{"id":92546,"date":"2025-12-23T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/?p=92546"},"modified":"2025-12-24T09:47:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T06:47:29","slug":"prediction-meet-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/prediction-meet-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2025 Prophecies: How Did the Giants of Crypto Research Actually Fare?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Each December, investment behemoths and research houses publish outlooks for the year ahead that many in the industry treat as lodestars. Yet deep expertise and institutional tooling do not guarantee accurate prophecy.<\/p>\n<p>ForkLog reread top analysts\u2019 calls for 2025 and compared them with what actually happened.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The $200,000 club<\/h2>\n<p>Investors hunting for outsized gains in crypto crave signposts on price charts. The ultimate aim of technical and fundamental analysis is to divine future prices\u2014above all for bitcoin and the most popular altcoins.<\/p>\n<p>The late-2024 exuberance, fuelled by the election of America\u2019s self-styled \u201ccrypto president\u201d Donald Trump, emboldened eminent forecasters. Most converged on bitcoin at $200,000 by end-2025\u2014a view shared by leading analysts at <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/bernstein-sets-out-the-drivers-of-bitcoins-march-to-1m\">Bernstein<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/standard-chartered-predicts-bitcoin-to-reach-500000\">Standard Chartered<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/bitwiseinvestments.com\/crypto-market-insights\/the-year-ahead-10-crypto-predictions-for-2025\">Bitwise<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>They were wide of the mark. On October 5th the bellwether <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/bitcoin-surpasses-125000-to-set-new-all-time-high\">set<\/a> a new all-time high at \u201conly\u201d a little above $125,708.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"406\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-4ee63df733495771-1707793063905821-1024x406.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-272374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-4ee63df733495771-1707793063905821-1024x406.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-4ee63df733495771-1707793063905821-300x119.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-4ee63df733495771-1707793063905821-768x305.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-4ee63df733495771-1707793063905821-1536x610.png 1536w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-4ee63df733495771-1707793063905821.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Daily chart of BTC\/USDT on Binance (18.12.2025). Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/ru.tradingview.com\/chart\/PbFTS4Q2\/?symbol=BINANCE%3ABTCUSDT\">TradingView<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Joining the \u201c$200,000 club,\u201d Bitwise added that Ethereum and Solana would set fresh highs. Strictly speaking, they were right: both briefly pierced their prior peaks, by just a few dollars. SOL reached roughly $295 on January 19th 2025, while ETH <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/week-in-review-ethereum-hits-a-new-ath-as-two-bitcoin-pools-seize-51-of-hashrate\">set a record<\/a> on August 23rd, trading at $4,889 on Binance.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"408\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-7d71b7eeab6bdde2-1707793092853549-1024x408.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-272378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-7d71b7eeab6bdde2-1707793092853549-1024x408.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-7d71b7eeab6bdde2-1707793092853549-300x119.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-7d71b7eeab6bdde2-1707793092853549-768x306.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-7d71b7eeab6bdde2-1707793092853549-1536x612.png 1536w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-7d71b7eeab6bdde2-1707793092853549.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Daily chart of ETH\/USDT on Binance (18.12.2025). Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/ru.tradingview.com\/symbols\/ETHUSDT\/\">TradingView<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>VanEck went further, naming precise levels. They saw Ethereum at $6,000 and Solana at $500, but were more restrained than others on BTC at $180,000.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cAfter the first peak [in Q1 2025] we expect a 30% correction in BTC, while altcoins may face a sharper drop\u2014up to 60% against a backdrop of market consolidation in the summer months. However, a recovery is likely in the autumn: major tokens will regain momentum and by year-end return to their previous all-time highs\u201d<\/em>, the authors of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vaneck.com\/us\/en\/blogs\/digital-assets\/matthew-sigel-vanecks-10-crypto-predictions-for-2025\/\">VanEck\u2019s 10 Crypto Predictions for 2025<\/a> predicted.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-a1507652029a7067-1707793180072265-1024x366.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-272382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-a1507652029a7067-1707793180072265-1024x366.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-a1507652029a7067-1707793180072265-300x107.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-a1507652029a7067-1707793180072265-768x275.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-a1507652029a7067-1707793180072265-1536x549.png 1536w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-a1507652029a7067-1707793180072265.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: VanEck.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In December the $162bn manager broke with its yearly tradition and, tongue in cheek, refused to publish 2026 predictions, merely wishing everyone good luck.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">No predictions for 2026. Good luck out there! