2025 Predictions ①: “3 altcoin spot ETFs likely to be approved”

Eighteen analysts from the research team of crypto media outlet The Block have made their own industry and market predictions for 2025. CoinNess has summarized it in 3 parts, first as follows: 1. George Calle: Q1 is expected to disappoint in crypto price performance due to inflated expectations around monetary policy. However, Q2 and Q3 will see a market rebound, triggering increased token launches and on-chain activity. A notable single-coin ETF, such as a Solana or staked Ethereum ETF, may launch but will likely struggle to compete with Bitcoin ETFs. DeFi is set to benefit from softening U.S. regulations, with protocols passing more value to token holders, and the ICO 2.0 landscape emerging with targeted airdrops and incentives. 2. Steven Zheng: Bitcoin dominance will remain unusually high in 2025, exceeding 50%. Altcoin runs will focus on coins with strong narratives and value propositions. Memecoins will consolidate, while DeFi sees a resurgence driven by regulatory clarity. Notable developments could include the creation of an on-chain ETH-focused strategy akin to MicroStrategy and Uniswap Labs’ IPO. Bitcoin is expected to peak above $200,000, with market tops in Q2 2025. 3. Eden Au: On-chain AI agents will proliferate but face exploits, with AI hedge funds emerging as a new trend. Ethereum’s scaling and modularization narratives will return, and Base could become the third-largest chain by value locked. GameFi will see beta launches but may struggle with retention. Stablecoin regulations are expected to loosen, enabling competition among TradFi institutions. Bitcoin ETFs and Circle’s potential IPO will drive momentum, while NFTs are likely to experience late-cycle growth. 4. Simon Cousaert: AI and blockchain integration will remain experimental in 2025 but is poised for significant growth by 2030. Beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, Solana, Litecoin and XRP ETFs are likely contenders for approval. TradFi institutions are expected to roll out blockchain initiatives but may face adoption challenges. DeFi is projected to grow with regulatory support, and stablecoin market capitalization could surpass $400 billion by year-end. 5. Arnold Toh: Q1 will see a bullish recovery driven by rate cuts and notable airdrops. Q2 could reach peak mania with institutions increasingly adopting Bitcoin. AI and DePIN narratives will dominate, while Solana and Base lead layer-1 growth. Crypto games will launch but struggle for long-term traction. DeFi will rebound with leaders like Aave and Maker driving growth. A Solana ETF is anticipated in the first half of 2025. 6. Brandon Kae: Tokenization of societal events will surge, driven by mainstream adoption through platforms like Pump.fun. Trading tools will evolve, offering advanced automation features. Streamers and influencers will play a growing role in memecoin valuations. While memecoins will thrive, many NFT projects will struggle to replicate the success of major collections. The crypto gaming sector will see short-lived hype but limited sustained success.