In the year 2025, when Bitcoin is lagging behind gold and silver, the pivotal question arises: is BTC about to make another historic breakout or the weakness being seen is just the signal of a deeper correction before the bull cycle begins?
The long-term Bitcoin chart, the institutional commentary and the on-chain structure are all pointing up that the current phase might not be the end but the middle of a bigger cycle.
There is no doubt that BTC has clearly underperformed this year when compared to gold and silver. From January 1st, gold has gained almost 72%, whereas silver has increased by nearly 150%. On the other hand, over the same period, Bitcoin has lost around 7% and is not able to get strong buying interest.
The weakness is primarily due to diminishing trading volumes which, in turn, has been caused by the market's lesser participation during the festive season when the Christmas and New Year holidays are celebrated.
Liquidity is less and the investors' risk-taking is still low—the circumstances that have usually put pressure on Bitcoin temporarily in the short run are just the same now.
The yearly chart of BTC, when zoomed out, tells a remarkably consistent tale. Long consolidation followed each major bull phase:
2013 and 2017: After extended accumulation, explosive upside
2020–2021: Institutional inflows resulted in strong green candles
2023–2024: A powerful breakout confirming cycle continuation
Patience was required for each bullish phase and then, corrections ensued.
The most significant drops in the price during the years 2011, 2013, 2018, and 2022 were all represented with huge yearly red candles, which marked the intense market pullbacks. But, in hindsight, those years were the ones that really laid the foundation for the next bull run.
At present, Bitcoin's price is approximately $87,000, which is a direct result of the powerful breakout in 2024. Even though the momentum has decreased, history indicates that the phases of cooling often reinforce the long-term trend whatever its direction.
The RSI has seen above 70, indicating that the market is still trending strongly on the macro level. At the same time, it points to a slight overbought situation, thus raising the chances of consolidation instead of immediate trend continuation.
This scenario is supported by a well-known plot:
Bullish long-term trend
Short-term correction or sideways movement
Next expansion phase set-up

David Schassler, the Head of Multi-Asset Solutions at VanEck, considers the temporary nature of Bitcoin's underperformance against gold and the Nasdaq 100, not structural.
Schassler said:
Gold retains positive factors in the case of risk-averse investors and limited liquidity
Basic principle of Bitcoin remains as it was
The recovery could happen as the rate of currency debasement and the amount of global liquidity rise
He is of the view that BTC might turn out to be one of the best-performing assets by 2026 when the appetite for risk returns.

Alex Thorn anticipates BTC might hit $250,000 by the close of 2027, while the year 2026 remains very much in the air. The options market mirrors this uncertainty by pricing up extreme scenarios:
By mid-2026: both $70K and $130K still possible
By end-2026: very broad range of $50K to $250K
As per BTC Price Prediction Such volatility is evidence of a market that is changing its direction—but not collapsing.
In spite of the long-term positivity, the near-term risks are still present. The market experts believe that the BTC needs to get back into the zone of $100,000–$105,000 with great certainty to discard the negatives.
Until that time, the market remains vulnerable to:
Economic pressure
Lack of liquidity
Risk-averse mood
One important trend is the decline in Bitcoin's long-term volatility. The changing behavior of BTC is due to the institutional strategies like yield generation and downside hedging.
Signals that the market is interpreting include:
Protection against losses costs more than potential profits
Less and less eruptions of volatility
More and more large investors entering the market
Bitcoin is slowly moving from being a high-risk growth asset to gold-like low-risk asset.

To put it differently, if past events are to be considered clues, the current consolidation may well be the accumulation phase for the next great move in Bitcoin’s price.
Crypto price predictions are for informational purposes only and not financial advice. The crypto market is highly volatile, and prices can change at any time. Do your own research before investing. We are not responsible for any financial losses.
Lokesh Gupta is a seasoned financial expert with 23 years of experience in Forex, Comex, NSE, MCX, NCDEX, and cryptocurrency markets. Investors have trusted his technical analysis skills so they may negotiate market swings and make wise investment selections. Lokesh merges his deep understanding of the market with his enthusiasm for teaching in his role as Content & Research Lead, producing informative pieces that give investors a leg up. In both conventional and cryptocurrency markets, he is a reliable adviser because of his strategic direction and ability to examine intricate market movements. Dedicated to study, market analysis, and investor education, Lokesh keeps abreast of the always-changing financial scene. His accurate and well-researched observations provide traders and investors with the tools they need to thrive in ever-changing market conditions.