Market commentators say a sharp divide has emerged between Bitcoin supporters and precious metals advocates after a year of strong moves for both sides, with Bitcoin’s long-term returns contrasted against gold and silver’s powerful rally. Analyst Adam Livingston cites roughly 27,700% gains for Bitcoin since 2015, versus about 400% for silver and 280% for gold, while critics such as Peter Schiff argue that shorter timeframes tell a different story. Other analysts highlight how macro factors, a weaker US dollar and expectations of Fed easing in 2026 are driving all three assets, suggesting Bitcoin does not need gold or silver to slow before it can rise again.

XRP is hovering around $1.87 after falling below $2 and is down about 30% in the fourth quarter of 2025. Some analysts highlight prior accumulation phases and current support near $1.8–$2 as signs a rebound could form, while others point to the downtrend from October 2025 as continued selling pressure.

On December 26, 2025, Sharplink co-CEO Joseph Chalom said Ethereum's total value locked could rise 10X in 2026, linking the outlook to stablecoin usage, real-world asset tokenization, and institutional interest. Based on reports, the stablecoin market is about $308 billion and may reach $500 billion by the end of next year, with roughly 54% of activity on Ethereum. ETH traded near $2,921 on December 25, 2025.

On December 24, 2025, Capital Markets said tokenized stocks on Solana reached an all-time high of ~$185M. Charles Hoskinson argued Solana's faster decision-making and upgrades give it near-term momentum versus Ethereum, while Ethereum's research-focused roadmap targets broader infrastructure over a longer horizon.

According to reports, Triblu founder Joshua Dalton has outlined a scenario in which XRP could be adopted as part of a US strategic crypto reserve, potentially creating millionaires, billionaires, or even trillionaires among existing holders. Using US national debt estimates of about $38 trillion and Ripple’s escrow balance of roughly 34.4 billion XRP, he argues an XRP price near $883 would be needed to cover around 80% of that debt, far above the current level near $1.91. The idea faces major legal, policy, and market hurdles, and analysts highlight that government reserves, market liquidity, and regulatory clarity would strongly influence any such outcome.

Reports describe Fundstrat's internal Bitcoin outlook for 2026 as divided between risk-focused downside planning and a more optimistic macro view. Sean Farrell is said to outline a base case that sees BTC falling toward $60,000–$65,000 and ETH and SOL also pulling back, while Tom Lee continues to project new all-time highs that could reach up to $200,000 by late January 2026. Market participants are weighing these separate scenarios as distinct time frames and mandates rather than a single unified firm forecast.

CryptoQuant data shows addresses labeled as new Bitcoin whales now represent almost 50% of Bitcoin’s realized cap, a level that seldom topped 22% before 2025. Analysts add that short‑term holder supply grew by roughly 100,000 BTC in 30 days, while exchange flows indicate around 37% of BTC sent to Binance came from 1,000–10,000 BTC wallets.

Concerns about future quantum computing threats are pressuring Bitcoin's price and slowing some investment flows, as developers and investors diverge sharply on the risk. Adam Back and other cryptographers argue current quantum machines are far from breaking Bitcoin's protections, while figures like Jameson Lopp and Nic Carter highlight worst-case scenarios and capital diversification. Industry voices are calling for early planning around quantum-resistant cryptography and improved wallet practices ahead of any potential breakthrough.

Michael Arrington, founder of TechCrunch and CrunchBase, recently disclosed on social media that XRP is one of his five largest crypto holdings by dollar value, alongside Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and Immutable. His post sparked heavy engagement and debate among market participants over portfolio construction and what his choices might signal. XRP’s price action has been volatile in 2025, with the token trading around $1.98 in mid-December after previously reaching nearly $3.65 in July.