Altseason canceled? Not so fast π
π According to a market overview from market maker Wintermute, retail investors are rotating out of altcoins and back into BTC and ETH, while institutions have been steadily accumulating Bitcoin and Ethereum since summer.
Key points:
βͺοΈ BTC dominance has been rising throughout the second half of the year
βͺοΈ Altcoins are under pressure from large token unlocks
βͺοΈ Capital is concentrating mainly in BTC and ETH
βͺοΈ Holiday season + low liquidity = sideways market
Conclusion: An altseason is still possible, but not right now. First, BTC needs to reclaim higher levels and show strength. Short term: chop and liquidation-driven volatility. Mid term: institutions remain the main growth driver.π
π According to a market overview from market maker Wintermute, retail investors are rotating out of altcoins and back into BTC and ETH, while institutions have been steadily accumulating Bitcoin and Ethereum since summer.
Key points:
βͺοΈ BTC dominance has been rising throughout the second half of the year
βͺοΈ Altcoins are under pressure from large token unlocks
βͺοΈ Capital is concentrating mainly in BTC and ETH
βͺοΈ Holiday season + low liquidity = sideways market
Conclusion: An altseason is still possible, but not right now. First, BTC needs to reclaim higher levels and show strength. Short term: chop and liquidation-driven volatility. Mid term: institutions remain the main growth driver.π
π4β€3π2
π³ Reality check for VC valuations
π During bull markets, venture investors often push crypto project valuations higher on hype and momentum. But when the market cools, these projects face a harsh reality check: public market caps fall far below their earlier private valuations. π
π The recent downturn clearly exposed the growing gap between VC estimates and real market prices. As liquidity dries up and speculation fades, only projects with real traction and sustainable economics manage to hold value β the rest are repriced by the market. π€·
π During bull markets, venture investors often push crypto project valuations higher on hype and momentum. But when the market cools, these projects face a harsh reality check: public market caps fall far below their earlier private valuations. π
π The recent downturn clearly exposed the growing gap between VC estimates and real market prices. As liquidity dries up and speculation fades, only projects with real traction and sustainable economics manage to hold value β the rest are repriced by the market. π€·
π€5
π¨ Trust Wallet browser extension hack β what we know so far
π Reports started spreading on X about users losing funds right after authorizing the Trust Wallet browser extension. Wallets were drained and funds sent to unknown addresses. Initial losses were estimated at ~$2M, but the damage has now exceeded $6M with hundreds of victims. π
π What happened
βͺοΈThe issue is linked to Trust Wallet browser extension v2.68.
βͺοΈMalicious code was found sending wallet data to a fake domain (metrics-trustwalletβ€com), registered just days before the attack.
βͺοΈThe malware appears to trigger when importing a seed phrase, though other scenarios may also be affected.
π’ Official Trust Wallet statement
βͺοΈOnly browser extension v2.68 is affected.
βͺοΈUsers must disable v2.68 immediately and update to v2.69.
βͺοΈMobile app users and other versions are NOT affected.
βͺοΈUpdate only via the official Chrome Web Store link.
π₯ CZ (he is owner TW) stated that Trust Wallet will compensate affected users.
π Reports started spreading on X about users losing funds right after authorizing the Trust Wallet browser extension. Wallets were drained and funds sent to unknown addresses. Initial losses were estimated at ~$2M, but the damage has now exceeded $6M with hundreds of victims. π
π What happened
βͺοΈThe issue is linked to Trust Wallet browser extension v2.68.
βͺοΈMalicious code was found sending wallet data to a fake domain (metrics-trustwalletβ€com), registered just days before the attack.
βͺοΈThe malware appears to trigger when importing a seed phrase, though other scenarios may also be affected.
π’ Official Trust Wallet statement
βͺοΈOnly browser extension v2.68 is affected.
βͺοΈUsers must disable v2.68 immediately and update to v2.69.
βͺοΈMobile app users and other versions are NOT affected.
βͺοΈUpdate only via the official Chrome Web Store link.
π₯ CZ (he is owner TW) stated that Trust Wallet will compensate affected users.
π2πΎ2π€1
π¨ Bitcoin network hash rate since Christmas 2009 has grown 122 trillion times β from 9 MH/s to 1.1 ZH/s!
β‘οΈ Thatβs an absolutely insane computing power, crunching mind-boggling calculations every second.
π‘ Next time your neighbor asks βwhat backs BTC?β β just show them this number.
β‘οΈ Thatβs an absolutely insane computing power, crunching mind-boggling calculations every second.
π‘ Next time your neighbor asks βwhat backs BTC?β β just show them this number.
