CRYPTO 101 – 2025 Recap & 2026 Top Predictions for Crypto, Bitcoin, and the Stock Market!

Hosts: Bryce Paul, Brendan Viehman, TiVo
Date: January 1, 2026

Overview of the Episode

This special end-of-year episode brings together Bryce Paul, Brendan Viehman, and TiVo for a deep dive into everything that happened in crypto, Bitcoin, and the stock market during 2025, and bold predictions for what lies ahead in 2026. The hosts dissect pivotal moments across policy, regulation, institutional involvement, hacks, sentiment, and major market moves, sharing both their data-driven insights and boots-on-the-ground experiences. The tone is candid, energetic, and analytical, with a relentless focus on helping retail investors understand what matters most in the evolving crypto landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 2025: The Year in Review

Institutional & Regulatory Milestones

Regulatory Renaissance: The new U.S. administration prioritized "re-architecting" crypto guidelines, breaking with a previously restrictive regime. The Genius Act became the first major crypto law ([01:18]).
End of an Era: SEC Chair Gary Gensler exited, and numerous high-profile lawsuits against leading crypto firms (Coinbase, Kraken) began to be dropped ([07:53]).
Policy Momentum: String of regulatory wins, including bipartisan support for pro-crypto legislation like the Genius Act and advances toward the Clarity Act ([19:25], [54:11]).

Major Market Events

Meme Coin Mania & Its Collapse: Kicked off with President Trump & Melania launching meme coins, topping out the cycle spectacularly. Celebrity involvement (e.g., Dave Portnoy) signaled the top ([05:48], [12:58]).

“It was, I would say, arguably the greatest meme coin rally ever in history.” - Host A ([07:53])
Bybit Hack: $1.5 billion stolen in February due to a developer wallet compromise, but Bybit’s survival demonstrated industry progress on resilience ([09:36]).
Institutional Moves: Gemini, Circle, and Robinhood went public, with Circle’s IPO seeing a staggering 900% run, highlighting traditional finance’s increasing hunger for crypto exposure ([37:18]).

BTC, ETH, & Altcoin Price Action

Market Crash & Recovery: BTC and crypto prices slumped in early spring after tariff panic, then bottomed (BTC at $74k, April 7), followed by a ferocious rally to all-time highs by October ([26:39]).

“April was that turnaround point and bitcoin saw new all time highs. It ran 70%.” - Host A ([28:25])
Altcoin Euphoria: ETH, XRP, SOL, and others had massive mid-year rallies; ETH ETF (BlackRock) inflows soared ([28:28], [45:19]).
Historic Liquidations: Massive ($20bn) liquidations rocked the market in October, causing short-term chaos, but failed to derail longer-term institutional inflows ([56:00]).

Notable Hacks & Industry Shake-outs

Crypto’s Toughness: Despite Bybit’s huge hack and several DAT (Digital Asset Treasury) collapses or takeovers, the market proved resilient ([09:36], [66:18]).
Prediction Markets Explode: Platforms like Kalshi & Polymarket reached $40–44B in volume as on-chain betting and derivatives moved mainstream ([60:29]).

Macro & TradFi Crossover

Crypto in Policy: Crypto-focused Super PACs (Fair Shake, Fellowship) became two of the five largest in the U.S., pouring $100M+ into policy influence ([19:25]).
TradFi Follows Crypto: Observers predicted TRADFI markets (stocks, options) will mimic crypto with 24/7 access and tokenization ([74:09]).

2. Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

On Market Capitulation & Recovery:

“When everybody is calling this a dead industry, like they are now, when prices are down, when we're beaten, we're downtrodden, we are feeling sick to our stomach... That is the time to be a buyer.”
— Bryce ([14:34])
On Regulatory Progress:

“It’s no coincidence that the president named a crypto and AI czar... just goes to show how important this is.” — Bryce ([66:18])
On Meme Coin Mania’s Peak and End:

“...the end of Gary Gensler and Meme Coin Mania were iron. Isn't it ironic they ended at the same time?”
— Host A ([08:47])
On Industry Shakeouts:

“I don't think it was one dead body, it was several... a lot of hedge funds basically closed down in the wake of just really, really, really bad market environments.”
— Bryce ([57:37])
On Steadfast Belief:

“Bitcoin has died 446 times... There’s hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of more proclamations, but it is not true.”
— Bryce ([14:34])

3. Detailed Chronological Recap and Timestamps

January – March: Regulatory Resets & Meme Coin Mania

[05:48] President Trump’s crypto meme coin launch; Melania Coin follows.
[07:53] Meme coin cycle peaks; SEC lawsuits begin to unwind. Gary Gensler exits.
[11:51] Javier Milei’s "Libra" and Portnoy’s meme coins mark cycle end and investor losses.
[16:05] Trump signs executive order for U.S. bitcoin/digital asset stockpile.
[22:24] Ripple/XRP lawsuit ends favorably for crypto industry.
[23:12] CME launches Solana futures, expanding access for institutions.

April – June: Volatility, Tariffs, and Rebirth

[26:39] Major market drawdown after unpredictable tariff moves—buying opportunity emerges.
[28:25] BTC hits bottom, rockets 70%; altcoin rally (ETH +250%, SOL +170%).
[31:25] Ethereum upgrades (Petra, account abstraction) boost retail usability.
[37:18] Circle IPO's epic surge; “tradfi” (traditional finance) jumps in with both feet; Gemini and Robinhood follow.

July – September: Peak Euphoria, Policy Strides, Market Peaks

[42:50] Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) mania begins, huge inflows, new corporate adoption.
[45:19] Ethereum ETF inflows break records; Pump Fun ICO marks DeFi innovation boom.
[48:26] Sentiment shifts: BTC at $100k, but "fear" dominates. Big new retail entrants.
[53:33] ETH shoots to new highs with ETF flows; Aster (CZ-backed) and HyperLiquid compete.

October – December: Liquidations, Black Swans & Massive ETF Growth

[56:00] Bitcoin makes new high ($126k); record-breaking $20B daily liquidation triggers short-term pain.
[60:29] Prediction markets explode; stablecoins process over $50T; 200 public cos now hold BTC.
[60:29] Texas launches $5M BTC reserve, first among U.S. states. Stablecoin cap rises nearly 50% to $306B.
[60:29] On-chain payment volumes and prediction market volumes quadruple YoY.

2026: Top Predictions from the Hosts

Federal Reserve & Macro (TiVo) [63:20–66:18]

More Rate Cuts: Predicts >75bps of Fed cuts next year as new Fed chair comes in; market will test the new Fed's resolve.
Leveraged ETF Dangers: New wave of crypto and altcoin leveraged ETFs to launch—warns some will “go belly up”.

Policy and Markets (Bryce) [66:18–70:05]

Clarity Act to Pass: Expects long-awaited legislation to pass, clarifying crypto securities/commodities.

“Once this passes... big banks, big institutions will get even more involved.” ([66:18])
BTC Target: Sees BTC breaking $200k on back of new regulatory clarity.
DATs Shakeout: Predicts consolidation, mergers, possible DAT bankruptcies as the sector matures.

Industry Evolution & Price Action (Brendan) [70:05–75:52]

Turbulent H1: Forecasts highly volatile first half due to tariff rulings, new Fed chair, and regulatory uncertainty.
All-in-One Platforms: Growth of platforms blending crypto, equities, options, prediction markets, and metals.
Bank & Stablecoin Expansion: Mainstream banks and stablecoins will further adoption; stablecoins as “huge buyer of U.S. treasuries and debt.”
End of the Four Year Cycle: “Nail in the coffin” for the historic Bitcoin halving-driven bull/bear cycle.
Tradfi Learns from Crypto: Stock markets will move toward 24/7 models, mimicking crypto market structures.
Recovery Ahead: Despite turbulence, expects a strong recovery and new all-time highs for BTC and ETH.

