2025 Bitcoin Review: Strategic Reserve Adoption, $126,000 Peak and Q4 Downturn

In 2025, Bitcoin saw the launch of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve under President Donald Trump, rising institutional ETF flows and a new all-time high above $126,000 before a sharp October reversal. After a $19 billion liquidation event, BTC slipped below key psychological price levels and hovered near $90,000 as indicators pointed toward the start of a bear cycle and investors increasingly rotated into traditional assets such as gold.