Bitcoin 2025 Q4 Performance Plummets 22% as Santa Rally Fizzles Out
Bitcoin 2025 Q4 performance saw a 22% drop as the Santa rally failed to materialize. Compare crypto's struggle with Gold's record-breaking run in our latest market analysis.
Investors hoping for a holiday miracle got a lump of coal instead. Bitcoin and ether ended December without the expected 'Santa rally,' capping off a brutal quarter that highlights the fragility of the crypto market when liquidity thins and risk appetite vanishes.
Bitcoin 2025 Q4 Performance: The Worst December Since 2018
According to data from CoinGlass, Bitcoin is on track to end December down about 22%, marking its worst monthly performance since December 2018. Ether has faced even steeper losses, ending Q4 2025 down 28.07%. The lack of a year-end burst is significant, as crypto has historically relied on late-year momentum to set the stage for the following year.
The pattern has become painfully familiar in late 2025. Any attempt at a bounce was met by fast profit-taking. U.S. trading hours saw the heaviest selling as institutional funds cleaned up their positions before the new year. Instead of a new leg higher, December looked more like a positioning reset.
The Great Decoupling: Crypto vs. Precious Metals
The contrast with traditional safe havens hasn't been hard to miss. While Bitcoin struggled, gold pushed to fresh records on rate-cut expectations and geopolitical stress. Silver and platinum also hit new highs as investors shifted toward reserve-style hedges.
Despite the 'digital gold' narrative, Bitcoin has traded more like a high-beta asset lately. Even with a macro backdrop pointing toward easier monetary policy, it's been unable to hold gains without a broader appetite for risk. This suggests that investors still view crypto as a speculative play rather than a stable store of value.
The first major test of 2026 will be whether Bitcoin can hold its recent support zones. If it can't, this failed Santa rally might be remembered as an early warning that the market needs a deeper reset before the next sustained bull run.
This content is AI-generated based on source articles. While we strive for accuracy, errors may occur. We recommend verifying with the original source.
Related Articles
The CoinDesk 20 Index rose 0.9% as 2025 comes to a close, led by gains in Ethereum and Aptos. Read our analysis of the CoinDesk 20 Dec 2025 Performance and market trends.
Unleash Protocol suffered a $3.9 million governance exploit in late 2025. Over 1,337 ETH was stolen and laundered through Tornado Cash. Read the full security analysis.
Bitcoin's 2025 price predictions of $1M were shattered as the market recorded its first full-year loss since 2022. Explore the data behind the October flash crash and the failed forecasts.
BlackRock's BUIDL fund hits a milestone with $100M in dividends paid and over $2B in AUM, marking a new era for tokenized U.S. Treasuries.
The CoinDesk 20 Index rose 0.9% as 2025 comes to a close, led by gains in Ethereum and Aptos. Read our analysis of the CoinDesk 20 Dec 2025 Performance and market trends.
Unleash Protocol suffered a $3.9 million governance exploit in late 2025. Over 1,337 ETH was stolen and laundered through Tornado Cash. Read the full security analysis.
Bitcoin's 2025 price predictions of $1M were shattered as the market recorded its first full-year loss since 2022. Explore the data behind the October flash crash and the failed forecasts.
BlackRock's BUIDL fund hits a milestone with $100M in dividends paid and over $2B in AUM, marking a new era for tokenized U.S. Treasuries.