Price Targets for 2026

Brendan: "Pretty surprised if not back above $100k... I'll say $177k." ([75:07])
TiVo: "$188k for Bitcoin—Ethereum to outperform Bitcoin." ([75:52])
Bryce: “$200k for Bitcoin, nice round even number." ([76:15])

“We’ll take $192k any day if we fall in the middle.” – TiVo ([76:18])

2025 Final Stats (Brendan) [60:29]

Stablecoin Market Cap: Grows 50% to $306B
Stablecoin Payments: $50T volume (double YoY)
Public Cos Holding BTC: Nearly 200 (up from 100–120)
Crypto ETF Products (Net Inflow): $46.7B (4x growth)
Prediction Market Volume: $40–44B (up 400%)

Standout Wisdom for Listeners

Sentiment Contrarianism: “When everyone is calling the industry dead, that’s the time to be a buyer.” ([14:34])
Institutional Influx: "Crypto is now a central policy issue, with big money flowing into PACs and institutional holdings." ([19:25], [66:18])
Stay Vigilant: New ETF products, leveraged instruments, and meme sectors—guard against hype and scams.
2026 Outlook: Turbocharged volatility early, major policy wins, more mainstreaming, possible record new highs in Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Episode Navigation (Select Timestamps)

[01:18] – Bryce on regulatory paradigm shift & Genius Act
[05:48] – Trump & Melania meme coins, SEC lawsuits unwind
[09:36] – Bybit hack, institutional skittishness, industry resilience
[14:34] – Bryce on buying when sentiment is at its worst
[26:39] – Market crash, tariff panic, bottoming, recovery to new ATHs by October
[31:25] – Ethereum upgrades, FTX repayments, XRP CME futures
[37:18] – Tradfi IPO euphoria: Circle, Gemini, Robinhood
[42:50] – DAT mania, new companies, institutional treasuries
[48:26] – Fear & Greed Index: "fear" at $100k BTC
[53:33] – Ethereum’s historic ETF inflows, altcoin peak, emergence of new platforms
[56:00] – $20B liquidation event in Bitcoin
[60:29] – End-of-year metrics (stablecoins, ETF flows, public BTC holders, prediction markets)
[63:20] – Hosts’ 2026 macro & policy predictions
[75:07] – Hosts’ 2026 BTC & ETH price targets

Conclusion

Despite immense volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and several “black swan” events, 2025 ended with stronger institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, record prediction market growth, and infrastructure advances. The hosts urge listeners to learn from the cyclical nature of crypto markets: moments of despair often precede major rallies. For 2026, expectations are set high for new all-time high prices, further regulatory action, and cross-pollination as TradFi increasingly embraces the crypto operating model.

Bold, informed optimism prevails—tempered by warnings about hype, leveraged products, and the need for consistent research and community engagement.

For weekly updates, deep dives, and access to guest interviews and visuals, the hosts recommend visiting the CRYPTO 101 YouTube channel and connecting via show links.

CRYPTO 101 – 2025 Recap & 2026 Top Predictions for Crypto, Bitcoin, and the Stock Market!

Hosts: Bryce Paul, Brendan Viehman, TiVo
Date: January 1, 2026

Overview of the Episode

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 2025: The Year in Review

Institutional & Regulatory Milestones

Regulatory Renaissance: The new U.S. administration prioritized "re-architecting" crypto guidelines, breaking with a previously restrictive regime. The Genius Act became the first major crypto law ([01:18]).
End of an Era: SEC Chair Gary Gensler exited, and numerous high-profile lawsuits against leading crypto firms (Coinbase, Kraken) began to be dropped ([07:53]).
Policy Momentum: String of regulatory wins, including bipartisan support for pro-crypto legislation like the Genius Act and advances toward the Clarity Act ([19:25], [54:11]).

