Well-known crypto analyst Atlas has released his latest cycle outlook, warning that the market could be entering its final bullish stage before a major top.
While sentiment remains strong across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins, he believes the current setup resembles late-phase behavior seen in 2017 and 2021.
According to Atlas, the coming weeks will likely bring heightened volatility as liquidity rotates between majors and smaller tokens. He pointed out that Bitcoin has already secured strong gains, while Ethereum is preparing for a final push toward the $6,000 region. Once ETH dominance takes hold, he expects capital to flow into secondary Layer-1s such as Solana and Avalanche before spilling into low-cap tokens – a classic signal of cycle maturity.
Atlas emphasized that October may prove decisive. The anticipated Federal Reserve rate cut could act as a temporary liquidity injection, fueling one last parabolic surge. At the same time, he cautioned that altcoin season metrics are already approaching overheated levels, with the Altseason Index closing in on the danger zone above 65. This combination, he argued, could give traders a narrow window to take profits before the trend reverses sharply.
His strategy focuses on scaling out methodically rather than chasing every final move higher. Atlas advised trimming exposure to meme coins and illiquid tokens first, then gradually locking in gains from larger-cap plays as the rotation progresses. The ultimate step, he noted, is securing profits from Bitcoin and Ethereum into stablecoins before mid-October, ahead of what he expects to be a harsh correction.
Atlas warned that the biggest mistake traders make at this stage is assuming dips will keep getting bought. In past cycles, late entrants were caught holding through 50%–70% drawdowns when momentum abruptly shifted. This time, he believes the setup is no different: a euphoric ending phase followed by steep retracements.
Despite the cautionary tone, Atlas isn’t bearish yet. He still sees upside in the short term, especially for Ethereum and select altcoins, but stressed that timing is now everything. “The last 10% upside isn’t worth risking all your gains,” he concluded, underscoring October as the critical month to exit smartly.
Kosta has been working in the crypto industry for over 4 years. He strives to present different perspectives on a given topic and enjoys the sector for its transparency and dynamism. In his work, he focuses on balanced coverage of events and developments in the crypto space, providing information to his readers from a neutral perspective.