- Polkadot leads the rally with gains up to 30.5% ahead of its March 14 halving event.
- Total crypto market cap jumps to $2.34 trillion as Bitcoin and Ethereum rise 4–8% on ETF inflows.
- Santiment reports strongest collective altcoin surge of 2026 amid shifting sentiment.
The cryptocurrency market exploded, with altcoins delivering their largest collective daily gains of the year so far. According to data from on-chain analytics platform Santiment, standout performers included Polkadot (DOT) surging 23%, Uniswap (UNI) up 19%, Avalanche (AVAX) climbing 17%, Chainlink (LINK) gaining 15%, NEAR Protocol (NEAR) rising 15%, and Litecoin (LTC) adding 14%. This altcoin-led rally pushed the total crypto market cap up by over 3.7% to $2.34 trillion, signaling a shift from recent bearish pressures.
Bitcoin and Ethereum Reclaim Momentum
The surge coincided with President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, where he touted a “roaring” economy but notably omitted any mention of cryptocurrencies, despite his administration’s prior pro-crypto stance. While Santiment linked the jump to post-SOTU optimism, market analysts point to broader factors. Bitcoin (BTC) rebounded 4-7.5% to around $68,500, and Ethereum (ETH) jumped nearly 8% to $2,060, driven by renewed ETF inflows and a risk-on sentiment across assets. The altcoin season indicator revisited its January high, reflecting rotation into higher-beta tokens like Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA), each up about 4.5-13%.
Anticipation around Nvidia’s earnings report fueled AI-related plays, with tokens like Bittensor benefiting from the tech-crypto crossover. Polkadot’s parabolic rise, up to 30.5% in some reports, is amplified by its upcoming network “halving” on March 14, which will slash inflation by 50%, drawing investor interest amid oversold conditions. Other movers like Aptos (APT) spiked 20%, and Filecoin led large-caps with 23% gains.
AI Hype and Nvidia Earnings Boost Sentiment
Social volume metrics from Santiment showed mixed signals, with Bitcoin’s chatter dropping 17.66%, while altcoins buzzed higher, indicating crowd FOMO returning after weeks of fear. However, skepticism lingers—replies to Santiment’s post questioned the SOTU correlation, with some citing unrelated events like the recent lawsuit against Jane Street for alleged insider trading in historical crypto collapses. No evidence ties Jane Street’s issues directly to this rally, but it underscores ongoing market manipulation concerns.
This rebound snaps a three-day losing streak, with experts like Orbit Markets’ Caroline Mauron noting it as buying after prolonged sell-offs. If Bitcoin clears $70,000, it could solidify the uptrend; otherwise, range-bound trading may persist. For now, altcoins are stealing the spotlight, reminding investors of the sector’s volatility and potential.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. CoinCryptoNewz is not responsible for any losses incurred. Readers should do their own research before making financial decisions.