Major Market Events

Meme Coin Mania & Its Collapse: Kicked off with President Trump & Melania launching meme coins, topping out the cycle spectacularly. Celebrity involvement (e.g., Dave Portnoy) signaled the top ([05:48], [12:58]).

“It was, I would say, arguably the greatest meme coin rally ever in history.” - Host A ([07:53])
Bybit Hack: $1.5 billion stolen in February due to a developer wallet compromise, but Bybit’s survival demonstrated industry progress on resilience ([09:36]).
Institutional Moves: Gemini, Circle, and Robinhood went public, with Circle’s IPO seeing a staggering 900% run, highlighting traditional finance’s increasing hunger for crypto exposure ([37:18]).

BTC, ETH, & Altcoin Price Action

Market Crash & Recovery: BTC and crypto prices slumped in early spring after tariff panic, then bottomed (BTC at $74k, April 7), followed by a ferocious rally to all-time highs by October ([26:39]).

“April was that turnaround point and bitcoin saw new all time highs. It ran 70%.” - Host A ([28:25])
Altcoin Euphoria: ETH, XRP, SOL, and others had massive mid-year rallies; ETH ETF (BlackRock) inflows soared ([28:28], [45:19]).
Historic Liquidations: Massive ($20bn) liquidations rocked the market in October, causing short-term chaos, but failed to derail longer-term institutional inflows ([56:00]).

Notable Hacks & Industry Shake-outs

Crypto’s Toughness: Despite Bybit’s huge hack and several DAT (Digital Asset Treasury) collapses or takeovers, the market proved resilient ([09:36], [66:18]).
Prediction Markets Explode: Platforms like Kalshi & Polymarket reached $40–44B in volume as on-chain betting and derivatives moved mainstream ([60:29]).

Macro & TradFi Crossover

Crypto in Policy: Crypto-focused Super PACs (Fair Shake, Fellowship) became two of the five largest in the U.S., pouring $100M+ into policy influence ([19:25]).
TradFi Follows Crypto: Observers predicted TRADFI markets (stocks, options) will mimic crypto with 24/7 access and tokenization ([74:09]).

2. Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

On Market Capitulation & Recovery:

“When everybody is calling this a dead industry, like they are now, when prices are down, when we're beaten, we're downtrodden, we are feeling sick to our stomach... That is the time to be a buyer.”
— Bryce ([14:34])
On Regulatory Progress:

“It’s no coincidence that the president named a crypto and AI czar... just goes to show how important this is.” — Bryce ([66:18])
On Meme Coin Mania’s Peak and End:

“...the end of Gary Gensler and Meme Coin Mania were iron. Isn't it ironic they ended at the same time?”
— Host A ([08:47])
On Industry Shakeouts:

“I don't think it was one dead body, it was several... a lot of hedge funds basically closed down in the wake of just really, really, really bad market environments.”
— Bryce ([57:37])
On Steadfast Belief:

“Bitcoin has died 446 times... There’s hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of more proclamations, but it is not true.”
— Bryce ([14:34])

3. Detailed Chronological Recap and Timestamps

January – March: Regulatory Resets & Meme Coin Mania

[05:48] President Trump’s crypto meme coin launch; Melania Coin follows.
[07:53] Meme coin cycle peaks; SEC lawsuits begin to unwind. Gary Gensler exits.
[11:51] Javier Milei’s "Libra" and Portnoy’s meme coins mark cycle end and investor losses.
[16:05] Trump signs executive order for U.S. bitcoin/digital asset stockpile.
[22:24] Ripple/XRP lawsuit ends favorably for crypto industry.
[23:12] CME launches Solana futures, expanding access for institutions.

