2025 Market Recap: Stocks Soar, Crypto Stumbles
The year 2025 was a rollercoaster ride for investors across the stock market, cryptocurrency world, and commodities like gold and silver. Markets started off shaky, with the S&P 500 coming close to entering a bear market. But things turned around later in the year, and by December, U.S. stocks and metals were soaring. Bitcoin, on the other hand, had a rough time and ended the year lower.
Here’s how the numbers looked: the S&P 500 climbed 17%, the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 gained 21%, and the Dow Jones rose 14%. Big names stood out — Nvidia jumped an impressive 40%, and gold shot up a massive 66%. But Bitcoin dropped 6% overall, after a wild ride that impacted risk sentiment throughout the year.
At the start of the year, Donald Trump and Melania Trump launched their own cryptocurrency tokens ahead of the inauguration. This raised eyebrows over potential conflicts of interest and sparked a wave of meme coin hype. The hype didn’t last — Trump’s token ($Trump) crashed over 90% from its high, while Melania’s token ($Melania) fell by about 98%.
Tech investors were also shaken when a Chinese AI company called DeepSeek appeared to rival top U.S. artificial intelligence models. This news caused panic in markets, wiping out nearly $1 trillion in U.S. tech stock value in just one day. It raised fresh concerns about whether big tech companies were spending too much on AI without clear returns.
Cryptocurrencies took a big hit following the excitement around Trump being called the “crypto president.” Bitcoin fell sharply — down 28% from around $106,000 in late January to $75,000 by early April. Ethereum dropped even more, losing about 60% of its value from earlier highs.
Stocks were rocked again when Trump introduced new trade policies in April, calling them “Liberation Day” tariffs. These included a universal 10% tariff and retaliatory measures against several countries. The S&P 500 dropped 12% in just a few days, falling as much as 19% below its mid-February high at one point.
Tesla had a rough start to the year but bounced back after Elon Musk said he would step away from government roles. Later, Musk and Trump exchanged comments online — Musk admitted he may have gone too far in his posts, and Trump responded positively. This helped stabilize Tesla’s stock.
Meanwhile, Nvidia continued to soar to new heights in market value. Commodities also had a strong year — gold, silver, and copper all hit record prices, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets amid global uncertainty.
In summary, 2025 tested everyone’s patience — from Wall Street to crypto investors — with sharp ups and downs. But while tech stocks and crypto faced big challenges, metals and select stocks like Nvidia delivered big wins.
Top Cryptos to Watch for 2026: BTC, ETH, XRP, SUBBD
**Disclaimer: Crypto is a high-risk investment. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. You could lose all your invested money.**
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**Top Cryptos to Watch on New Year’s Eve: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), and SUBBD**
The crypto market is showing signs of life again. In the past 24 hours, the total market cap has increased by 1%, reaching $3.088 trillion. As we approach the end of the year, investor optimism is growing, especially around some of the biggest names in crypto.
Let’s break down the best cryptocurrencies to consider on New Year’s Eve: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), and a new ERC-20 token gaining attention—SUBBD.
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### **Ripple (XRP) – Ready for a Comeback?**
Ripple (XRP) is currently trading at $1.88, up 1% in the last day. While it’s still down 8% over the past month and 9.5% for the year, many believe it’s gearing up for a major rebound.
Looking at the XRP chart, indicators are pointing up from oversold levels. Its Relative Strength Index (RSI) is climbing back toward 50 after dipping close to 30, signaling potential upward momentum. The MACD has been negative since September but is showing signs of turning around.
Beyond charts, Ripple has strong fundamentals. Institutional investors are backing XRP in a big way. In fact, XRP saw $424 million in investment inflows recently, even while Bitcoin and Ethereum saw outflows.
If momentum continues, XRP could push past $3 by the second quarter of 2026.
**Keywords**: Ripple price forecast, XRP breakout, XRP investment, XRP chart analysis
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### **Bitcoin (BTC) – Eyeing Six Figures in 2026**
Bitcoin is trading at $88,820 today, with a 1% daily increase and steady growth of 2% over the past week. Though it’s still down 5.5% over the year, recent gains hint at a possible trend reversal.
