Crypto 2025: Hype Missed, Infrastructure Won
At the beginning of 2025, some of the biggest names in crypto made bold predictions. They claimed Bitcoin would hit $200,000, Ethereum would reach $7,000, stablecoins would go mainstream, and the U.S. would even build a Bitcoin reserve. A year later, reality told a different story.
Prices didn’t skyrocket as expected. Bitcoin peaked at around $126,000 in October before dropping to the high $80,000s. Ethereum briefly hit just under $5,000 but closed the year near $3,000. Solana stayed in the low $100s. Most price predictions were way off. However, predictions about regulation, ETFs, and crypto infrastructure were surprisingly accurate.
Bitwise predicted massive gains based on spot Bitcoin ETFs and a pro-crypto stance from President Trump’s administration. While prices didn’t reach their targets, Bitwise was correct in expecting growth from ETFs and regulatory changes—just not as extreme as they forecasted.
VanEck also overshot its price targets. They expected Bitcoin to reach $180,000 and huge numbers for tokenized securities and NFTs. Reality fell short: DeFi peaked at $170 billion in total value locked (TVL), tokenized assets hit $19.2 billion, and NFT volume only reached about $5.6 billion. Still, they correctly identified key growth areas like tokenization and DeFi—they just expected too much too soon.
HashKey Group’s predictions were even more optimistic: Bitcoin to $300,000, Ethereum to $8,000, and the total crypto market cap at $10 trillion. The only accurate call? Stablecoins. USD-pegged stablecoins grew past $300 billion, showing strong demand for digital dollars.
Galaxy made detailed predictions too—Bitcoin to $185,000, Ethereum over $5,500, Dogecoin at $1—but none of those price points landed. However, they nailed one big trend: public crypto miners investing heavily in AI and high-performance computing. Major players like MARA Holdings and Riot Platforms pivoted to AI infrastructure throughout the year.
Standard Chartered stuck with its long-standing prediction of Bitcoin reaching $200,000 by the end of 2025. While Bitcoin did break a new all-time high in October at $126,000, it never got close to that number again after macroeconomic pressures hit the market hard.
Two well-known individuals—Arthur Hayes from BitMEX and Tom Lee from Fundstrat—both predicted Bitcoin would hit between $200K–$250K and Ethereum would reach $10K. They were right about macro trends pushing crypto prices up but wrong about how far and how long the rally could last.
One of the most accurate calls of 2025 came from Gemini. In January, they predicted that the U.S. government would start building a strategic Bitcoin reserve. That became reality in March when President Trump signed an executive order using seized BTC and authorizing more purchases.
Gemini also correctly foresaw Congress passing stablecoin laws. The GENIUS Act passed in July, setting clear rules for dollar-backed stablecoins while banning algorithmic ones. Additionally, Gemini expected ETFs beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum—including Solana and XRP—to be approved. Both launched spot ETFs later in the year, reshaping the trading landscape.
Coinbase didn’t try to predict prices but focused on big-picture trends like crypto-friendly regulation, growing use of stablecoins for payments, and a DeFi revival. They were right across the board. Congress turned more crypto-friendly, companies like Visa and Stripe started using USDC for payments, and DeFi TVL returned to its highest levels since 2021.
Delphi Digital echoed similar themes. They said 2025 would be a breakthrough year for consumer-focused DeFi products like on-chain cards and tokenized stocks—and it was. Apps like Robinhood began offering these features, bringing crypto into everyday financial tools.
In summary: price predictions mostly failed, but structural trends came true. The real winners were the firms that focused on how the crypto market would evolve—not how high prices would go.
What worked in 2025? Not flashy price targets like “$200K Bitcoin.” Instead, it was accurate forecasts about stablecoin regulation, ETF expansion beyond BTC and ETH, and improvements in DeFi user experience.
Heading into 2026, the lesson is clear: don’t chase hype. Follow the infrastructure changes, regulatory shifts, and adoption trends—that’s where real opportunity lies in crypto.
Why 2026 Could Be Crypto’s Biggest Year Yet
Crypto experts are looking ahead to 2026 as the year digital assets could finally take off in a big way. Even though Bitcoin ended 2025 with its first yearly loss since 2022, many analysts believe the next big bull run is just around the corner. Factors like a crypto-supportive U.S. government, more big institutions getting involved, and the likely approval of spot ETFs are setting the stage for a strong market recovery.
