As the last quarter of 2025 begins, investors enter a historical -desired time for crypto markets – especially for bitcoin delivering an average return of Q4 of 79% since 2013.
According to a new report from CoinDesk indices, many factors can help repeat the trend, including financial eruption, institutional revolt and fresh regulation of US regulation
The backdrop is moving fast. The latest Federal Reserve cutting rate has brought interest rates to their lowest levels in nearly three years, setting the stage for greater regional region. Institutions aggressively respond to Q3: US SPOT Bitcoin and Ether ETFs have seen the combined flow of more than $ 18 billion, while public companies are now holding more than 5% of the total Bitcoin supply.
Altcoins, also made incoming, with more than 50 listed companies now holding tokens that are not BTC on their balance sheets, 40 joining the last quarter.
Bitcoin ended the Q3 to 8%, which closed $ 114,000, encouraged by the treasury’s adoption of public companies. With expectations for further rate cuts and growing interest in Bitcoin as a fence against money losses, CoinDesk indices hope that the property momentum will continue by the end of the year.
But this time, Bitcoin shares the spotlight. Ethereum climbed 66.7% in Q3, hitting a new all-time near $ 5,000. That move was led by the accumulation of Treasury and the Flow of the ETF, but future acquisitions may be hinge by upgrading FUSAKA of November which aims to improve the scalability and efficiency of the network. If successful, it can boost Ethereum’s role as a foundation for on-chain financial activity, especially in the “low risk” defi.
Solana A 35% quarterly gain, which is supported by large -scale corporate purchases and records of ecosystem income. By launching new exchange products and the upgrade of Alphanglow in the pipeline, Solana positions itself as the high-performance layer for decentralized applications, a narrative that reflects institutions seeking throughput and cost efficiency.
Meanwhile, the XRP delivered a one-year-to-date gain of nearly 37%, fueling by legal clarity after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ripple retreated appeals to their long-standing cases. Investors are watching closely as Ripple’s Stablecoin RLUSD is expanding worldwide. Stablecoin rapid growth can draw more defi protocols on the XRP ledger, deepening the XRP utility.
Rose 41.1% in Q3, which is more than its peers. While the activity in the chain remains relatively modest, the growth in stablecoin use is still a bit of a growth, the volume of derivatives and dex activity created a more stable base for potential expansion. A pending decision in an ADA ETF area can mark a point for institutional adoption.
The broader trend is also evident in index performance. The CoinDesk 20 index, which monitors 20 most liquid and tradable digital assets, gains more than 30% in Q3, which exceeds Bitcoin. CoinDesk 80 and CoinDesk 100, which captures mid-and small cap properties, also posted a strong return, reflecting the growing interest in the entire Cap spectrum market.
At the forefront, the approval of common listing criteria for crypto ETFs and the emergence of multi-assets and staking-based ETPs can accelerate flows. For entrepreneurs, the Q4 presents a unique mix: a desirable Macro environment, deepening institutional relationships and updated interest in altcoins.