Bitcoin’s RSI has just crossed above 50—a bullish signal that often precedes major price moves. After a rocky few months, BTC appears to be stabilizing and may be preparing for another rally.
Institutional interest in Bitcoin remains strong. According to recent data, BTC funds have pulled in $26.7 billion this year—more than double Ethereum’s inflows.
With its dominant position in the market and growing institutional trust, Bitcoin could hit $100,000 by the end of Q1 and even reach $200,000 before 2026 wraps up.
**Keywords**: Bitcoin price prediction, BTC breakout, Bitcoin investment, BTC chart analysis
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### **Ethereum (ETH) – Undervalued and Ready to Rise**
Ethereum is currently priced at $2,989 after gaining 0.5% in the past 24 hours. Over the last week, it’s up 2%, and it’s gained 5% this month. However, ETH is still down 11% for the year.
This dip might actually be good news for investors. Many believe ETH is trading below its real value and that it’s due for a strong recovery.
Charts show a bullish pennant pattern forming, with technical indicators moving up—another signal that a rally may be near. Ethereum likely hit its bottom in mid-November and has been building strength ever since.
Fundamentally, Ethereum remains king of smart contracts. It powers more than half of the total value locked (TVL) in DeFi and dominates among layer-one platforms. When you include Ethereum layer-2s like Arbitrum and Optimism, its reach is even wider.
Expect Ethereum to cross $4,000 by Q2 of 2026 if momentum continues.
**Keywords**: Ethereum price forecast, ETH investment opportunity, Ethereum smart contracts, ETH technical analysis
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### **SUBBD – A New AI-Powered Content Token Making Waves**
Alongside the big names, one new token that’s gaining traction fast is SUBBD ($SUBBD). It’s an ERC-20 token currently in presale and has already raised over $1.4 million.
SUBBD is launching an adult-focused AI content creation platform. The project combines artificial intelligence with crypto payments to help creators produce content faster and get paid more easily.
Using AI, creators can generate ideas, scripts, or even virtual performers to make content—saving time and increasing earnings. Crypto payments also make transactions quicker and more transparent.
SUBBD already has a strong following on social media and is attracting lots of interest from early investors.
The current token price is $0.057325 but will go up as the presale continues. You can buy SUBBD using ETH, USDT, BNB, or fiat by connecting a crypto wallet like MetaMask or Best Wallet on their website.
If you’re looking for a high-potential project with real-world use cases in AI and content creation, SUBBD might be worth checking out now—before prices rise further.
**Keywords**: SUBBD token presale, AI content creation crypto, new ERC-20 tokens, crypto investment 2026
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**In Summary**
If you’re thinking about crypto investments as we head into 2026:
– **XRP** looks poised for a breakout thanks to institutional support.
– **BTC** remains the go-to asset for long-term growth.
– **ETH** could be undervalued right now with big upside potential.
– **SUBBD** offers early access to a unique AI-powered content platform with strong momentum.
With markets heating up again, now might be the right time to position yourself for what could be an exciting year ahead in crypto.
Crypto Faces Slow Recovery After 2025 Hype Crash
The crypto market in 2025 didn’t just hit its peak—it went into overdrive. A major reason? Too many big names jumped on the bandwagon, including former President Donald Trump and his family. According to Jay Woods, Chief Market Strategist at Freedom Capital Markets, their involvement helped make crypto one of the most crowded and overhyped trades of the year. Now, that crowding is leaving a heavy impact as we step into 2026.
“Crypto got way too crowded,” Woods said. “There were just too many high-profile figures getting involved, even the President and his family.”
Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Solana reached record highs in 2025. But since then, prices have dropped sharply. This decline was partly due to investors being forced to sell off assets after taking on too much risk, and partly because many people pulled back from risky investments in general.
**Crypto in 2026: A Tough Road Ahead**
Woods didn’t directly blame the crypto crash on all the hype and investor mania from late 2025, but he made it clear that the damage on the charts shows how overheated the market became. And recovering from that won’t be quick or easy.