Popular crypto YouTuber Jesse Eckel, who has over 276,000 followers, is betting big on 2026. In a recent video, he confidently said, “2026 will be the bull run and altcoin season people thought would happen in 2025.” He’s so convinced, he sold his house and invested everything into crypto. “If I’m wrong, I’ll accept the consequences,” he added.
Eckel admitted his predictions for 2025 didn’t pan out, especially his call for an altcoin rally in early 2025. Instead, altcoins dropped sharply due to global market issues like trade tariffs. That failure made him rethink the long-standing belief in the four-year crypto cycle.
According to Eckel, the 2025 rally was different from past ones. It wasn’t driven by massive global liquidity, but rather by strong narratives and growing institutional interest. Because of this shift, he now believes that by mid-2026, most people will realize the four-year cycle model no longer works. Once that happens, he expects a major price surge as all the positive news that’s been ignored finally gets reflected in prices.
Eckel listed 10 key reasons he believes 2026 will be huge for crypto. He’s also updated his price forecasts: Bitcoin could hit between $170,000 and $250,000 during the next peak, higher than his earlier $170K target. He’s keeping his Ethereum prediction steady at $10,000 to $20,000.
“If I get this wrong two years in a row, it’s almost unforgivable,” Eckel said. “I might just walk away from it all.”
Andrew Forson, President of DeFi Technologies, shares a similar outlook. He believes institutional adoption will speed up in 2026, and blockchain tech will be used in more industries and applications. Forson sees stablecoins as the most important part of the crypto world right now.
“Stablecoins live on decentralized blockchains,” Forson explained. “Each transaction is validated across various networks.” This setup allows assets to move smoothly between Bitcoin, Ethereum, exchange-traded products (ETPs), and stablecoins. Investors can easily switch between yield-generating crypto assets and fiat-like stablecoins.
Forson also pointed to a fast-growing trend: tokenizing real-world assets (RWA). More institutions are bringing assets like stocks, bonds, and commodities onto blockchains. This boosts both adoption and value of digital assets.
Another area he’s excited about is combining blockchain with artificial intelligence. “To train AI models well, you need trustworthy data. Blockchain can prove where that data comes from,” he said.
He also noted how blockchain can improve traditional finance systems — making it easier to settle trades involving stocks or bonds globally and faster. This could attract even more liquidity into markets. Forson said DeFi Technologies plans to focus on these developments going forward.
Still, not everyone is so optimistic. Some experts warn that 2026 could bring another crypto winter. They highlight Bitcoin’s recent 30% drop from its yearly high and say there may be fewer big events left to fuel another rally. Skeptics also question whether companies holding Bitcoin as part of their treasury strategy can keep demand strong.
While the debate continues, many eyes are on 2026 as potentially a game-changing year for crypto markets — especially if new technology use cases and institutional interest keep growing.
3 Crash-Resistant Crypto Tokens Defying the Bear Market
The crypto market is going through a rough patch, with prices dropping and uncertainty everywhere. But not all coins are going down. A few new projects are standing strong—and even growing—despite the chaos. One token, in particular, is surprising everyone by becoming one of the top performers heading into 2025.
While big names like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major altcoins are struggling, three smaller tokens are moving in the opposite direction. Experts are calling them “crash-resistant movers” because they’re showing strength when most others are falling. These tokens could play a big role in the next crypto bull run.
One of the standout projects is Ozak AI. It’s getting a lot of attention from investors, and its ongoing presale is already close to hitting $5.5 million. This strong momentum shows that many believe in its long-term potential, even in a weak market.
Here’s a quick look at the three rising tokens that are showing positive trends while most of the crypto market continues to dip:
– These tokens are gaining value during a market downturn
– Investors are looking for safer, growth-focused options
– Ozak AI is leading the pack with strong presale numbers
If you’re keeping an eye on the future of crypto, these projects might be worth a closer look. They’re proving that even in a tough market, smart innovation can still shine.
