As we enter the new year, crypto industry observers are making bold predictions about what lies ahead in 2025. From the potential launch of a US-listed Solana exchange-traded fund (ETF) to the growing threat of AI-powered cyber attacks, here are three significant crypto predictions for 2025.
US-Listed Solana ETF: A Potential Price Catalyst
More companies are vying for a Solana ETF, including asset management giants VanEck, Grayscale, 21Shares, Bitwise, and Canary Capital. With Solana’s $91 billion market capitalization four times smaller than Ethereum’s $403 billion, it needs to capture less investment to achieve more upside momentum.
The approval of a US-listed Solana ETF would be a significant catalyst for the price of SOL, as investors see this as a potential trigger for further growth. Alejo Pinto, former IBM blockchain growth lead and founder of Solana layer-2 network Lumio, notes that an ETF approval in the US "would have a positive price impact on Solana since the probability is low and therefore not yet priced in."
The spot Solana ETFs are currently under review by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), with a deadline for a preliminary decision by the end of January 2025. The deadline for Grayscale’s Solana ETF application is January 23, while the four other applicants expect a preliminary decision by January 25.
SOL ETF Prediction
Alex Svanevik, CEO of crypto intelligence platform Nansen, has tipped a US-listed Solana ETF to go live in 2025 as part of nine predictions that could make the next year "the mother of all bull markets." He wrote in a November 27 Xpost: "SOL ETF. And it does better than the ETH ETF did at launch."
Brazil’s first Solana ETF was approved on August 7, setting a precedent for other global jurisdictions. Solana climbed back above $230 on December 11, fueled by growing trader anticipation for a SOL ETF, along with Bitwise setting a $750 price target for Solana.
AI-Powered Crypto Scams and Hackers: A Growing Threat
In a significant hit for mainstream crypto acceptance, crypto hackers stole $2.3 billion worth of value in 2024, marking a 40% increase from the previous year. The growing threat of AI-powered cyber attacks is becoming increasingly concerning.
AI-Related Cryptocurrencies
As we move forward into 2025, the symbiotic relationship between AI and blockchain will reshape the crypto ecosystem. Donald Trump’s upcoming presidential inauguration is also seen as a significant growth catalyst for the crypto space, with expectations of more innovation-friendly crypto regulation.
Cryptotrading Bots: A More Advanced Form of Software
AI-related cryptocurrencies are worth a cumulative $42 billion market capitalization as of December 25, CoinGecko data shows. Cryptotrading bots have already been used to analyze and replicate human trading behavior, offering users 24/7 market access despite carrying significant trading and security risks.
An AI agent is a more advanced form of software than the crypto trading bots, as they can adapt and evolve over time, learning from new market dynamics. While this raises concerns about the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks, it also presents opportunities for innovation in the field of blockchain-based AI solutions.
Other Honorable Mentions
While the above trends only scratch the surface of all the exciting crypto predictions for 2025, they illustrate the rapidly changing dynamics of the cryptocurrency industry. Industry participants are expecting to see more institutional and governmental crypto adoption, driven by the excitement around a potential Bitcoin reserve act in the US.
Investors are also hoping to see more regulatory clarity and crypto-based ETFs after January 20, when future SEC chair Paul Atkins will replace Gary Gensler, reigniting hopes that the regulator may drop its legal case against Ripple Labs.