“I don’t think crypto will hit new highs in 2026,” Woods warned.
While Woods has shared positive outlooks for the stock market and even picked out some top-performing tech stocks for 2026, when it comes to crypto, he’s planning to stay out of it this year.
**Technical Damage Needs Time to Heal**
Right now, the fundamentals don’t give a clear direction for where crypto is heading. Instead, Woods is looking at technical trends—and those trends show serious damage.
“Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana all need time to recover,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of technical breakdowns in their charts.”
One thing that could help is consolidation—a period where prices stabilize instead of going up or down quickly. For Bitcoin specifically, Woods believes it needs to hold steady around the $90,000 mark before any real growth can start again.
“Until Bitcoin settles down near $90K, I don’t see it making a strong comeback,” he added.
**Crypto Starts 2026 on the Defensive**
After a wild year packed with hype and too much attention from high-level figures, crypto enters 2026 in a vulnerable state. The market needs time to cool off and rebuild trust among investors.
**Current Bitcoin Price**
As of now, Bitcoin is trading at $87,905. Over the past year, it has moved between $74,436 and $126,198, with its highest point reached on October 6, 2025. Year-to-date in 2025, Bitcoin is down about 5.9%.
**Key Takeaways for Crypto Investors in 2026:**
– The crypto market was overcrowded in 2025, even attracting high-profile names like Donald Trump.
– Bitcoin and other major coins hit record highs but have since dropped due to overleveraged positions and investor caution.
– Recovery in 2026 is expected to be slow, with little chance of new highs anytime soon.
– Technical indicators show significant damage, and consolidation is needed before another upward trend can begin.
– Bitcoin needs to stabilize around $90K for a healthier outlook moving forward.
Keywords: crypto market 2025, Bitcoin price prediction 2026, Ethereum forecast 2026, Solana outlook, Donald Trump crypto involvement, crowded trade crypto, technical analysis Bitcoin, consolidation in crypto, cryptocurrency crash recovery.
U.S. Crypto ETFs Surge as Investors Return to Market
U.S. Crypto ETFs See Big Gains as Investors Return
On December 30, U.S. crypto ETFs brought in a strong $443 million in inflows, signaling renewed investor interest across major digital assets. This comeback follows a period of outflows due to year-end tax strategies and portfolio rebalancing.
Bitcoin ETFs Bounce Back With $355 Million Inflows
After seven straight days of losses, Bitcoin ETFs finally saw a turnaround with $355 million in net inflows, based on data from SoSoValue. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the charge with $143.8 million, followed by ARK 21Shares’ ARKB at $109.6 million and Fidelity’s FBTC with $78.6 million.
This rebound comes after Bitcoin ETFs lost nearly $500 million the previous week. Experts believe this inflow signals growing institutional interest and confidence, even in a market that’s been under pressure.
Ethereum and Other Altcoins Join the Party
Ethereum spot ETFs also turned positive, collecting $67.84 million after seeing over $102 million in outflows earlier in December. This marks a key shift as investors begin to revisit altcoins.
XRP ETFs continued their strong performance, adding $15.55 million. They’ve now had 29 straight days of inflows since launching in November, pushing total net inflows past the $1 billion mark.
Solana ETFs contributed an additional $5.21 million, showing that growth-focused investors are still betting on high-potential altcoins.
Bitwise Files for 11 New Crypto ETFs Focused on AI and DeFi
Bitwise is doubling down on future trends with filings for 11 new ETFs targeting tokens in the artificial intelligence (AI) and decentralized finance (DeFi) sectors. These include Aave (AAVE), Ethena (ENA), Hyperliquid (HYPE), Bittensor (TAO), Tron (TRX), Uniswap (UNI), NEAR Protocol (NEAR), Starknet (STRK), Sui (SUI), Canton (CC), and Zcash (ZEC).
Each ETF will invest up to 60% of its holdings directly in the underlying token, with the rest in futures, swaps, or other exchange-traded products.
Bitwise has already made headlines by launching the first spot Solana ETF in October, followed by XRP and Dogecoin ETFs in November.
