Altcoins could be in for more pain before any gains, according to a crypto trader who predicted that a final “altcoin reckoning” may occur.

“It looks like the grand finale of the altcoin reckoning has finally arrived,” said ITC Crypto founder Benjamin Cowen in a post on X on Nov. 4.

He added that the reckoning should be over by December or the second week of January 2025 at the latest. “It has been a long journey, and many gave up along the way, but this process was always going to play out,” he said.

The prediction is based on a final flush-out for altcoin markets , which occurred during the bear market of 2019. The altcoin market capitalization chart is currently showing a similar pattern.

Altcoins gradually recovered in 2020 before surging to fresh highs in 2021. According to the analyst, this scenario is likely to play out in 2025. 

‘Grand finale of altcoin reckoning’ soon, warns crypto trader image 0

Source: Benjamin Cowen

In a separate post on X, he said that altcoin/Bitcoin pairs have continued to bleed for three years straight, adding that the last two “altseasons” occurred in post-halving years 2017 and 2021. 

Trader “ardizor” predicted something similar in a Nov. 4 post, saying that the altseason patterns from 2017 and 2021 are “happening again after three years.” 

Meanwhile, crypto investor “Sensei” told his 60,000 X followers that “the biggest altseason ever will start in less than 10 days.” 

Related: Is crypto ‘altseason’ coming? Watch these 3 key signals in the months ahead

Bitcoin’s ( BTC ) market dominance is currently at its highest level since March 2021 at 60.5%, according to TradingView. It is unlikely that there will be any significant movements for altcoins until BTC’s market share falls back below 50%.

‘Grand finale of altcoin reckoning’ soon, warns crypto trader image 1

Bitcoin dominance over the past four years. Source: TradingView

Crypto markets retreated over the weekend as total capitalization fell to $2.4 trillion by Monday, Nov. 4.

The brunt of those losses was borne by altcoins, with Ether ( ETH ) and Solana ( SOL ) dropping 11% since their Oct. 30 highs. BNB ( BNB ) has lost 8%, while Bitcoin has only dipped 5.8% since it topped $73,000 late last month as it continues to dominate crypto markets. 

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