π3
π Bitcoin Christmas Prices: A Trip Through Time πΈ
Every Christmas, BTC tells a different story. From cents to five figures β hereβs how Bitcoin has grown over the years π
π BTC price on Christmas:
β’ 2010 β $0.25 π€―
β’ 2011 β $4
β’ 2012 β $13
β’ 2013 β $682
β’ 2014 β $319
β’ 2015 β $456
β’ 2016 β $896
β’ 2017 β $14,027 π
β’ 2018 β $3,815 π¬
β’ 2019 β $7,275
β’ 2020 β $24,665
β’ 2021 β $50,430 π₯
β’ 2022 β $16,831 βοΈ
β’ 2023 β $43,665
β’ 2024 β $98,200 π§¨
β’ 2025 β $87,350
π Moral of the story: volatility is temporary, Bitcoinβs long-term trend is not.
HODLers know β Christmas hits different when you zoom out ππ
Every Christmas, BTC tells a different story. From cents to five figures β hereβs how Bitcoin has grown over the years π
π BTC price on Christmas:
β’ 2010 β $0.25 π€―
β’ 2011 β $4
β’ 2012 β $13
β’ 2013 β $682
β’ 2014 β $319
β’ 2015 β $456
β’ 2016 β $896
β’ 2017 β $14,027 π
β’ 2018 β $3,815 π¬
β’ 2019 β $7,275
β’ 2020 β $24,665
β’ 2021 β $50,430 π₯
β’ 2022 β $16,831 βοΈ
β’ 2023 β $43,665
β’ 2024 β $98,200 π§¨
β’ 2025 β $87,350
π Moral of the story: volatility is temporary, Bitcoinβs long-term trend is not.
HODLers know β Christmas hits different when you zoom out ππ
π4π1
π Donβt rush to bury Bitcoin
π Zooming out beats watching short-term noise. If we look at 10-year average annual returns (CAGR) as of Dec 2025, the picture is pretty clear:
π Bitcoin: ~70% per year
π‘ Gold: ~15% per year
π΅ S&P 500: ~13% per year
Yes, BTC is volatile in the short term β corrections, fear, and shakeouts are part of the game. But over a 5+ year horizon, Bitcoin has consistently outperformed traditional assets by a wide margin.
π Bottom line: volatility doesnβt cancel long-term dominance. Time in the market still matters more than timing the market.
π Zooming out beats watching short-term noise. If we look at 10-year average annual returns (CAGR) as of Dec 2025, the picture is pretty clear:
π Bitcoin: ~70% per year
π‘ Gold: ~15% per year
π΅ S&P 500: ~13% per year
Yes, BTC is volatile in the short term β corrections, fear, and shakeouts are part of the game. But over a 5+ year horizon, Bitcoin has consistently outperformed traditional assets by a wide margin.
π Bottom line: volatility doesnβt cancel long-term dominance. Time in the market still matters more than timing the market.
π4
Perspective matters in crypto π
We feel bearish because we compare current prices to the latest ATH. But a healthier way to look at the market is through yearly lows, not recent highs.
π Example:
βͺοΈ2024 yearly low: $38,505
βͺοΈ2025 low: ~$74,434
Thatβs +128% from 2024 yearly bottom π
π‘ Takeaway:
Short-term pullbacks look scary only when viewed from the top. Zoom out, and Bitcoin is still massively up relative to its annual lows.
Sometimes the problem isnβt the price β itβs the perspective π§π
We feel bearish because we compare current prices to the latest ATH. But a healthier way to look at the market is through yearly lows, not recent highs.
π Example:
βͺοΈ2024 yearly low: $38,505
βͺοΈ2025 low: ~$74,434
Thatβs +128% from 2024 yearly bottom π
π‘ Takeaway:
Short-term pullbacks look scary only when viewed from the top. Zoom out, and Bitcoin is still massively up relative to its annual lows.
Sometimes the problem isnβt the price β itβs the perspective π§π
π7β€3
π In its annual report, Messari analysts highlights a clear shift from past-cycle hype to hard economic reality
Key takeaways:
1οΈβ£ BTC remains the only true βmonetaryβ asset in crypto β the market runs back to it during fear.
2οΈβ£ Most L1 altcoins will keep underperforming BTC: fast and cheap β trusted as money.
3οΈβ£ ETH is institutionally understandable, but often trades like a leveraged version of BTC.
4οΈβ£ Stablecoins are the real mass use case: payments and settlements, not flashy narratives.
5οΈβ£ Tokens without clear economics are punished β promises no longer sell.
6οΈβ£ DeFi is maturing: less fairy tales about APY, more real revenue from fees, spreads, and funding.
π Messariβs conclusion: crypto is turning into financial infrastructure, not a story of endless growth. By 2026, only assets with trust, sustainable demand, and real value capture will survive β the market is no longer giving βbelief credit.β π
Key takeaways:
1οΈβ£ BTC remains the only true βmonetaryβ asset in crypto β the market runs back to it during fear.
