Institutional Capital Favors Gold as Bitcoin Declines 11.24% in 2025
Written by Ohris M. Greyoon, Blockchain & Crypto Expert
Source: Coinmarketcap
Updated: Jan 17 2026- Divergence in Investor Behavior: According to a CryptoQuant report, from December 1, 2024, to December 1, 2025, Bitcoin depreciated by 11.24% while gold appreciated by 61.4%, indicating a clear preference for traditional safe-haven assets amid heightened uncertainty.
- Gold Price Hits Record Highs: As of the latest data, gold is trading near $4,580 per ounce, marking its strongest annual performance since 1979, reflecting strong market demand for gold and caution towards Bitcoin.
- Institutional Expectations Favor Gold: Major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America project gold prices reaching $5,000 in 2026, with Polymarket assigning a 79% probability to this outcome, underscoring a strong consensus around continued gold strength.
- Digital Market Safety Shift: In digital markets, tokenized gold products dominate on-chain commodity exposure, with Pax Gold and Tether Gold holding market capitalizations of $1.1 billion and $1.64 billion respectively, together representing nearly 80% of the tokenized commodities sector.
About the author
Ohris M. Greyoon
Ohris M. Greyoon holds a Master’s in Computer Science from MIT and has 10 years of experience in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency markets. A pioneer in decentralized finance (DeFi) analysis, he leads Intellectia’s Crypto News, offering cutting-edge insights into digital assets.
