Everyone knows the first man on the moon, but who knows the second? Things and people in second position often get overlooked by everyone, which is true even in the crypto world. Bitcoin has been the market’s hottest topic in recent weeks, while Ethereum, the world’s second most valuable cryptocurrency, has been largely relegated to the shadows. But breaking news today has shown that the tables have turned.

With Bitcoin on the rise, one would expect the asset only to keep gaining more holders. Still, according to a report from IntoTheBlock, the number of long-term Ether holders steadily increased throughout the year, while Bitcoin seemed to have dropped some numbers over the year.

A December 30 X post from IntotheBlock showed that the total percentage of Ether’s long-term holders had risen significantly from 59% in January to 75% in December. In the same period, the number of Bitcoin holders dropped slightly from 70% to 62%.

According to IntoTheBlock, only those holding an asset for over a year are categorized as long-term holders. 

In similar news, things are looking up for Ether as Q1 experts say the asset could be one of the potential Q1 rallies in 2025. 

A close analysis showed that the first quarters of the incoming new year may produce some of Ether’s best-performing moments due to two major factors– the United States election and the Bitcoin halving cycle. 

Ethereum’s best quarters were Q1 2017 and Q1 2021, when the token rallied 518% and 161%, respectively, according to CoinGlass data. During those two periods, Ethereum far outperformed Bitcoin, which only saw an 11.9% and 103.2% rally during the same period. 

Further contributing to the positivity around Ether is the fact that spot Ether ETFs are also doing pretty well at the moment. According to data provided by Farside Investors, Ether exchange-traded funds have recorded a net inflow of over $2.5 billion in the last 24 trading days. 

However, despite the largely positive mood regarding Ether's fate, one particular analyst has a very bearish outlook. 

Markus Thielen, founder of 10x Research, has stated in an interview that despite the positive stats Ethereum has seen recently, he expects that the token will continue to underperform and will fail to clinch a new all-time high under what will be a very hawkish macro climate in 2025.

In his words:

We are projecting a more conservative outlook for 2025. The initial hawkish policy could be tested by diminishing liquidity tailwinds, unlike in previous years.

He even predicted Bitcoin’s performance for the upcoming year, stating that the best it could reach in the next year is a $160,000 valuation. This is despite the majority of the market expecting Bitcoin to more than double in the next year following its strong price performance.

Goldman Sachs Eyes Bitcoin and Ethereum, Awaits Clear Regulations | HODL FM
Goldman Sachs eyes Bitcoin and Ethereum, but regulatory clarity is…
hodl-post-imageHODL FM: The Wildest Ride in the Crypto MarketAbimbola Adu
hodl-post-image

Disclaimer: All materials on this site are for informational purposes only. None of the material should be interpreted as investment advice. Please note that despite the nature of much of the material created and hosted on this website, HODL FM is not a financial reference resource and the opinions of authors and other contributors are their own and should not be taken as financial advice. If you require advice of this sort, HODL FM strongly recommends contacting a qualified industry professional.