Ozak AI Presale Surges as Crypto Market Dips
The crypto market had a rough week, with prices dropping across the board. Bitcoin took a big hit, and major altcoins like Ethereum followed, falling between 8% and 20%. Many traders who were confident just days ago are now watching their profits disappear due to high volatility. But in the middle of all this chaos, one project is turning heads for all the right reasons—Ozak AI.
While most coins are going down, Ozak AI is doing the opposite. This AI and DePIN-powered token has already raised over $5.24 million in its presale, showing that not all growth disappears in a weak market. Instead, it shifts to newer, more promising projects. Investors are starting to move their money away from large, well-known cryptocurrencies and into early-stage tokens like Ozak AI, looking for safer and smarter opportunities.
Ozak AI stands out because it’s still growing steadily while the rest of the market struggles. Its current presale price is just $0.014, and interest remains strong. Early backers from previous rounds are already seeing potential profits on paper. Analysts are noticing this momentum and recognizing that Ozak AI is gaining traction thanks to solid fundamentals and rising demand.
So, why are investors so interested in Ozak AI? The answer is simple—it offers real value. It combines artificial intelligence (AI) technology with decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN). This means Ozak AI supports real-world AI tasks, distributed hardware systems, and cross-chain connections. Unlike many other tokens that rely on hype, Ozak AI offers real utility.
The token also comes with built-in features like staking, voting rights, and reward systems. These elements give it long-term value instead of just short-term excitement. Many traders have sold off their Bitcoin and Ethereum positions during this dip and redirected those funds into the Ozak AI presale.
The team behind Ozak AI is focused on building strong AI systems, durable DePIN networks, and expanding across different blockchains. These efforts are giving the project staying power beyond just the current presale stage. As the crypto market tries to find its footing again, many traders are looking for stable, future-ready projects—and Ozak AI checks all the boxes.
Raising over $5.24 million during one of the worst weeks in crypto this year shows how much trust investors are placing in Ozak AI. As the presale nears completion, it’s clear that investor sentiment is shifting toward projects with real-world applications and solid technical foundations.
To learn more about Ozak AI or join the community:
Telegram: https://t.me/OzakAGI
Disclaimer: This is a paid post and should not be considered financial advice. Please do your own research before making any investment decisions.
Grayscale Files for Bittensor (TAO) Spot ETF Approval
Grayscale is making big moves in the crypto space again, this time with Bittensor (TAO). The company has filed paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to turn its current Bittensor Trust into a full-blown exchange-traded fund (ETF). If approved, this would be the first ETF to give institutional investors direct exposure to the AI-focused TAO token.
This new ETF is planned to trade under the ticker symbol “GTAO” on NYSE Arca. It will hold TAO tokens and also include staking rewards as part of its earnings. Grayscale plans to use crypto staking to generate extra income for the fund.
The Bittensor network itself recently hit a major milestone. On December 14, it went through its first halving event, cutting daily token supply from 7,200 TAO to 3,600. This lower supply could drive up prices over time, and traders have already responded positively. After the ETF news broke, TAO’s price rebounded above $220, erasing earlier losses.
The ETF’s structure will use what’s known as “in-kind” transactions. This means that instead of cash, authorized participants will exchange TAO tokens directly for shares of the ETF. This system is already active in the current Trust and will continue once it becomes an ETF.
Several big names are backing the technical side of this product. Bank of New York Mellon will serve as the transfer agent. Coinbase will act as the main broker, and BitGo will be responsible for securely storing the TAO tokens.
Grayscale’s move follows a recent launch of its Bittensor Trust on the OTCQX market under the same ticker, GTAO. That launch happened after the SEC approved its Form 10 registration. Becoming an SEC-reporting company allows Grayscale to offer shorter holding periods—just six months under Rule 144, once certain conditions are met.
This timeline suggests that the new Bittensor ETF could officially go live sometime next year.
Grayscale already offers a wide range of crypto ETFs, including those tied to Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin, Solana, and Chainlink. The company is also working on an Avalanche ETF, showing its commitment to expanding crypto investment products.
TAO had a strong start to 2024 with prices reaching $520 in January and nearing $500 again in November. While prices have since cooled off, investor interest remains strong—especially with the possibility of a spot ETF on the horizon.