Revisiting the 2017-2018 Altseason: Top Tokens by Market Capitalization

The 2017-2018 period remains one of the most explosive and transformative eras in cryptocurrency history. During the peak of that altseason cycle, numerous alternative coins surged to remarkable market valuations, reshaping the entire digital asset landscape.

Analyzing the market capitalization rankings from this era reveals fascinating patterns about which projects captured investor attention and maintained staying power through the subsequent bear market. The top performers by market cap during that window included established players like Ripple (XRP), which consistently ranked among the highest, alongside Litecoin (LTC) and other first-generation altcoins that had already built substantial networks and communities.

Beyond the traditional favorites, that period witnessed the explosive emergence of newer projects across various niches—from privacy-focused coins to platform tokens and utility protocols. Many tokens that dominated the rankings at that time either evolved significantly, consolidated their positions, or faded into obscurity as the market matured.

This historical snapshot serves as a valuable reference point for understanding market cycles, investor behavior during bull runs, and how the crypto ecosystem has fundamentally evolved. For traders and investors analyzing current market dynamics, studying these altseason patterns offers crucial insights into volatility patterns, sector rotation, and the long-term viability of different cryptocurrency categories.