Markets Share Share this article Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail Bitcoin's 'realized cap' holds at record hig Markets Share Share this article Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail Bitcoin's 'realized cap' holds at record hig

Bitcoin's 'realized cap' holds at record high over $1 trillion, casting doubt on four-year cycle

Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail

Bitcoin's 'realized cap' holds at record high over $1 trillion, casting doubt on four-year cycle

A very supportive macro backdrop is being ignored for now, said Bitwise's Andre Dragosch.

By James Van Straten|Edited by Stephen Alpher
Dec 18, 2025, 5:53 p.m.
BTC Realized Cap (Glassnode)

What to know:

  • Bitcoin’s so-called realized capitalization is at a record $1.125 trillion, continuing to rise through this recent 36% price correction.
  • Bitwise’s Andre Dragosch argues bitcoin is underpricing a supportive macro backdrop, with resilient growth and a more dovish Fed potentially driving further upside and undermining the four-year cycle framework.

Bitcoin’s "realized capitalization" is at an all-time high of $1.125 trillion, suggesting that BTC remains in a bull market despite the near-40% plunge in prices over the past 10 weeks.


This on-chain metric, which values each bitcoin at the price it last moved, highlights actual capital inflows rather than speculative price action like total market capitalization.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Sign me up


Glassnode data shows realized cap continued to rise through the 36% correction from the October all-time price high, even as it's stalled of late in the $1.125 trillion area. A similar pause was seen during the tariff tantrum in April 2025, when bitcoin bottomed near $76,000 before going on to make new highs.

During the 2022 bear market, realized cap fell from around $470 billion to $385 billion as investors capitulated and coins were sold at lower cost base — this sort of response is not being seen at the moment.

Four-year cycle narrative questioned

Andre Dragosch, European head of research at Bitwise, told CoinDesk that bitcoin could defy the four-year cycle narrative, with upside surprises in 2026. Dragosch pointed to resilient global growth combining with ongoing rate cuts to steepen the yield curve and expand liquidity — all conditions that could weaken the U.S. dollar which is an environment that has historically been supportive for bitcoin.


"In my view, bitcoin is materially underpricing the prevailing macro backdrop, to a degree last seen during the Covid recession and the FTX collapse, despite no signs of a U.S. recession and evidence of re-accelerating growth," said Dragosch.

Bitcoin NewsGlassnode

More For You

Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

Commissioned byGoPlus

What to know:

  • As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
  • GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
  • Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.
View Full Report

More For You

Bitcoin bulls foiled again as price tumbles back to $86,000, giving up CPI gains and more

Far softer than expected inflation numbers Thursday morning had markets racing early, but some are questioning the data.

What to know:

  • In what's now become a regular occurrence during this bear market, crypto markets swung from sizable gains to sizable losses in a very short time frame.
  • Bitcoin early in U.S. action Thursday had popped above $89,000 after a far softer than forecast CPI print initially raised hopes for easier Fed monetary policy.
  • Though well off session highs, equity markets remain nicely in the green for day, continuing their 2025 pattern of outperforming crypto.
Read full story
Latest Crypto News

ECB’s Christine Lagarde shifts focus to digital euro rollout after holding rates

Bitcoin bulls foiled again as price tumbles back to $86,000, giving up CPI gains and more

ICP extends recovery to rise above $3; trading volume increases without spiking

Flood of new crypto ETPs expected in 2026, says Bitwise

BONK drops 6.2% as elevated volume marks shift at key technical levels

U.S. SEC aids brokers on crypto custody, looks more closely at ATS activity

Top Stories

Bitcoin bulls foiled again as price tumbles back to $86,000, giving up CPI gains and more

U.S. SEC aids brokers on crypto custody, looks more closely at ATS activity

Coinbase shares rise as ‘ambitious expansion’ wins analyst praise

Gold, silver shine in debasement trade as bitcoin is left behind

U.S. inflation data surprises, with CPI higher by just 2.7% in November

U.S. SEC aids brokers on crypto custody, looks more closely at ATS activity

Market Opportunity
Capverse Logo
Capverse Price(CAP)
$0.13482
$0.13482$0.13482
-0.62%
USD
Capverse (CAP) Live Price Chart
Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.

You May Also Like

Trading time: Tonight, the US GDP and the upcoming non-farm data will become the market focus. Institutions are bullish on BTC to $120,000 in the second quarter.

Trading time: Tonight, the US GDP and the upcoming non-farm data will become the market focus. Institutions are bullish on BTC to $120,000 in the second quarter.

Daily market key data review and trend analysis, produced by PANews.
Share
PANews2025/04/30 13:50
‘Love Island Games’ Season 2 Release Schedule—When Do New Episodes Come Out?

‘Love Island Games’ Season 2 Release Schedule—When Do New Episodes Come Out?

The post ‘Love Island Games’ Season 2 Release Schedule—When Do New Episodes Come Out? appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. LOVE ISLAND GAMES — Episode 201 — Pictured: Ariana Madix — (Photo by: Ben Symons/PEACOCK via Getty Images) Ben Symons/PEACOCK via Getty Images We’ve got a text! It’s time for another season of Love Island Games. With fan-favorites returning in hopes of winning the $250,000 cash prize, read on to learn more about Love Island Games Season 2, including the release schedule so you don’t miss a second of drama. Love Island Games is a spinoff in the Love Island franchise that first premiered in 2023. The show follows a similar format to the original series, but with one major twist: all contestants are returning Islanders from previous seasons of Love Island from around the world, including the USA, UK, Australia and more. Another big difference is that games take on much more importance in Love Island Games than the mothership version, with the results “determining advantages, risks, and even who stays and who goes,” according to Peacock. Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix is taking over hosting duties for Love Island Games Season 2, replacing Love Island UK star Maya Jama who hosted the first season. Iain Stirling returns as the show’s narrator, while UK alum Maura Higgins will continue to host the Saturday show Love Island: Aftersun. ForbesWho’s In The ‘Love Island Games’ Season 2 Cast? Meet The IslandersBy Monica Mercuri Jack Fowler and Justine Ndiba were named the first-ever winners of Love Island Games in 2023. Justine had previously won Love Island USA Season 2 with Caleb Corprew, while Jack was a contestant on Love Island UK Season 4. In March 2024, Fowler announced on his Instagram story that he and Justine decided to remain “just friends.” The Season 2 premiere revealed the first couples of the season: Andrea Carmona and Charlie Georgios, Andreina Santos-Marte and Tyrique Hyde,…
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/18 04:50
ArtGis Finance Partners with MetaXR to Expand its DeFi Offerings in the Metaverse

ArtGis Finance Partners with MetaXR to Expand its DeFi Offerings in the Metaverse

By using this collaboration, ArtGis utilizes MetaXR’s infrastructure to widen access to its assets and enable its customers to interact with the metaverse.
Share
Blockchainreporter2025/09/18 00:07