BTC is no longer the main entry point for crypto? Altcoins are gaining popularity among retail investors

Jakarta, September 29, 2025 – A recent survey by CoinGecko revealed that only 55% of first-time crypto investors started their portfolios with Bitcoin. In fact, 10% of the respondents admitted that they have never bought BTC at all.

This data is a strong signal that the crypto ecosystem has undergone a significant shift – from Bitcoin’s dominance towards a diversification of altcoins and DeFi projects that are increasingly attracting the attention of retail investors.

Altcoins are the new gateway to the crypto world

According to Yuqian Lim, research analyst from CoinGecko, the emergence of new narratives in the altcoin world and increasingly active communities have diminished Bitcoin’s role as the main door to onboarding new users.

“Bitcoin is becoming less and less of a gateway. Now, many new users are coming in through altcoins,” Lim said.

In fact, 37% of new investors got into crypto directly through altcoins, not through Bitcoin.

Also Read: 5 Cryptos with the Tightest Ranking Spreads on the Futures Market – Save on Trading Costs!

The Crypto Ecosystem is Maturing

Jonathon Miller, General Manager of Kraken Australia, calls this trend a sign of crypto market maturity.

“In the past, everything started with Bitcoin. Now investors can start from DeFi, memecoin, or even NFT tokens. The onboarding infrastructure is getting smoother,” he explained.

Even so, Miller remains confident that geopolitical turmoil and inflation concerns will lead many investors to eventually return to Bitcoin as a long-term hedge asset.

Why are Altcoins Getting More Interesting?

Hank Huang, CEO of Kronos Research, explains that novice investors are often tempted by:

• Cheaper altcoin price per unit
• An active and strong community
• High ROI potential from small projects

“Altcoins like SOL, ETH, and memecoin are becoming the new magnets. They offer innovation, culture, and a strong community,” Huang said.

Are Investors Afraid It’s Too Late to Enter Bitcoin?

Tom Bruni of Stocktwits adds that the high price of Bitcoin makes investors feel like they have missed the train.

“With Bitcoin having broken $124,000 this year, many prefer cheap altcoins with explosive growth potential,” he explains.

However, he also warned that if the crypto market experiences a major correction, many investors could look back at Bitcoin as a more stable asset.

The Future of Bitcoin: Still Relevant, But Not the Only One

Qin En Looi of Onigiri Capital believes that Bitcoin’s role will remain important as “digital gold”, but the crypto stage is now wider.

“Bitcoin has not lost its relevance. It’s just that now stablecoins, asset tokenization, and layer-1 projects also have an important role,” he said.

He added that Bitcoin exposure will increase again when it enters mainstream financial products such as banks, pension funds, and mutual funds.

Conclusion

Bitcoin remains the benchmark of the crypto market, but its position as the only entry point has changed. New investors are increasingly choosing alternative avenues through altcoins, DeFi, and projects that offer faster growth opportunities – albeit with higher risks.

As infrastructure and institutional adoption mature, a combination of diversification and risk awareness will shape the future crypto investor landscape.

Also Read: 5 Crypto with the Highest Futures Open Interest Last Week of September 2025!

Follow us on Google News to get the latest information about the world of crypto and blockchain technology. Check today‘ s bitcoin price, today’s solana price, pepe coin and other crypto asset prices through Pintu Market.

Enjoy an easy and secure crypto trading experience by downloading Pintu crypto app through Google Play Store or App Store now. Also, get a web trading experience with various advanced trading tools such as pro charting, various types of order types, and portfolio tracker only at Pintu Pro.

*Disclaimer

This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Crypto trading activities are subject to high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold hard cash before investing. All activities of buying andselling Bitcoin and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.

Reference:

• Stephen Katte. Bitcoin now just one of many ways for retail to onboard to crypto. Accessed September 29, 2025.