2οΈβ£ Most L1 altcoins will keep underperforming BTC: fast and cheap β trusted as money.
3οΈβ£ ETH is institutionally understandable, but often trades like a leveraged version of BTC.
4οΈβ£ Stablecoins are the real mass use case: payments and settlements, not flashy narratives.
5οΈβ£ Tokens without clear economics are punished β promises no longer sell.
6οΈβ£ DeFi is maturing: less fairy tales about APY, more real revenue from fees, spreads, and funding.
π Messariβs conclusion: crypto is turning into financial infrastructure, not a story of endless growth. By 2026, only assets with trust, sustainable demand, and real value capture will survive β the market is no longer giving βbelief credit.β π
π4β€1
π¨βπ¨ Tom Lee is bullish on ETHβ¦ again
Bitmine CEO Tom Lee said on CNBC that ETH could rally to $7,000β$9,000 by early 2026. π
And if tokenization really takes off, he believes $20,000 ETH is on the table. π
Sounds inspiring β until you remember that Bitmine is currently sitting on an unrealized ~$3.5B loss from its ETH investments π
When youβre that deep underwater, optimism comes naturally.
The irony? The analytics firm where Tom is Chief Investment Officer also allows for a scenario where ETH drops below $2,000. π
Bullish on TV, cautious in the models.
Crypto never changes.
Bitmine CEO Tom Lee said on CNBC that ETH could rally to $7,000β$9,000 by early 2026. π
And if tokenization really takes off, he believes $20,000 ETH is on the table. π
Sounds inspiring β until you remember that Bitmine is currently sitting on an unrealized ~$3.5B loss from its ETH investments π
When youβre that deep underwater, optimism comes naturally.
The irony? The analytics firm where Tom is Chief Investment Officer also allows for a scenario where ETH drops below $2,000. π
Bullish on TV, cautious in the models.
Crypto never changes.
π3
π‘ Bitcoin dip = tax hack?
While the S&P 500 keeps printing new ATHs, Bitcoin is down ~30% from its peak β and that drop turned into a tax opportunity for US investors.
π The trick is called tax-loss harvesting:
βͺοΈIf your stocks made +$10,000, you owe roughly $2β3k in taxes.
βͺοΈBut if you sell BTC at a -$10,000 loss, that loss can offset the stock gains.
βͺοΈResult: tax bill goes to zero.
π₯ The best part? You can buy BTC back immediately β even a minute later. No waiting period.
π With stocks, this doesnβt work:
βͺοΈThe IRS enforces a 31-day βwash saleβ rule for securities.
βͺοΈBitcoin isnβt classified as a security, but as property, so the rule doesnβt apply.
π§ Net effect: BTC stays in your portfolio, but the tax burden disappears.
Sometimes a dip isnβt pain β itβs a strategy.
While the S&P 500 keeps printing new ATHs, Bitcoin is down ~30% from its peak β and that drop turned into a tax opportunity for US investors.
π The trick is called tax-loss harvesting:
βͺοΈIf your stocks made +$10,000, you owe roughly $2β3k in taxes.
βͺοΈBut if you sell BTC at a -$10,000 loss, that loss can offset the stock gains.
βͺοΈResult: tax bill goes to zero.
π₯ The best part? You can buy BTC back immediately β even a minute later. No waiting period.
π With stocks, this doesnβt work:
βͺοΈThe IRS enforces a 31-day βwash saleβ rule for securities.
βͺοΈBitcoin isnβt classified as a security, but as property, so the rule doesnβt apply.
π§ Net effect: BTC stays in your portfolio, but the tax burden disappears.
Sometimes a dip isnβt pain β itβs a strategy.
π3β2
πΌ RWA beats AI in returns this year
According to CoinGecko data, the most profitable crypto narrative of 2024 was AI, delivering an insane +2,939%, even outperforming memecoins. π
π₯ This year the picture has changed.
AI hype is harder to sustain, while RWA (Real World Assets) keeps growing steadily and has taken the lead with +185% YTD.
π Fewer flashy launches, more real adoption β tokenization is quietly gaining momentum while speculative narratives cool off.
π€ The big question: which sector will dominate next year?
According to CoinGecko data, the most profitable crypto narrative of 2024 was AI, delivering an insane +2,939%, even outperforming memecoins. π
π₯ This year the picture has changed.
AI hype is harder to sustain, while RWA (Real World Assets) keeps growing steadily and has taken the lead with +185% YTD.
π Fewer flashy launches, more real adoption β tokenization is quietly gaining momentum while speculative narratives cool off.
π€ The big question: which sector will dominate next year?
π5