MarketsEthereumBitcoinAltcoins
|4 min ReadRetail investors now start beyond Bitcoin as altcoins rise
Maya Chen
Senior Analyst
Published
Jan 16, 2026
A maturing market changes the first step into crypto
A fresh CoinGecko survey of 2,549 participants says the quiet part out loud. Only 55% of new crypto owners began with Bitcoin. Another 10% never touched it. That is not a collapse. That is maturity. New stories, new tokens, new paths. As CoinGecko analyst Yuqian Lim put it, Bitcoin has become less likely to be the first stop as other narratives and communities gain real traction. Everybody knows this industry grows fast. Now it grows sideways too.
Exchanges see newcomers testing DeFi, memecoins, and culture
Kraken’s Jonathon Miller says many first-timers now onboard through DeFi or memecoins, not just Bitcoin. He calls it a sign of growth. Access is smoother, fees lower, UX better. That brings in people who want to play with what is new, not just what is old. Still, Miller points to the big picture. With geopolitical uncertainty, monetary debasement, and Bitcoin’s reputation as the “soundest form of money,” the tourists usually circle back. Over time, he says, many who arrived for speculation will recognize Bitcoin’s importance and adjust their portfolios.
Kronos Research CEO Hank Huang sees the same shift from another angle. Low unit prices and tight communities pull investors into altcoins on day one. CoinGecko’s data backs it up. Thirty seven percent of respondents entered through altcoins. Huang says the hype gravitates toward SOL, ETH, and memecoins, turning Bitcoin from the default entry point into one of many destinations. Long term, he thinks crypto’s future will not hinge solely on Bitcoin. New frameworks compete. Innovation, culture, and community matter as much as raw value.
Prices, fear of missing out, and the anchor role
Stocktwits head of markets Tom Bruni says some newcomers think they missed the boat. Bitcoin trades over 124,000 on Aug. 14. When a price looks high, people hunt for “cheaper” coins. This cycle, some altcoins have outperformed. That pulled flows further out the risk curve. Bruni adds that as altcoins, stablecoins, and related technologies grow, Bitcoin dominance should shrink. But it will remain an anchor in many portfolios.
“Performance drives allocation,” Bruni says. If Bitcoin keeps pace, zero exposure will be rare. If the market slips, the crowd retreats to the most institutional, most proven option. That means Bitcoin.
The zero-Bitcoin crowd may not stay zero
Onigiri Capital managing partner Qin En Looi sees adoption curves. Early adopters already own Bitcoin. The late majority will come when banks, wealth managers, and retirement products make crypto feel familiar. As that infrastructure matures, he expects fewer investors with zero exposure. It will take time. Trust is built step by step, not overnight.
Looi’s bottom line is simple. Bitcoin’s role is evolving, not disappearing. It remains the benchmark for the broader crypto market, much like gold in traditional finance. What changes is the stage. Stablecoins, tokenized assets, and application-layer projects now share the spotlight. That is a bigger tent. It is also a stronger market. Tremendous, if you like growth the right way.
Disclaimer: This document is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed in this document are not, and should not be taken as, investment advice or recommendations. Recipients should do their own due diligence, taking into account their specific financial circumstances, investment objectives and risk tolerance, which are not considered here, before investing. This document is not an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell any of the assets mentioned.