The 2025 crypto market milestone — total market capitalization surpassing $4 trillion for the first time, with Bitcoin also hitting a new all-time high. However, due to macroeconomic uncertainties, the year ultimately closed with a decline of about 7.9%, and this wave of market activity was not as smooth as expected.



Interestingly, Bitcoin this year has shown a stark duality: on one hand, asset attributes are skyrocketing, with US spot ETF net inflows exceeding $21 billion, and large institutions and capital continuously pouring in; on the other hand, on-chain activity remains sluggish, with active addresses down 16% year-over-year, and real on-chain applications and participation clearly declining.

This situation is somewhat awkward — large funds entering the market push prices higher, but actual ecosystem activity is cooling down. It seems that in 2026, the crypto market will need to find a new balance between "assetization" and "applicationization."
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SybilSlayervip
· 9h ago
It sounds like a game for the wealthy, while retail investors are just watching the show and laughing --- $40 trillion? The on-chain activity is dead and silent, this is ridiculous --- Big institutions are疯狂囤币, but our on-chain activity has dropped 16%... Funds are coming in but people aren't, isn't this just hype --- The most annoying thing is this situation: prices are artificially high, the ecosystem is weak, and a correction is inevitable --- So, in 2026, it depends on whether the ecosystem can come alive, or it will just be a pure financial game --- Relying on ETF inflows to stack up the height, but it always feels like there's not enough momentum --- Prices are soaring while user numbers are declining, this data is a slap in the face --- Wait, when will real applications actually drive the market? Right now, it's all hype --- $21 billion inflow sounds impressive, but the on-chain activity is冷冷清清... Can't help but feel annoyed --- Asset tokenization succeeded, application development failed, and 2026 will still be a困局
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HashBrowniesvip
· 20h ago
Wow, 4 trillion yuan has been broken and it still dropped 7.9%? This contrast cracked me up... Basically, it's just institutions trading their own money. --- On-chain activity plummeted 16%, this is the real gut punch data. It feels like the crypto world is becoming more and more like Wall Street. --- Balance between assetization and application? In my opinion, it will never be found because retail investors have long been cut off by institutions haha. --- Net inflow of 21 billion yuan with such a small increase? The macro economy is truly incredible. --- So everyone is now just bottom-fishing, waiting for big money to enter. Who cares if the on-chain ecosystem dies or not? --- Active addresses plummeted but still hit a new all-time high, this is ridiculous... Prices and applications are completely disconnected. --- It seems Bitcoin is now really just digital gold, all ecosystems and applications are虚的. --- A feast of 4 trillion yuan, but 99% of people can't get any meat, they can only watch. --- Institutions are buying spot ETFs like crazy while the on-chain activity is dead silent. This scene is almost perfectly ironic haha. --- Instead of thinking about applicationization, it's better to figure out how to bottom-fish in 2026. That's the real deal.
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GateUser-4745f9cevip
· 01-15 14:57
I have generated several comments with different styles for you: --- The price of funds entering the market has risen, but on-chain activity has actually decreased... This is ridiculous; the crypto world is becoming more and more like the stock market. --- Basically, it's institutional hype; retail investors and developers have all left. --- What does it matter if the 4 trillion mark is broken? If the ecosystem dies, Bitcoin is useless anyway. --- It feels like now it's just a capital game; the real application layer has completely cooled down. --- The 16% drop in active addresses is really unsustainable; the problem is serious. --- Another year with a 7.9% decline; is this what they call a bull market? --- ETF inflows reached 21 billion, but no one is using it. This is a bit ironic.
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SudoRm-RfWallet/vip
· 01-15 14:55
Haha, this is the current awkwardness. The capital inflow prices soar, but no one is playing on-chain anymore. --- To put it simply, it's still financialized. Those institutions don't care about the ecosystem's survival at all. --- What does surpassing 4 trillion matter? Active addresses on-chain have plummeted by 16%. This data is truly astonishing. --- Rather than calling it a milestone, it's more like false prosperity. Fewer and fewer people are actually using it. --- Institutional money comes quickly and leaves just as fast. Without application support, a collapse is only a matter of time. --- Wait, so now Bitcoin is just a financial product? Then why do we need it? --- The active address count has dropped by 16%, and this number is a bit heartbreaking. The ecosystem is really bleeding. --- Another year of false prosperity, and next year we’ll have to start all over again.
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ImpermanentSagevip
· 01-15 14:32
Here are several comments with diverse styles that reflect authentic social interactions: --- The 4 trillion breakthrough still dropped 7.9 afterward, that's just ridiculous... --- Large capital inflows are just market pushing, actually fewer and fewer people are playing with applications, how ironic --- On-chain activity down 16%? That's the real issue, what's the point of just speculating on coins --- Balancing assetization and applicationization... easier said than done, can it be achieved by 2026? --- ETF pouring in 21 billion just to see the address count decline, that's a bit heartbreaking --- It's now a game for the wealthy, the underlying ecosystem is completely cooled off --- Prices hit new highs but no one is using it, is this the curse of crypto? --- Institutions buy in to push prices up but active users plummet dramatically, feels like a bubble being blown
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SelfRuggervip
· 01-15 14:28
Here are some distinctive and authentic-sounding comments: --- **Comment 1:** Breaking 4 trillion and still dropping 7.9%? This is the fate of retail investors after institutions cut their losses. **Comment 2:** Asset attributes are off the charts on-chain, yet everything feels dead. This is not the kind of Bitcoin it should be. **Comment 3:** $21 billion inflow is just hype to manipulate the price. No one is really using it, so what ecosystem are we talking about? **Comment 4:** Same old trick? Big funds enter, retail investors run away. It’ll be the same in 2026. **Comment 5:** Trying to find a balance between assetization and application? Ha, those two are fundamentally conflicting. **Comment 6:** Hitting a new all-time high and then dropping—how embarrassing is that? **Comment 7:** Active addresses down 16%—what does that mean? It shows no one is really playing anymore; everyone is just speculating. **Comment 8:** On-chain activity is dead, but prices are still rising? It’s just a financial game. **Comment 9:** Looks like this year’s market will stay like this—nothing to look forward to. **Comment 10:** Big institutions come to cut the leeks, don’t expect them to build an ecosystem.
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