial gains, but the target remains around the 45% range. According to Bullet, this period marks the prologue to an altcoin season, followed by an eventual progressive decline in BTC.D and a more substantial altcoin rally.
Indeed, Bullet dismisses the notion of a 2026 bear season and even forecasts the 2027-2028 period as an altcoin season.
