The altcoin market faces a prolonged downturn stretching 18 to 24 months ahead, punctuated by occasional false rallies that trap retail traders. Bitcoin's bottom likely arrives in Q4, but here's the catch—altcoins won't recover for another full year after that point. Meanwhile, BTC will have already doubled or more. Why hold altcoins in this environment? The math simply doesn't add up. Bitcoin's dominance during bear-to-bull transitions makes it the only rational choice for capital preservation and maximum returns during the cycle.