April – June: Volatility, Tariffs, and Rebirth

[26:39] Major market drawdown after unpredictable tariff moves—buying opportunity emerges.
[28:25] BTC hits bottom, rockets 70%; altcoin rally (ETH +250%, SOL +170%).
[31:25] Ethereum upgrades (Petra, account abstraction) boost retail usability.
[37:18] Circle IPO's epic surge; “tradfi” (traditional finance) jumps in with both feet; Gemini and Robinhood follow.

July – September: Peak Euphoria, Policy Strides, Market Peaks

[42:50] Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) mania begins, huge inflows, new corporate adoption.
[45:19] Ethereum ETF inflows break records; Pump Fun ICO marks DeFi innovation boom.
[48:26] Sentiment shifts: BTC at $100k, but "fear" dominates. Big new retail entrants.
[53:33] ETH shoots to new highs with ETF flows; Aster (CZ-backed) and HyperLiquid compete.

October – December: Liquidations, Black Swans & Massive ETF Growth

[56:00] Bitcoin makes new high ($126k); record-breaking $20B daily liquidation triggers short-term pain.
[60:29] Prediction markets explode; stablecoins process over $50T; 200 public cos now hold BTC.
[60:29] Texas launches $5M BTC reserve, first among U.S. states. Stablecoin cap rises nearly 50% to $306B.
[60:29] On-chain payment volumes and prediction market volumes quadruple YoY.

2026: Top Predictions from the Hosts

Federal Reserve & Macro (TiVo) [63:20–66:18]

More Rate Cuts: Predicts >75bps of Fed cuts next year as new Fed chair comes in; market will test the new Fed's resolve.
Leveraged ETF Dangers: New wave of crypto and altcoin leveraged ETFs to launch—warns some will “go belly up”.

Policy and Markets (Bryce) [66:18–70:05]

Clarity Act to Pass: Expects long-awaited legislation to pass, clarifying crypto securities/commodities.

“Once this passes... big banks, big institutions will get even more involved.” ([66:18])
BTC Target: Sees BTC breaking $200k on back of new regulatory clarity.
DATs Shakeout: Predicts consolidation, mergers, possible DAT bankruptcies as the sector matures.

Industry Evolution & Price Action (Brendan) [70:05–75:52]

Turbulent H1: Forecasts highly volatile first half due to tariff rulings, new Fed chair, and regulatory uncertainty.
All-in-One Platforms: Growth of platforms blending crypto, equities, options, prediction markets, and metals.
Bank & Stablecoin Expansion: Mainstream banks and stablecoins will further adoption; stablecoins as “huge buyer of U.S. treasuries and debt.”
End of the Four Year Cycle: “Nail in the coffin” for the historic Bitcoin halving-driven bull/bear cycle.
Tradfi Learns from Crypto: Stock markets will move toward 24/7 models, mimicking crypto market structures.
Recovery Ahead: Despite turbulence, expects a strong recovery and new all-time highs for BTC and ETH.

Price Targets for 2026

Brendan: "Pretty surprised if not back above $100k... I'll say $177k." ([75:07])
TiVo: "$188k for Bitcoin—Ethereum to outperform Bitcoin." ([75:52])
Bryce: “$200k for Bitcoin, nice round even number." ([76:15])

“We’ll take $192k any day if we fall in the middle.” – TiVo ([76:18])

2025 Final Stats (Brendan) [60:29]

Stablecoin Market Cap: Grows 50% to $306B
Stablecoin Payments: $50T volume (double YoY)
Public Cos Holding BTC: Nearly 200 (up from 100–120)
Crypto ETF Products (Net Inflow): $46.7B (4x growth)
Prediction Market Volume: $40–44B (up 400%)

Standout Wisdom for Listeners

Sentiment Contrarianism: “When everyone is calling the industry dead, that’s the time to be a buyer.” ([14:34])
Institutional Influx: "Crypto is now a central policy issue, with big money flowing into PACs and institutional holdings." ([19:25], [66:18])
Stay Vigilant: New ETF products, leveraged instruments, and meme sectors—guard against hype and scams.
2026 Outlook: Turbocharged volatility early, major policy wins, more mainstreaming, possible record new highs in Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Episode Navigation (Select Timestamps)

