Bitcoin's 'Never-Setting Sun' and Altcoins' 'Twilight of the Gods': Has the Four-Year Cycle Really Ended?
The crypto market in 2025 is experiencing an unprecedented divergence: Bitcoin (BTC) reached new highs of $125,000 driven by institutional inflows via ETFs, while Ethereum (ETH) struggled around $2,800, and most altcoins fell 80-95% from their 2021 peaks. The traditional four-year cycle—where BTC leads, ETH follows, and altcoins surge—has broken down.
This "great divergence" is fueled by institutionalization. BTC has become a "digital tech stock," correlated with Nasdaq, as traditional asset managers like BlackRock channel hundreds of billions solely into Bitcoin, creating a "one-way siphon" that leaves altcoins behind. ETH faces a "midlife crisis" due to Layer 2 solutions diverting value away from the mainnet and a lack of compelling new narratives. Altcoins are in a "liquidity black hole," plagued by high FDV/low float VC tokens, meme coin fatigue, and collapsing exchange liquidity.
Major 2026 forecasts from Grayscale and CoinShares predict this structural shift is permanent. They expect BTC dominance to rise further, with BTC potentially reaching $150,000, while ETH undergoes a painful transformation. Most altcoins will be wiped out in a "Darwinian cleansing," with only projects offering real utility, sustainable revenue, and a clear regulatory path surviving.
The four-year cycle isn't dead but has transformed. Future cycles may be "lame bull markets" where BTC rallies alone or with minimal spillover, signaling a permanent shift from a speculative, retail-driven market to an institutionalized, utility-focused one.
marsbit12/25 00:21
