Wintermute: To escape the crypto market dilemma, ETFs need to expand investment scope, with leading assets driving gains and attracting retail investor attention back

BTC5,43%
ETH8,75%

BlockBeats News, January 19 — Wintermute released a recent article stating that 2025 did not bring the expected market rally, but it may be seen as the beginning of cryptocurrencies shifting from a speculative asset to a more mature asset class. The traditional four-year cycle pattern is failing. Market performance is no longer dominated by self-fulfilling narrative timelines but depends on the flow of liquidity and the focus of investor attention.

In 2025, there was no outflow of funds from Bitcoin to Ethereum, and then transmitted to the altcoin market. As retail interest shifted to the stock market, 2025 became a year of extreme centralization. The average rebound cycle for altcoins shortened to 20 days (from 60 days in 2024). A few leading assets absorbed the vast majority of new funds, while the broader market struggled. To break through the limitations of leading assets, at least one of the following three conditions must occur:

· ETFs and digital asset trust funds expand investment scope

· Leading assets like BTC, ETH strongly lead the rally

· Retail investor attention (from stock markets, etc.) returns

The final outcome will depend on whether these catalysts can truly expand liquidity beyond a few major assets or if market centralization continues to intensify. Understanding the potential capital flows and the structural changes needed will determine the market dynamics of 2026.

Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to Disclaimer.

Related Articles

Yesterday, Bitcoin spot ETFs had net outflows of $291 million, and Fidelity's FBTC had net outflows of $229 million

On April 13, Bitcoin spot ETF total net outflows were $291 million, BlackRock’s IBIT had net inflows of $34.7012 million, Bitwise’s BITB had net inflows of $11.8758 million, and Fidelity’s FBTC had net outflows of $229 million. Total spot ETF assets net asset value was $94.51B, and the net asset ratio was 6.45%.

GateNews1h ago

Nigel Farage invests 2 million pounds in Bitcoin, becoming the UK’s first openly holding MP

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage bought Bitcoin with roughly £2 million, becoming the first sitting member of Parliament to publicly disclose an investment of this size. The move highlights his party’s support for cryptoassets and could spark debate about the impact on the UK’s crypto policy and potential conflicts of interest. Farage invested via Stack BTC, strengthening his dual political and financial endorsement.

MarketWhisper1h ago

Lava Network Brings Bitcoin Cash Online With Reliable RPC Infrastructure

Bitcoin Cash is officially live on Lava Network, and it is a big advancement towards decentralized infrastructure to support scalable payments. The integration brings on board RPC access to BCH mainnet and BCH testnet which allows developers, applications and users to interact with the network

BlockChainReporter1h ago
Comment
0/400
No comments