Google search interest for the term "altcoins" has reached its highest level since 2021, indicating a renewed surge of retail investor interest in alternative cryptocurrencies. Searches related to altcoins, including queries such as "what is an altcoin" and "best altcoins to buy," have spiked sharply, suggesting that retail traders are actively seeking new opportunities in the crypto market. This surge in search volume reflects growing enthusiasm around the potential for an "altseason," a period when altcoins outperform Bitcoin. The trend has been described as parabolic, with multiple sources noting that fresh retail money appears to be entering the market.