Major crypto assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, saw late December sell-offs, ending 2025 below seasonal norms.
Bitcoin entered the final quarter of 2025 with strong expectations, yet the year ended differently. Data released by Coinglass shows a sharp reversal in fourth-quarter performance. The seasonal trend that supported prices for years failed, as Bitcoin and Ethereum closed Q4 with heavy losses across markets worldwide.
Bitcoin Records Second-Worst Fourth Quarter On Record
CoinGlass data shows Bitcoin fell 23.07% during the fourth quarter of 2025. This result stood far below the historical average return of 77.07%. It also missed the long term median return of 47.73% recorded since 2013. The quarter ranked as Bitcoin’s second-worst Q4 performance.
Only the fourth quarter of 2018 showed a deeper decline for Bitcoin. That period ended with a 42.16% loss during a prolonged bear market. In contrast, most previous Q4 periods delivered strong gains. Several years posted double-digit or triple-digit returns.
Bitcoin reached new highs earlier in the quarter but reversed after October. Selling pressure increased and erased prior gains. The asset closed in December well below its quarterly opening price. This reversal placed 2025 outside its established seasonal pattern.
Ethereum Mirrors Broad Market Weakness In Q4 2025
Ethereum followed a similar path during the same period. Coinglass reported a 28.28% decline for Ethereum in Q4 2025. This ranked as the fourth-worst fourth quarter in Ethereum’s trading history. The performance reflected broader weakness across major digital assets.
Historically, Ethereum often benefits from year-end momentum. Past cycles showed stronger Q4 activity during periods of rising market confidence. However, 2025 ended with sustained risk aversion. Capital outflows affected Bitcoin, Ethereum, and several large altcoins.
According to Coinglass data, Bitcoin’s return in Q4 2025 was -23.07%, well below the historical average of 77.07% and the median of 47.73%, marking the second-worst Q4 performance on record, behind only Q4 2018 at -42.16%. Ethereum’s return in Q4 2025 was -28.28%, ranking as the… pic.twitter.com/Fh34X9QcvW
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) January 1, 2026
Market data indicated that selling was not isolated to one sector. Decentralized finance tokens and infrastructure assets also declined. Trading volumes decreased during late December sessions. This behavior aligned with reduced investor participation.
Related Readings: Metaplanet Buys 4,279 BTC in Q4 2025, Holdings Reach 35,102 Bitcoin
Seasonal Patterns Break as 2025 Closes Under Pressure
Bitcoin’s fourth-quarter strength had remained consistent for over a decade. Since 2013, Q4 delivered positive returns in most years. The quarter often supported recovery after slower summer periods. That pattern failed to repeat in 2025.
The -23.07% quarterly return placed Bitcoin far outside historical norms. Ethereum’s losses further confirmed a broad market shift. Both assets ended the year under pressure rather than in recovery. This outcome reshaped expectations for late-cycle behavior.
Data from Coinglass shows that 2025 stood apart from previous cycles. The year ended without the typical holiday rally. Market participants faced a weaker close than expected. These figures now form part of long-term crypto market records.
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