Capital Concentration in "Dinosaur" Cryptocurrencies Fueled by ETFs

Maen Ftouni, CEO of CoinQuant, a firm specializing in algorithmic trading tools, suggests that mature cryptocurrencies already possessing or anticipated to receive exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will capture a significant portion of capital during the upcoming altcoin season. Speaking at the Global Blockchain Congress 2025 in Dubai, UAE, Ftouni stated, "Not every single coin is going to have massive returns; the liquidity is going to be concentrated into certain places, dinosaurs being one of them, of course."

Institutional Capital Flow and Established Digital Assets

Ftouni elaborated that institutional capital would likely flow toward these established or "dinosaur" coins. He attributed the price appreciation observed in older cryptocurrencies like XRP and Cardano during 2024 to this trend. "Since the flow of funds is coming mostly from traditional finance and ETFs at the moment, those people are probably looking at these major coins, all the coins established that have the potential of getting an ETF, and this is why we're seeing this rise in these dinosaurs," he explained.

Altcoin Market Dynamics and the Possibility of Altseason

This prediction arises amidst ongoing discussions among market analysts regarding the underlying structure and market dynamics of the cryptocurrency market and their potential impact on the emergence of an altseason, characterized by a sustained surge in altcoin prices, within the current market cycle. Analysts are actively speculating on the timing, or even the possibility, of an altseason.

Token Proliferation and Market Challenges

With over 26 million distinct crypto tokens currently listed on CoinMarketCap – more than double the number present at the start of 2025 – concerns about market saturation are growing. Economist and trader Alex Kruger remarked, "Too many tokens, infinitely more to come, the supply of tokens is greater than demand." Kruger advises traders to moderate their expectations, suggesting that a traditional "altseason" defined by a prolonged period of widespread asset price increases is unlikely to occur in the current market environment due to these shifting dynamics. Instead, traders should anticipate brief periods of altcoin price appreciation affecting only a select few tokens, potentially lasting only a few weeks at a time.