$ALT showed fresh strength as September closed, though the market has not entered full altseason. The Altcoin Season Index reached 56 out of 100, its highest in months, while altseason requires a reading of 75. Among individual coins, $NEAR Protocol gained roughly 92% in a week. Institutional demand for Solana also stood out: US spot Solana ETFs took in a net $188 million in the week to September 29, their highest weekly figure since launch, although they lost a net $11.1 million on September 30. Bitcoin, meanwhile, opened the new quarter in the $82,000 to $85,000 range, so traders are watching whether altcoins can keep outperforming it. This is market information, not financial advice, so always do your own research.