Grayscale Eyes First Spot ETF for Bittensor
Grayscale is also making moves by filing to convert its Bittensor Trust into a spot ETF, aiming to offer direct exposure to the TAO token. If approved, this would be the first U.S.-listed spot ETF focused on Bittensor.
The ETF will trade under the ticker symbol GTAO on NYSE Arca, with Coinbase Custody Trust and BitGo Trust handling custody of the assets.
What’s Next for Crypto ETFs?
According to Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan, Bitcoin could break away from its usual four-year price cycle and reach new all-time highs by 2026. He expects falling interest rates and more institutional investment to drive this growth.
The push into AI and DeFi-themed ETFs shows that major investors are now looking beyond just Bitcoin and Ethereum, as regulatory conditions become clearer.
Crypto markets may have slowed in Q4, but momentum is picking up again—and the next wave of innovation might come from altcoins tied to AI and DeFi.
Korean Investors Keep Buying BitMine Despite 80% Crash
**South Korean Retail Investors Keep Buying BitMine Stock Despite 80% Crash**
In most markets, when a stock drops more than 80%, it usually signals the end of the road for investors. But in South Korea, where retail investors play a huge role in the crypto space, the opposite is happening.
BitMine Immersion Technologies, a U.S.-listed company backed by well-known crypto bull Tom Lee, has become one of the hottest overseas stocks for South Korean investors in 2025. It’s now the second most bought foreign stock by Korean retail traders—right after Alphabet, Google’s parent company.
What’s surprising is that BitMine’s stock has fallen around 82% since its peak in July. Yet, Korean investors continue to pour money into it. At one point earlier this year, BitMine’s share price skyrocketed by more than 3,000%. The reason? The company shifted its business model from Bitcoin mining to becoming a treasury that holds large amounts of Ethereum (ETH), similar to how MicroStrategy stacks Bitcoin.
Even as the stock crashed and became extremely volatile, Korean retail investors didn’t back off. In fact, they doubled down. According to data from the Korea Securities Depository, they invested a net total of $1.4 billion in BitMine shares in 2025 alone. They also funneled $566 million into a leveraged ETF that tracks BitMine, despite its poor performance.
**Why Are Korean Investors Still Buying?**
To many outsiders, this kind of behavior seems irrational. But within crypto circles in Korea, it makes sense. It’s based on a belief system known as “hoarding logic.” The idea is simple: if you believe Ethereum is the future of finance and settlement, then holding a company heavily invested in ETH makes sense—especially when prices are low.
For these investors, short-term losses don’t matter as much as long-term potential. They see BitMine as more than just a stock; it’s part of the crypto infrastructure they believe in.
**Circle Stock Also Gains Popularity Despite Volatility**
BitMine isn’t the only crypto-linked company getting attention from South Korean retail investors. Circle Internet Financial, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has also attracted nearly $1 billion in investments from Korea—even though its stock has seen major ups and downs since going public.
This trend is driven by growing optimism around stablecoin regulation. Both the U.S. and South Korea are making moves to support and regulate digital assets more clearly. South Korea’s new administration is also pushing to expand access to crypto markets and allow local issuance of stablecoins.
Circle has also been active in Asia. The company reported $2.4 trillion in stablecoin activity in the Asia-Pacific region during the 2024–2025 financial year. In Japan, Circle invested in JPYC, which recently became the first yen-backed stablecoin approved by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA).
**Bigger Picture: Betting on Crypto Infrastructure Over Price**
The continued investment in companies like BitMine and Circle shows a bigger trend among South Korean retail investors. They’re not just buying crypto tokens—they’re investing in the infrastructure behind crypto. Even when prices fall hard, they see opportunities to buy into the future of blockchain and digital finance.
In total, more than $10 billion in foreign equity investments have flowed out of South Korea in 2025. A large portion of that money went into high-risk sectors like cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductors.
So, what does this mean? Are South Korean investors ahead of the curve? Or are they simply getting used to the pain of extreme volatility? With major financial institutions becoming increasingly bullish on Bitcoin and digital assets going into 2026, these early bets might pay off—or redefine what it means to stay committed through losses.