Polkamarkets pricePOLK

The cryptocurrency market experienced a day of notable activity and shifting dynamics on Monday, November 24, 2025, marked by Bitcoin's continued price struggles, significant advancements in institutional adoption for altcoins, and a blend of optimism and challenges across various sectors.

Bitcoin Navigates Significant Downturn

Bitcoin faced a challenging period, extending a weeks-long slump that has seen its value decline significantly. The cryptocurrency dropped as much as 7.6 percent on Friday, settling around $80,553. This decline contributed to a nearly 25 percent loss in November, making it Bitcoin's worst month since the market collapses of Terra and FTX in 2022. The downturn has been attributed to factors including spot selling, redemptions from exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and complex options positioning that amplified price swings. While some analysts are referring to this as the 'Great Bitcoin Crash of 2025,' others view it as a routine correction within a volatile market. Bitcoin's price briefly dipped below $82,000 before rebounding slightly to $83,509.

Altcoins Show Divergent Performance Amid BTC Pressure

In contrast to Bitcoin's slide, several altcoins demonstrated resilience, hinting at a potential reallocation of capital within the crypto ecosystem. Ethereum (ETH), XRP, and Dogecoin (DOGE) notably fared better, with Ethereum rising 0.79 percent and XRP surging 3.17 percent in a 24-hour period. This relative outperformance is reflected in the ALT/BTC ratio, which increased by nearly 9.5 percent in November despite Bitcoin's over 24 percent fall. However, the altcoin market was not uniformly strong; some, like Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA), experienced significant declines of 20–35 percent from their November highs, particularly affecting DeFi and small-cap tokens. The Altcoin Season Index, which tracks the performance of the top 100 altcoins relative to Bitcoin, dropped to 25, indicating that only a quarter of these assets have outperformed Bitcoin in the last 90 days.

Milestones in Institutional Adoption for Altcoins

Today marked a significant step forward for institutional engagement with altcoins as Grayscale Investments launched spot ETFs for Dogecoin (GDOG) and XRP (GXRP) on the NYSE Arca. These listings aim to provide mainstream investors with a new, regulated avenue to invest in these cryptocurrencies through traditional brokerage accounts. Franklin Templeton and Grayscale’s XRP ETFs received approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to commence trading today. This move follows the earlier launch of XRP ETFs by Bitwise and Canary Capital.

In a parallel development, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) Derivatives launched institutional-grade Bitcoin and Ethereum perpetual futures. These contracts offer a continuous, no-expiry structure with robust clearing and margining standards, providing institutional, accredited, and expert investors with regulated exposure to these major digital assets.

Ethereum's Ecosystem on the Rise

Optimism surrounded the Ethereum network today, driven by anticipation of its upcoming Fusaka upgrade, scheduled for December 3. This upgrade is expected to dramatically enhance scalability, efficiency, and reduce transaction costs, especially for Layer 2 networks. Ethereum's price climbed by 3.80 percent to $2,809, reflecting this positive sentiment. The broader Ethereum ecosystem has witnessed a surge in activity throughout November 2025, reaching new all-time highs in decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and Layer 2 network utilization.

Mixed Fortunes for DeFi and NFT Markets

The DeFi sector continues to evolve, with key trends for 2025 focusing on cross-chain interoperability, integration with AI, institutional adoption, and the development of decentralized derivatives markets. The global DeFi market is projected for substantial growth in the coming years. Conversely, the NFT market is facing a significant downturn. Its market capitalization fell to $2.78 billion, reaching its lowest point since April, indicative of waning demand. Similarly, memecoins experienced a sharp plunge, collectively shedding over $5 billion in value within 24 hours.

Evolving Regulatory Landscape

The regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies is seeing some shifts. The US SEC has indicated that cryptocurrencies will no longer be a priority in its 2026 agenda, suggesting a perception of increased market stability. However, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) recently highlighted persistent gaps in international cryptocurrency regulations, raising concerns about investor protection and financial system vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, Switzerland has initiated a consultation on stablecoins and crypto institutions, and Algeria implemented a law on July 24, 2025, criminalizing all crypto-related activities.

Bitget Exchange Activity

Bitget, a prominent Universal Exchange, announced its Black Friday “Invest and Enjoy Equal Bonuses” campaign, running from November 21 to December 1, 2025. This promotion offers various incentives for users engaging in spot-grid trading, including matched rewards and a substantial prize pool. Additionally, Bitget scheduled upgrades for certain spot and futures trading pairs for November 24, 2025, and has been adjusting funding rates and leverage for specific trading pairs.

Today's crypto market underscored its inherent volatility while simultaneously demonstrating ongoing maturation through institutional product launches and significant developmental milestones for key ecosystems like Ethereum.