As the last quarter of 2025 is underway, investors enter a historically favorable period of crypto markets – especially for Bitcoin which has delivered an average Q4 return of 79% since 2013.
According to a new report from Coindesk -Indexes, more factors can help this tendency to repeat, including monetary relief, rising institutional adoption and fresh legislative torque in the US
The background changes quickly. Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate coverage brought interest rates to their lowest level in almost three years, seting the stage for a wider risk-on mood. Institutions responded aggressively in 3rd quarter: US Spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFS so combined influx of over $ 18 billion, while public companies now have more than 5% of Bitcoin’s total supply.
Altcoins have also intervened, with over 50 listed companies that now have the non-BTC-tokens on their balance, of which 40 joined the last quarter.
Bitcoin finished Q3 up 8%and closed for $ 114,000, driven largely by the Treasury Record among public companies. With the expectations of further action cuts and growing interest in Bitcoin as a hedge against currency-derogating, Coindesk index expects the asset’s momentum to continue into the end of the year.
But this time the Bitcoin shares the limelight. Ethereum rose 66.7% in the 3rd quarter and hit a new highest height near $ 5,000. This step was led by the Treasury’s accumulation and ETF streams, but future gains may be linked to November’s Fusaka upgrade, aiming to improve scalability and network efficiency. If successful, it could strengthen Ethereum’s role as the basis of economic activity on the chain, especially in “low -risk” defi.
Solana Then a 35% quarterly gain, supported by large -scale business purchases and registration of ecosystem revenue. With new exchange-traded products that are launched and alpenglow upgrade in the pipeline, Solana places itself as the high-performance layer for decentralized applications, a tale that resonates with institutions seeking flow and cost effectiveness.
Meanwhile, XRP delivered a year to date a win of almost 37%, driven by legal clarity after Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ripple withdrew appeals in their long -term case. Investors are watching as Ripple’s StableCoin RLUSD is expanding globally. Stableecoin’s rapid growth could draw more defi protocols to the XRP headbook and elaborate on XRP’s tool.
Roasted 41.1% in 3rd quarter and surpassed several of its peers. While the activity on the chain remains relatively modest, consistent growth in stableecoin use, derivatives and DEX activity has created a more stable base for potential expansion. A pending decision on a spot ada ETF could mark a turning point for institutional adoption.
The broader trend is also evident in the index benefit. The Coindesk 20 index, which tracks the 20 most liquid and marketable digital assets, achieved over 30% in 3rd quarter and surpasses Bitcoin. Coindesk 80 and Coindesk 100, which captures central and small-cap assets, also issued a strong return, reflecting the growing interest across the market’s cap spectrum.
Looking ahead, the approval of generic listing standards for crypto-ETFs and the emergence of multi-active and stack-based ETPs could further speed up influx. For dealers, Q4 presents a unique mix: a favorable macro environment, elaboration of institutional commitment and renewed interest in altcoins.
