There’s a growing narrative that this crypto cycle was “disappointing” or “weak.”
But when you strip away emotions and look at actual data, the picture changes completely.
Let’s start with Bitcoin.
Bitcoin (
$BTC ): Strong by Any Standard
In Q4 2024, Bitcoin was trading around $52,000.
By Q4 2025, it printed a new all-time high of $126,198.
That’s a 142% increase in just one year.
In traditional markets, that would be considered an exceptional performance. Even in crypto terms, a 1.5× move on an asset of Bitcoin’s size is far from weak.
Now Let’s Look at Altcoins
The same story repeats across majors:
Ethereum (
$ETH ) moved from $2,300 to $4,955, reaching the highest price in its history in Q4 2025.
Solana (
$SOL ) rallied from $120 to $295, hitting its all-time high in early 2025.
Major top-10 assets like XRP, BNB, XMR, and TRX also printed new ATHs in 2025.
By definition, a cycle where Bitcoin and most top assets make new highs is not a failed cycle.
So why does it feel negative?
The Real Reason This Cycle Felt “Bad”
The issue wasn’t performance — it was expectations.
Post-halving hype pushed expectations to extreme levels. Many expected endless vertical moves, similar to 2021. Instead, rallies were short-lived, followed by sharp corrections.
Another major factor was liquidity fragmentation.
The rise of the Solana meme-coin supercycle pulled enormous capital away from the broader market. Meme-coin trading volume on Solana alone reached an estimated $1.6 trillion, absorbing liquidity that would have otherwise flowed into established altcoins.
Capital didn’t disappear — it just moved faster and rotated harder than most investors were prepared for.
Final Thought: The Market Has Changed
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
The old strategy of buying legacy coins and waiting years for them to reclaim previous highs is slowly becoming outdated.
Crypto is evolving at breakneck speed. Narratives shift faster, liquidity rotates quicker, and attention is the real asset.
As a small investor, you can’t afford to fight the current.
You either adapt, or you get left behind.
This cycle wasn’t weak —
It was simply different.
And those who understand that will be positioned best for what comes next.
$BTC $ETH $SOL #StrategyBTCPurchase #Binance #Write2Earn #Web3 #BNB_Market_Update