🧵 We need to start considering our future paths and contemplate where we'll generate wealth.
I've been saying for a while: Crypto, in the long run, probably just becomes the plumbing — the backend for a world where AI runs the front.
That's why I'm starting to delve into AI
Not just as a hype cycle. But as something inevitable.
Agents, autonomous services, decentralized compute — all of it needs rails.
And crypto’s got them.
But recognizing that is one thing. Positioning for it is another.
And right now, if you want to be early on the next wave of AI x crypto — not just blindly aping the same old tokens — you have to track the macro.
Because the real moves are being made way above our heads. ⬇️
◢ Take @nvidia
They just announced plans to bring AI supercomputer manufacturing back to the U.S. — $500B worth of production over 4 years, with fabs in Arizona, Dallas, and Houston. Foxconn, Wistron, TSMC — all onboard.
This wasn’t a flex. It was a survival move.
We’re watching U.S.–China tensions escalate in real-time. On Saturday: “We’re exempting chips from tariffs.” By Tuesday: “We’re banning sales of chips to China.”
Nvidia confirmed the U.S. government has indefinitely postponed their ability to sell H20 chips to China — costing them an estimated $5.5B in Q1 alone. Their stock dropped 6% after hours.
Every drop in this cycle, people start comparing it to past cycles.
I think this is a total mistake that will eventually zero out your deposit.
And here's why 🧵
Before the last Halving, bull cycles followed a familiar script:
➜ Bitcoin halving → liquidity injection → altcoin rally
➜ Retail FOMO at the peak
➜ Clear narratives: ICOs (2017), DeFi/NFTs (2021)
➜ Fed policy & global markets still mattered, but not as much
➜ Hype-driven pumps, but no deep institutional involvement
➜ Exchanges dominated: Binance, FTX, and Coinbase were the gateways to crypto.
Every cycle felt independent, driven by crypto-native factors. The market had its own internal logic, where the right narratives and tokenomics fueled exponential growth.
Crypto was more isolated from traditional finance, and retail had a bigger influence on market moves.
Now, the landscape is different:
➜ Crypto is tied to global liquidity like never before
➜ Institutions are in—ETFs, RWAs, AI projects, but retail isn’t
➜ Memecoins dominate, but utility adoption lags
➜ Political & macro events (elections, interest rates) shake the market harder than before
➜ No clear leading narrative — fragmented trends instead
Crypto is no longer its own playground. Traditional finance, politics, and macroeconomic forces are now deeply intertwined with the market.
This means bigger players, but also more unpredictable moves. The old playbook doesn’t work when institutions, regulations, and global liquidity dictate the game.
Here, I've listed factors that concern me and may suggest a peak in the cycle (upper chart in the picture above).
- Record-High Crypto Market Cap: In January 2025, the crypto market reached a cap of $3.76 trillion, driven by pro-crypto U.S. policies, which may indicate an overheated market.
- Bitcoin's Dominance Over Altcoins: Despite expectations for an "altcoin season," BTC continues to outperform major altcoins, indicating a concentration of investment in Bitcoin.
- High Percentage of Bitcoin in Profit: Over 90% of Bitcoin holdings are currently in profit, a level historically associated with market peaks.
- High Institutional Profits from Crypto: Hedge funds and institutions have reported substantial gains from cryptocurrency investments, reflecting significant capital inflows that often precede market corrections.
- Intensified Media Coverage and Public Interest: The recent surge in crypto prices has led to heightened media coverage and public interest, often observed during market peaks.
- High Retail Investor Participation: A significant influx of new, inexperienced investors is entering the market, often a sign of a market top.
- Unrealistic Price Predictions: Analysts and influencers are making overly optimistic forecasts without substantial basis.
- Predictions of Imminent Market Peak: Industry figures like Arthur Hayes, predict that the crypto market will peak by March 2025, driven by factors such as dollar liquidity.
- Elevated Market Valuations: Analysts project that Bitcoin could reach valuations as high as $400,000 under favorable policies from the current U.S. administration, reflecting heightened market optimism.
- Analysts Signaling Market Top: BCA Research, previously bullish on cryptocurrencies, is now cautioning about a potential market peak due to factors like the proliferation of memecoins and excessive bullish sentiment.
● The Second Scenario - the Beginning of Altseason
Here, I've highlighted factors that suggest the real altseason is yet to come (refer to the bottom chart in the picture above).
- Altcoin Season Index Signals: The Altcoin Season Index, which measures the performance of the top 100 crypto excluding BTC, has recently entered the 80-100% band. This range often supports momentum-based strategies, indicating a favorable environment for altcoins.
- Altcoins Outperforming Bitcoin: In December 2024, major altcoins like $ETH, $SOL, and $XRP experienced significant price increases, outperforming $BTC and suggesting a shift in investor focus toward altcoins.
- Institutional Expansion into Altcoins: Charles Schwab has appointed a new Head of Digital Assets, signaling plans to expand crypto offerings beyond Bitcoin, including spot trading for various altcoins.
- Surge in Altcoin Trading Volumes: Platforms like Robinhood have reported significant increases in cryptocurrency trading volumes, with altcoins contributing substantially to this growth.
- Advancements in DeFi: DeFi platforms are experiencing increased adoption, with TVL in BTC-based DeFi expected to nearly double to over $100 billion in 2025, indicating a growing interest in altcoin-based financial services.
- Stable Bitcoin Prices: Bitcoin's price stability around $96,857.13 may encourage investors to explore altcoins for higher returns.
- Positive Regulatory Developments: Regulatory bodies are adopting more crypto-friendly stances, potentially fostering altcoin growth.