Crypto’s First Half of 2025 Was All About Bitcoin’s Strength Amid Altcoin Weakness. What’s the Outlook?

Bitcoin Stays Strong as Altcoins Stumble in First Half of 2025

The first half of 2025 wrapped up with the crypto market showing only modest overall gains, as bitcoin held steady while many altcoins struggled. Despite global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, the total crypto market cap edged up just 3% to reach $3.27 trillion, according to TradingView data.

Beneath that modest growth, however, the market revealed a stark divide.

Bitcoin Holds Firm, Altcoins Falter

Bitcoin (BTC) posted a solid 13% gain in the first six months of the year, maintaining its role as a stabilizing force amid broader volatility. In contrast, Ethereum’s ether (ETH) slumped 25%, while Solana (SOL) fell nearly 17%, highlighting the challenges faced by other major crypto assets.

The pain was even more pronounced in the lower tiers of the market. The TradingView OTHERS index, which tracks cryptocurrencies outside the top ten by market cap, plunged 30%, reflecting investors’ cautious stance toward riskier tokens.

What’s Ahead for Crypto in H2?

Despite a sluggish start to the year, some analysts remain hopeful that better days lie ahead for crypto markets. Joel Kruger, market strategist at LMAX Group, pointed out that July has historically been a strong month for crypto, with average gains of 7.56% since 2013.

“We’re entering a stretch that has often produced solid returns,” said Kruger. “The broader outlook is still constructive for the second half of the year.”

Kruger also noted that corporate treasuries are slowly expanding beyond bitcoin, with more firms exploring exposure to ETH and other digital assets.

Coinbase analysts echoed this optimism, anticipating a stronger second half fueled by possible Federal Reserve rate cuts, a stabilizing macro environment, and increasing regulatory clarity in the U.S., as lawmakers push forward legislation on stablecoins and crypto market structure.

Yet, others remain cautious. Analysts at Bitfinex warned that the third quarter, beginning in July, has historically been the weakest for bitcoin, averaging gains of just 6% since 2013.

“This is typically a period of lower volatility,” Bitfinex analysts noted, “which supports our view that sideways price action may persist a while longer.”

A Market Divided

Heading into the second half of the year, crypto investors are navigating a split market. Bitcoin remains a pillar of stability, but altcoins continue to lag. The key question now is whether seasonal trends and a supportive macro backdrop will help spark a broader rally—or if the market will remain locked in cautious consolidation.