At this time of year, let's take a look at how mainstream cryptocurrencies have performed on Christmas Eve over the past five years.

In 2020, BTC was only $23,736, ETH was less than $800, and XRP was a mere $0.23. It was the beginning of institutional entry, and market-savvy players were positioning themselves for the year-end bull run.

In 2021, it exploded. BTC surged to $50,822, ETH skyrocketed to $4,100 (a truly outrageous price), and XRP also reached $0.80. During that period, new highs were daily, and Christmas Eve was unstoppable.

2022 was a nightmare. On Christmas that year, FTX collapsed, and BTC halved to $16,822, ETH dropped from $4,100 to $1,218, a 70% decline. Bear markets are like that—they can crush people's confidence. XRP remained the same, at $0.23.

The turning point came in 2023. Expectations for ETFs heated up, and the market started to show signs of life. BTC climbed back to $43,665, ETH rose to $2,250, and XRP, though only at $0.61, also recovered somewhat. This year was a classic "recovery after a bear market" scenario.

2024 was the strongest in nearly five years. After spot ETF approval and the double boost from Trump's victory, BTC was pushed to $94,120, and ETH reached $2,980. XRP's gains were modest, at $0.65, but at least it didn't flatline.

Looking at this pattern, bull markets on Christmas Eve generally feature a "Christmas rally," while bear markets are characterized by "Christmas lying flat." XRP hasn't truly shined on Christmas Eve in five years, oscillating between 0.2 and 0.8. ETH's drop from $4,100 to $1,200 can drive people crazy, but the rebound in 2024 shows the market's cyclical nature.

2025 is here. How are your coins doing now? The year-end rhythm continues, and the size of the Christmas red envelope depends on whether you can bottom fish.