Retail interest in alternative cryptocurrencies is surging, with Google Trends data showing searches for the term “altcoin” at their highest level on record. The spike coincides with Bitcoin’s share of total crypto-market value slipping below 60%, a threshold that in past cycles has preceded broader rallies in smaller digital assets. Searches for “Ethereum” have also climbed to their strongest level since 2021. Additional indicators point to a growing rotation away from Bitcoin. CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season Index has risen to 41%, its highest reading of 2025, while several niche tokens are showing outsized swings. Fartcoin, a meme-inspired coin, plunged 17% on Aug. 12 amid a market-wide sell-off but rebounded 27% in the subsequent 24 hours to trade back at roughly $1. Blockchain data provider GeckoTerminal estimates net inflows into the token at about $3.2 million for the week, underscoring renewed risk appetite among retail traders. Analysts say the combination of record search interest, falling Bitcoin dominance and rising capital flows into non-Bitcoin products replicates conditions that preceded previous “alt seasons” in 2017 and 2021. Whether the pattern endures will depend on Bitcoin’s ability to consolidate near current levels; a renewed rise in its dominance could curb momentum for the broader altcoin market.