The final week of April brought a surge of optimism to the cryptocurrency market, reigniting discussions about an impending altseason. After months of navigating turbulent macroeconomic conditions—from sticky inflation to fluctuating GDP reports—Bitcoin has demonstrated remarkable resilience, holding firm above the critical $90,000–$95,000 range. This stability, combined with a sharp increase in stablecoin issuance and bullish technical patterns across major digital assets, has set the stage for what veteran crypto analyst Josh Olszewicz describes as “one of the cleanest multi-asset breakout setups since late 2023.”
Is a New Crypto Bull Run Emerging?
At the heart of Olszewicz’s bullish thesis lies liquidity—specifically, the recent surge in Tether (USDT) minting. On April 29, two consecutive $1 billion USDT issuances pushed the combined supply of USDT and USDC to an all-time high. This isn’t just accounting noise; it's a signal of growing demand.
“Tether’s been printing, printing, and minting, baby,” Olszewicz remarked, highlighting that the minting coincided with a premium on the USDT/USD pair on Kraken—a telltale sign of organic market demand rather than corporate treasury adjustments. “When Tether mints like this, people are deploying capital into altcoins. That’s historically bullish.”
This liquidity influx arrives as key macro headwinds appear to ease. Despite negative US GDP data and persistent inflation metrics, Bitcoin maintained its upward trajectory. Meanwhile, gold has weakened and the Dollar Index remains near multi-month lows—conditions that mirror the “everything rally” environment that fueled crypto’s late-2023 surge.
Interestingly, funding rates show a split: negative on crypto-native exchanges but positive in traditional futures markets. While unusual, Olszewicz notes this hasn’t disrupted the bullish momentum—yet.
👉 Discover how real-time market signals can boost your trading edge.
The Ichimoku Edge: A Framework for Altcoin Selection
Olszewicz relies heavily on Ichimoku Cloud analysis to identify high-probability altcoin opportunities. His strategy is methodical:
- A daily candle closing inside the cloud
- A bullish crossover between Tenkan and Kijun lines (TK cross)
- A measured move target toward the opposite edge of the cloud
- Clear invalidation levels (e.g., breakdown below Kijun or a new lower low)
“This is always the same setup,” he explains. “It’s not magic—it’s probabilities. You get better entries and defined risk.”
Now, this framework is lighting up across a broad spectrum of assets—from blue-chip layer-ones to volatile meme coins.
Solana: Prime Candidate for Breakout
Solana (SOL) tops Olszewicz’s watchlist. After six consecutive red candles, it appears to be forming the “right shoulder” of an inverted head-and-shoulders pattern, with a neckline resistance near $200.
While ideal entries may lie between $120 and $140, the analyst emphasizes that timing isn’t everything. “Within the next week or two, you should get a strong signal from the cloud,” he says, suggesting a potential breakout is imminent.
At press time, SOL traded at $151.90—still well below its cloud target, which implies significant upside if momentum builds.
Curve DAO: Quiet Accumulation Precedes Surge
Curve (CRV) stands out for its stealthy strength. While most altcoins declined, CRV surged over 10% in a single session—a move Olszewicz admits he can’t fully explain fundamentally.
Technically, however, the picture is clear:
- Months of flat-bottom accumulation
- A daily close inside the Ichimoku cloud
- A confirmed bullish TK cross
“The journey has begun,” he notes, pointing to a measured move target near $1.20—nearly double its current price.
Ethereum and Litecoin: Still in Formation
Ethereum (ETH) remains a laggard. Olszewicz describes it as mid-process in its bottoming phase. “It’s going to take ETH kicking and screaming to get started,” he admits. A daily close inside the cloud is still pending—likely not until June.
Similarly, Litecoin (LTC) shows early signs of an inverted head-and-shoulders pattern but feels “a bit premature.” Traders may need to wait until early summer for confirmation.
👉 Access advanced charting tools to spot breakout patterns early.
FET, LINK, ALGO: Mid-Stage Setups
- Fetch.ai (FET): Already broke into the cloud on April 23 with a TK cross. However, Olszewicz cautions that much of the move may be priced in after weeks of gains—limiting risk-reward.
- Chainlink (LINK): Building a classic right shoulder; he suggests watching the $15 level for breakout confirmation.
- Algorand (ALGO): Nearing a 32-cent cloud target, just one daily close away from full validation.
In each case, Olszewicz stresses patience: without confirmed triggers, follow-through remains uncertain.
Meme Coins: DOGE, PEPE, and WIF Heat Up
The meme coin sector is flashing early signs of retail re-engagement.
- Dogecoin (DOGE): Seen as one of the highest-potential value plays. It needs another week to complete its right shoulder, but Olszewicz eyes $0.175 as a key zone. “Give it two weeks—this could be one of the best setups,” he says.
- PEPE: Already inside the cloud with a TK cross and neckline support at Kijun. “If ETH sneezes higher, PEPE could jump 25% in a day,” though a -20% shakeout might precede it.
- WIF: Pressing against the cloud and close to a TK cross. After retracing from $4.80, it presents a “great-looking setup,” though Olszewicz admits he’d prefer a deeper pullback for better entry.
BTC Dominance: The Rotation Puzzle
Despite bullish signals across alts, Bitcoin dominance remains near cycle highs—a headwind for broad altcoin outperformance.
Olszewicz acknowledges this tension: “Does it matter if you’re not all-in BTC when dominance is peaking?” His answer? Timing. Dominance was critical at the October 2023 bottom—and will likely matter again when it reverses.
“I expect altcoins to start outperforming in May and June,” he predicts. But until then, he warns: “It hasn’t made sense to sit in BTC pairs.”
One exception? Solana’s BTC pair, which mirrors its USD strength with a developing inverted head-and-shoulders pattern and a higher cloud target.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes Tether minting bullish for altcoins?
A: Large-scale USDT issuance often precedes capital deployment into speculative assets like altcoins. When demand drives minting—evidenced by USDT/USD premiums—it signals real market activity, not just balance sheet adjustments.
Q: Why is Solana considered a top altcoin pick?
A: SOL shows a textbook inverted head-and-shoulders pattern and is nearing an Ichimoku Cloud breakout. With strong fundamentals and improving network activity, it’s positioned for potential explosive moves.
Q: When might Ethereum start outperforming?
A: Olszewicz expects ETH’s breakout later—possibly in June—once it confirms a daily close inside the Ichimoku Cloud and completes its consolidation phase.
Q: Are meme coins worth watching now?
A: Yes. DOGE, PEPE, and WIF are showing early technical strength. While risky, they often lead retail-driven rallies during altseasons.
Q: How reliable is the Ichimoku Cloud strategy?
A: When combined with price action and volume confirmation, Ichimoku provides high-probability setups with clear entry, target, and stop-loss levels—ideal for systematic trading.
Q: Should I rotate out of Bitcoin now?
A: Not necessarily. While altcoins may soon outperform, BTC dominance suggests caution. A shift in rotation should be confirmed by technical breakdowns in dominance charts.
👉 Start analyzing altcoin breakouts with precision tools today.
Core keywords: best altcoins to watch in May, crypto bull run 2025, Solana price prediction, Ichimoku Cloud trading strategy, Tether minting impact, altcoin breakout signals, Bitcoin dominance trend.