Crypto and Bitcoin are the worst-performing assets of 2025
Last Updated on 22 December 2025 by CryptoTips.eu
As 2025 comes to a close, one thing is clear: crypto seriously underperformed compared to traditional markets. While investors in commodities and stocks enjoyed strong returns, the crypto sector is stuck at the bottom. Altcoins took the hardest hit, ending the year as the worst-performing asset class overall.
Silver and gold shine, crypto drops hard
The big winner of 2025 is silver, surging +130%. Gold follows with a strong +65% gain, driven by persistent inflation concerns and global uncertainty. Copper also performed well with +35%, and stock markets like the Nasdaq (+20%), S&P 500 (+16%), and Russell 2000 (+13%) posted solid returns.
Crypto, on the other hand, had a brutal year. Bitcoin closed 2025 down 6%, and Ethereum fell 12%. But the real bloodbath was among altcoins, which lost an average of 42% over the year. That officially makes the broader crypto market the worst-performing asset class of 2025.
Altcoins crash, sentiment at rock bottom
In previous years, altcoins were the source of massive gains, but 2025 flipped the script. Confidence in smaller projects collapsed, driven by tougher regulations, falling trading volumes, and a lack of fresh narratives. While ETH dropped 12%, many smaller coins saw losses of 50% or more.
Low trading activity, rising interest rates, and weak institutional inflows all created a hostile environment for crypto investors. In contrast, traditional markets benefited from a renewed sense of economic stability and expectations of rate cuts in 2026, fueling investor optimism.
All eyes are now on 2026. Can crypto recover, or will it continue to lag behind the rest of the financial world?
