Artificial intelligence (AI) cryptocurrencies have shed nearly one-third of their cumulative value, despite optimistic expectations of an incoming altcoin season driven by more crypto-friendly regulations during 2025.

The cumulative market capitalization of AI cryptocurrencies stood at $50.5 billion as of 7:15 a.m. in UTC, down over 28% from their peak of $70.4 billion recorded on Dec. 7, CoinMarketCap data shows .

AI tokens market cap falls 28% from December $70B peak image 0

AI cryptocurrencies market capitalization. 1-month chart. Source: CoinMarketCap

Cumulative trading volume around AI tokens also experienced a decline, falling nearly 11% during the past month to the current $4.73 billion, suggesting that trader interest in AI cryptocurrencies decreased.

The near 30% drop in AI-based cryptos occurred during a wider crypto market downtrend, which saw Bitcoin ( BTC ) price experience an over 14% correction from its all-time high of above $108,000 on Dec. 17, according to data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro .

AI tokens market cap falls 28% from December $70B peak image 1

BTC/USD, 1-month chart. Source: Cointelegraph

Increasingly more analysts are expecting an incoming altcoin season during 2025, which could see Bitcoin profits flow into smaller cryptocurrencies, including AI tokens.

Related: Bitcoin unfazed by $14B option expiry setting $110K BTC target

Can altseason lift AI cryptos in 2025?

Altcoin season, or altseason, tends to benefit from Bitcoin’s declining market dominance, which often means that investors are taking profit from their BTC positions and investing part of these funds into altcoins.

AI tokens market cap falls 28% from December $70B peak image 2

Crypto market flow. Source: Rekt Capital

The 2025 altcoin season may start during the first quarter of 2025, based on fractal patterns shared by popular crypto trader Elja, who wrote in a Dec. 27 X post :

“A few more weeks before mega altseason…”
AI tokens market cap falls 28% from December $70B peak image 3

Total crypto market cap excluding BTC. 1-month chart. Fractals. Source: Eljaboom

In crypto trading, technical traders use price fractal patterns to identify key support and resistance levels and potential trend reversals based on historical data.

Related: Buterin adopts Moo Deng, Christmas wishes of a lost $773M BTC wallet — Finance Redefined

Ether ( ETH ) price could also benefit from the altcoin rally and recapture its previous all-time high.

While some analysts foresee an Ether rally to $5,000 in the short term, others are predicting an “ impulse breakout” to $15,000 by the end of 2025.

Bitcoin Could Explode After $100K—Here’s Why. Source: YouTube

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