Bitcoin slumps, missing ‘Santa rally’ while gold and stocks steal the show

Group 1 - Bitcoin experienced a decline of nearly 2% over a 24-hour period, trading at approximately $87,404, and has dipped close to 1% over the past week and 4% over the past month [1] - Ethereum and XRP also saw declines, with Ethereum dropping over 2% to nearly $2,927 and XRP priced at $1.85, both significantly below their all-time highs by 41% and 49% respectively [2] - Bitcoin reached a record high of $126,080 in October, but has faced investor fatigue and a significant crash that resulted in $19 billion in liquidations, leading to a year-to-date decline [3] Group 2 - Precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum have reached new highs due to geopolitical factors and the debasement trade, while US equities have also hit record closing highs [4] - Despite initial optimism for Bitcoin in 2023 due to supportive policies from President Trump, liquidity issues have hindered its performance, although some analysts predict a potential rally in 2026 [5] - Observers suggest that Bitcoin's typical four-year cycle may have ended, and despite fears of a drop in 2026, the asset class is expected to deliver returns next year [6]