In a surprising turn of events, Bitcoin and Ethereum encountered considerable setbacks during the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting one of their poorest performances as the year came to a close. Historical trends often indicate that Q4 is a period of recovery and gains for these major cryptocurrencies, but 2025 diverged sharply from this pattern.
According to data from Coinglass, Bitcoin recorded a decline of -23.07% in Q4 2025. This figure starkly contrasts with the historical average return of 77.07% typically seen during this quarter, and it is significantly below the median return of 47.73%. Such a substantial drop ranks as the second-most severe Q4 performance for Bitcoin, following only the dramatic -42.16% decline witnessed in 2018 during a pronounced bear market.
Throughout the quarter, Bitcoin faced persistent selling pressure, which undermined its ability to maintain key price levels. Investor confidence appeared to wane, contributing to the overall negative sentiment in the market.
Similarly, Ethereum suffered a notable decline, with its price plummeting by -28.28% in Q4 2025. This downturn marks it as the fourth-worst Q4 performance in the history of Ethereum. Traders had anticipated a recovery or at least a stabilization of prices, making this unexpected drop particularly jarring.
The performance of both cryptocurrencies in Q4 2025 signifies a departure from the established norms of the crypto market. Instead of the anticipated year-end rally, investors were met with deep losses, which are likely to be remembered as a challenging period for both BTC and ETH.
