ETC, BCH and DOGE Break Out as Classic Altcoins Return to the Spotlight

Ethereum Classic Leads Legacy Altcoin Rally, but Bitcoin’s Next Move Remains Crucial

Ethereum Classic (ETC) jumped 20% on Friday, leading a resurgence among legacy cryptocurrencies as investors rotate capital into older altcoins amid rising volume and leveraged bets. The move follows a period of consolidation in Bitcoin (BTC), which recently hit new all-time highs above $118,000.

Friday’s rally marks a potential turning point in the long-awaited “altcoin season,” with capital shifting from large-cap tokens into historically popular assets like Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Dogecoin (DOGE), and XRP — tokens that gained prominence during earlier crypto cycles.

ETC surged past resistance at $20.27, hitting $23.29 and now eyeing a retest of $25.00 — a critical level that triggered a steep decline last year. Volume for ETC tripled to $756 million, reinforcing the move as more than a speculative blip.

Legacy Coins Reclaim Spotlight

Alongside ETC, Litecoin climbed on renewed investor interest — partly fueled by MEI Pharma’s $100 million LTC treasury announcement and the appointment of Litecoin creator Charlie Lee to the company’s board. Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, and XRP also rallied as retail interest in familiar names picked up steam.

Uniswap (UNI), though released in 2020, joined the rally with a 20% surge and $1.7 billion in trading volume — a 70% increase. UNI has broken above key resistance at $8.11 and $10.33 and now targets the $12.09 level that capped several attempts last year.

Rotation or Final Stretch?

Analysts are split on whether the rotation into these so-called “dinosaur coins” signals healthy sector rotation or a last gasp before a broader correction.

A series of breakouts above multi-month resistance zones suggest strength, but increasing leverage introduces downside risk. Coinalyze data shows open interest in DOGE has risen 30% to $2 billion, while UNI’s is up 35% to $389 million — both signs of heightened speculative activity.

If Bitcoin drops below $110,000, it could trigger widespread liquidation in leveraged altcoin positions, pushing prices down by over 10% in some cases due to lower liquidity and market depth.

The ideal setup for continued altcoin gains would be a Bitcoin breakout above $124,000, followed by another consolidation phase — allowing capital to rotate without destabilizing the broader market.

For now, altcoin traders remain cautiously optimistic, watching whether this legacy-fueled rally is the start of a broader trend or the final push of an overheated cycle.