Crypto Market Trading Volumes Sink as Holiday Slump Hits 2025 Markets

TL;DR

• Crypto Market Volume Collapse: Trading activity for BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, and DOGE has fallen to its lowest two‑week level since December 2024.
• Social Apathy: Santiment and Oro Crypto highlight shrinking Bitcoin social volume and low single‑digit social dominance.
• Critical Setup: Despite weak participation, macro signals such as gold above $4,500 echo 2020’s pre‑bull‑run environment, while BTC’s technical range sets the stage for a major 2026 breakout or breakdown.
  

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As 2025 winds down, the crypto market is entering its quietest phase of the year, with trading activity falling sharply across Bitcoin and major altcoins. Market data indicate that the final two weeks of December have delivered the lowest volume levels since late 2024, underscoring a period marked by muted participation, thin liquidity, and widespread trader disengagement.

📊 Trading volume has predictably dipped in the final weeks of 2025 with markets staying flat and unpredictable, as well as holidays pulling traders away from their devices.

📉 Regardless, barring a sudden surprise burst in price volatility, Bitcoin and altcoins have seen their… pic.twitter.com/HIoRE1bqHA

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) December 30, 2025

Holiday Lull Drains Liquidity Across Major Assets

According to Santiment, Bitcoin and leading altcoins are now experiencing their weakest two‑week trading stretch since December 2024, a decline driven by flat price action and year‑end distractions. The weekly volume for assets such as Ethereum and Solana has dropped by more than 50% compared to last year’s holiday period, signaling a notable cooling of speculative activity. The analytics firm attributes the slump to erratic market movement and reduced screen time, which have collectively drained liquidity across both spot and derivatives markets.

Altcoins Hit Hardest as Weekly Volume Falls Sharply

The downturn is especially pronounced among altcoins. Santiment reports that ETH, SOL, ADA, and DOGE are all seeing less than half of their weekly trading volume compared with late 2024, a shift interpreted as weakening short‑term interest rather than panic selling. Social indicators reinforce this trend: Oro Crypto highlights a steady decline in Bitcoin social volume since mid‑November, with fewer discussions, softer reactions to volatility, and fading engagement across major platforms.

Social Apathy Signals Exhaustion, Not Fear

Bitcoin’s social dominance slipping into low single‑digit territory suggests a fragmented market narrative rather than concentrated hype. Oro Crypto characterizes the environment as exhaustion, noting that major cycle tops typically coincide with loud sentiment and heavy retail participation, conditions currently absent despite wide price swings. This disconnect hints at a market waiting for a catalyst rather than bracing for a breakdown.

Macro Signals Offer Hope as Technical Levels Tighten

Some analysts point to macro trends for optimism. A recent comparison to mid‑2020 highlights how surging gold above $4,500 and rising silver prices could precede a rotation into Bitcoin, similar to the setup before BTC’s historic bull run. Still, technicals remain pivotal: Bitcoin trading near $88,000 must break above $90,600 to target $107,000, while failure to hold support could send the market toward $70,000–$65,000. With low volumes and critical levels converging, early 2026 is poised for a decisive move.