Search interest in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency has plummeted to multi-month lows on major platforms like Google and Naver, signaling waning retail enthusiasm at the end of 2025. Investors remain gripped by fear amid sluggish prices and memecoin failures, though experts predict a long-term recovery. This drop coincides with dashed hopes for a year-end market rally.
As 2025 draws to a close, indicators point to a significant retreat in public curiosity about cryptocurrency. Google Trends data shows global searches for "Bitcoin" at 19 on its 0-100 scale, a six-month low and just above the mid-June bottom of 18. Searches for "crypto" have fallen from over 50 at the month's start to 25 on December 28, with a similar 12-month low of 26 reported in the United States.
The trend extends beyond Google. In South Korea, Naver searches for "Bitcoin" dropped from a mid-month high of 46 to 15 by December 28, while "cryptocurrency" followed suit. Market sentiment tools reinforce the gloom: CoinMarketCap's Fear and Greed Index sits firmly in the "fear" zone, and South Korea's Upbit Data Lab shows it oscillating between "Fear" and "Neutral." In November, the index hit an extreme low of 10.
Crypto advocate Mario Nawfal highlighted the shift on X, noting "close to no retail interest in crypto right now." He added, "None of my normie friends or family ask me anything about crypto anymore," attributing part of the decline to memecoin debacles. Tokens like Official Trump and Official Melania, tied to the U.S. president and first lady, have lost over 90% of their value; Official Trump's market cap slid from more than $9 billion in January to under $1 billion by late December.
This disinterest aligns with Bitcoin's stable but uninspiring price around $87,800, between $80,000 and $90,000, and the absence of a anticipated "Santa rally." An October flash crash saw altcoins lose up to 99% of their value, triggering $20 billion in liquidations.
Despite the current lull, optimism persists among experts for a broader trajectory. Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, described a shift from the traditional four-year Bitcoin cycle to a "10-year grind," driven by factors like crypto exchange-traded funds, U.S. regulatory progress, stablecoin growth, and tokenization. He forecasted the market rising in 2026 with "strong returns, lower volatility, [with] some ups and downs," though not spectacular gains. Other voices, including Charles Hoskinson, project Bitcoin reaching $250,000, with some analysts eyeing $180,000 by 2026, potentially extending into a bullish decade through 2035.
