Trading in Bitcoin and major altcoins is experiencing its quietest period of the year, coinciding with the holiday season. Contrary to expectations, the market ended 2025 without a year-end rally, and underlying momentum has significantly weakened.
According to blockchain data analytics firm Santiment, major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), experienced their weakest trading volumes in the final two weeks of 2025 since the same period last year. Prices remained within a narrow trading range, and the holiday season led to a "trading freeze," with traders withdrawing from trading.
Altcoin trading plummets… A different atmosphere than last year.
Santiment recalled that “there were similar periods in the past when trading volume decreased, but at that time, altcoins such as Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Ada (ADA), and Dogecoin (DOGE) still showed active trading flow,” and analyzed that “this year, the weekly trading volume of the same coins has plummeted to more than half.”
For example, Solana has been stagnant for the past month, hovering around $126 (approximately 182,322 won). Interestingly, however, funds are pouring into Solana-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs). According to Lookonchain, an on-chain data analytics firm, the Solana ETF recently recorded a net inflow of 36,533 SOLs (approximately $4.6 million) in one day, and the cumulative net inflow over the past seven days reached 87,667 SOLs (approximately $11.05 million, approximately 15.99335 billion won). This suggests that institutional demand is flowing in even amidst stagnant prices.
This shows a dual temperature difference between the 'silence of the spot market' and 'fractional purchases by institutional investors,' adding complexity to the market flow.
Altcoins are on a downward trend, dampening investor sentiment.
Meanwhile, Ada continued its downward trend, falling more than 8% from $0.417 to $0.349 over the same period. Dogecoin, too, has fallen nearly 10% over the past month, currently trading around $0.122 (approximately 176 won). Some traders are warning of further declines, observing "death cross" and "head and shoulders" patterns on technical charts. Experts analyzed that "with the decline in open interest in Dogecoin futures, investor sentiment is further weakening."
There was no altcoin season in 2025.
Experts predict 2025 will be remembered as the year the altcoin season disappeared. While there were brief bull runs, the overall upward momentum of the altcoin market was significantly weaker than in past bull runs. In fact, some say it was unable to avoid relative weakness compared to Bitcoin.
Cryptocurrency analyst Rekt Fencer predicted that "altcoins are currently nearing a macro bottom compared to Bitcoin," and that "a full-blown altcoin season could begin in 2026." He emphasized that historically, a bull market is more likely when the market cap share of the "Others" indicator reaches 12-13%. This indicator is currently at a similar level to the altcoin bull markets of 2017 and 2020. Statistically, there are precedents where altcoins reaching a market share of 18-20% have triggered a major altcoin season.
Market in "waiting mode"… Rebound expected in 2026
Overall, the cryptocurrency market appears to be suffering from a combination of factors, including short-term trading stagnation, reduced price volatility, and weakened investor sentiment. However, some on-chain indicators and institutional inflows suggest a potential medium- to long-term rebound. This could signal a new direction with the market reopening in 2026.
🔎 Market Interpretation
The cryptocurrency market closed quietly in late 2025 amidst severe trading stagnation. Altcoin trading volumes were lower than last year, but institutional interest, including ETF inflows, remained.
💡 Strategy Points
- Some see the current low volatility of altcoins as a good time to buy at a low price.
- Pay attention to the flow of funds into the Solana ETF.
- Watch for the possibility of a repeat of the upward cycle that began in the 12-13% altcoin dominance range.
📘 Glossary
- Box: A state where asset prices rise and fall within a certain range.
Death Cross: A bearish signal when the short-term moving average crosses below the long-term moving average.
- ETF: A fund that can be bought and sold like stocks on an exchange.
- Dominance: The percentage of the overall market that a particular asset holds
💡 Want to know more? AI-prepared questions for you:
A. The holiday season and price fluctuations coincided with the end of 2025, leading to reduced investor participation in the market. This led to a sharp drop in trading volume, which fell to its lowest level since this time last year.
A. The Solana ETF is a safe product that institutional investors can invest in indirectly. Although the Solana spot price has stagnated, the ETF continues to see steady inflows, indicating continued institutional demand.
A. Experts predict a rebound, as the dominance of altcoins is approaching levels that have historically driven bull markets. In particular, bull markets have historically emerged when the dominance of "other" altcoins reached 12-13%.
A. Dogecoin technically exhibited bearish patterns, such as the death cross and head and shoulders, in late 2025. These are interpreted as signals of further decline.
TP AI Precautions
This article was summarized using a TokenPost.ai-based language model. Key points in the text may be omitted or inaccurate.
Get real-time news... Go to TokenPost Telegram
Copyright © TokenPost. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited.