[01:18] – Bryce on regulatory paradigm shift & Genius Act
[05:48] – Trump & Melania meme coins, SEC lawsuits unwind
[09:36] – Bybit hack, institutional skittishness, industry resilience
[14:34] – Bryce on buying when sentiment is at its worst
[26:39] – Market crash, tariff panic, bottoming, recovery to new ATHs by October
[31:25] – Ethereum upgrades, FTX repayments, XRP CME futures
[37:18] – Tradfi IPO euphoria: Circle, Gemini, Robinhood
[42:50] – DAT mania, new companies, institutional treasuries
[48:26] – Fear & Greed Index: "fear" at $100k BTC
[53:33] – Ethereum’s historic ETF inflows, altcoin peak, emergence of new platforms
[56:00] – $20B liquidation event in Bitcoin
[60:29] – End-of-year metrics (stablecoins, ETF flows, public BTC holders, prediction markets)
[63:20] – Hosts’ 2026 macro & policy predictions
[75:07] – Hosts’ 2026 BTC & ETH price targets

Conclusion

Bold, informed optimism prevails—tempered by warnings about hype, leveraged products, and the need for consistent research and community engagement.

For weekly updates, deep dives, and access to guest interviews and visuals, the hosts recommend visiting the CRYPTO 101 YouTube channel and connecting via show links.

2025 Recap & 2026 Top Predictions for Crypto, Bitcoin, and the Stock Market!

Powered by Wave AI

Summary

CRYPTO 101 – 2025 Recap & 2026 Top Predictions for Crypto, Bitcoin, and the Stock Market!

Overview of the Episode

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 2025: The Year in Review

Institutional & Regulatory Milestones

Major Market Events

BTC, ETH, & Altcoin Price Action

Notable Hacks & Industry Shake-outs

Macro & TradFi Crossover

2. Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

3. Detailed Chronological Recap and Timestamps

January – March: Regulatory Resets & Meme Coin Mania

April – June: Volatility, Tariffs, and Rebirth

July – September: Peak Euphoria, Policy Strides, Market Peaks

October – December: Liquidations, Black Swans & Massive ETF Growth

2026: Top Predictions from the Hosts

Federal Reserve & Macro (TiVo) [63:20–66:18]

Policy and Markets (Bryce) [66:18–70:05]

Industry Evolution & Price Action (Brendan) [70:05–75:52]

Price Targets for 2026

2025 Final Stats (Brendan) [60:29]

Standout Wisdom for Listeners

Episode Navigation (Select Timestamps)

Conclusion

Summary

CRYPTO 101 – 2025 Recap & 2026 Top Predictions for Crypto, Bitcoin, and the Stock Market!

Overview of the Episode

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 2025: The Year in Review

Institutional & Regulatory Milestones

Major Market Events

BTC, ETH, & Altcoin Price Action

Notable Hacks & Industry Shake-outs

Macro & TradFi Crossover

2. Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

3. Detailed Chronological Recap and Timestamps

January – March: Regulatory Resets & Meme Coin Mania

April – June: Volatility, Tariffs, and Rebirth

July – September: Peak Euphoria, Policy Strides, Market Peaks

October – December: Liquidations, Black Swans & Massive ETF Growth

2026: Top Predictions from the Hosts

Federal Reserve & Macro (TiVo) [63:20–66:18]

Policy and Markets (Bryce) [66:18–70:05]

Industry Evolution & Price Action (Brendan) [70:05–75:52]

Price Targets for 2026

2025 Final Stats (Brendan) [60:29]

Standout Wisdom for Listeners

Episode Navigation (Select Timestamps)

Conclusion