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mQTe9u0BMh\">pic.twitter.com\/mQTe9u0BMh<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 VanEck (@vaneck_us) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/vaneck_us\/status\/2001069108096352728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Long-dated calls are a handy way to dodge charges of amateurism. At ARK Invest, <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/who-is-cathie-wood-and-how-does-she-promote-bitcoin\">Cathie Wood<\/a> prizes that approach, building five-year views. In April the fund <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/ark-invest-predicts-bitcoin-surge-to-2-4-million-by-2030\">revised<\/a> its bitcoin target from $1.5m to $2.4m by 2030.<\/p>\n<p>Its bear, base and bull cases were set at $500,000, $1.2m and $2.4m, respectively. In the prior February 11th note the markers were lower\u2014$300,000, $710,000 and $1.5m.<\/p>\n<p>For their part, Bernstein expect $500,000 by 2030 and $1m by end-2033, with bear phases along the way.<\/p>\n<p>Analysts also overreached on crypto stocks. Though Bitwise correctly called the <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/coinbase-to-join-sp-500-as-first-crypto-company\">inclusion<\/a> of Coinbase Global in the S&amp;P 500, they badly missed on price:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cCoinbase will overtake Charles Schwab to become the most valuable brokerage firm in the world, and its shares will exceed $700 apiece.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tradingview.com\/symbols\/NASDAQ-COIN\/\">TradingView<\/a>, COIN failed to clear $444 a share, with a peak market capitalisation of <a href=\"https:\/\/companiesmarketcap.com\/coinbase\/marketcap\/\">about $107bn<\/a>. For comparison, Charles Schwab\u2019s equivalent <a href=\"https:\/\/companiesmarketcap.com\/charles-schwab\/marketcap\/\">peaked<\/a> at $176bn.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-748b26e942884ee1-1707793185351936-1024x506.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-272377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-748b26e942884ee1-1707793185351936-1024x506.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-748b26e942884ee1-1707793185351936-300x148.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-748b26e942884ee1-1707793185351936-768x380.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-748b26e942884ee1-1707793185351936.png 1457w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Daily chart of Coinbase Global on Nasdaq (18.12.2025). Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/chart\/COIN#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\">Yahoo Finance<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It will take longer<\/h2>\n<p>The bitcoin <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-the-bitcoin-halving\">halving<\/a>, approval of crypto-<a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-a-cryptocurrency-etf\">ETFs<\/a>, and improved regulatory backdrops fired up even the hard-nosed. Analysts called many trends well, but misjudged macro crosswinds and institutional behaviour. In some corners, hype met the inertia of the real world.<\/p>\n<p>Blockchain\u2019s transparency and convenience drew big players and retail users to <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-are-rwas-real-world-assets\">RWA<\/a>. VanEck and Bitwise, banking on a mass migration of US debt on-chain, forecast $50bn in tokenised securities.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"http:\/\/rwa.xyz\">RWA.xyz<\/a>, the sector did post solid growth in 2025, but peaked at roughly $18bn.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-7c3d3d3f103ecc39-1707793103293507-1024x401.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-272376\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-7c3d3d3f103ecc39-1707793103293507-1024x401.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-7c3d3d3f103ecc39-1707793103293507-300x118.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-7c3d3d3f103ecc39-1707793103293507-768x301.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-7c3d3d3f103ecc39-1707793103293507.png 1510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Value of tokenised real-world assets. Source: RWA.xyz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The chief drag was likely bureaucracy and regulatory uncertainty. The RWA narrative is alive, but $50bn will take time.<\/p>\n<p>The authors of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coinbase.com\/ru\/institutional\/research-insights\/research\/market-intelligence\/2025-crypto-market-outlook\">Coinbase\u2019s<\/a> 2025 outlook for institutions likewise highlighted the theme\u2019s promise:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThe trend around RWA extends beyond US Treasury bonds and money market funds, gaining momentum in areas such as private credit, commodities, corporate bonds, real estate, and insurance. We believe that, over time, tokenization can simplify the entire portfolio construction and investment process by moving it on-chain, although it may take a few more years to get there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Another area that drew intense attention was <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-are-bitcoin-l2-scaling-solutions\">L2<\/a> on bitcoin (<a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/will-btcfi-fuel-bitcoins-next-leg-up\">BTCFi<\/a>). Teams at <a href=\"https:\/\/messari.io\/report\/the-crypto-theses-2025#bitcoinhttps:\/\/messari.io\/report\/the-crypto-theses-2025#bitcoin\">Messari<\/a>, Bitwise and VanEck predicted rapid expansion and the unlocking of trillion-dollar capital.<\/p>\n<p>At first BTCFi grew briskly: in the second half of 2024 alone, total value locked (TVL) climbed more than tenfold, topping $7bn. By early 2025, however, momentum faded, giving way to stagnation and then declines.<\/p>\n<p>VanEck estimated that aggregate TVL in bitcoin L2s would reach 100,000 BTC in 2025\u2014about 600% growth versus the previous year.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-4f1778f5f57ec6be-1707793071866013.webp\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-272379\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bitcoin L2 TVL growth in 2024. Source: VanEck.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Adoption accelerated in the autumn, and on December 15th, per DefiLlama, the total surpassed 78,000 BTC\u2014only slightly shy of VanEck\u2019s call.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"410\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-1b6e4370fee89e3b-1707793147387902-1024x410.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-272380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-1b6e4370fee89e3b-1707793147387902-1024x410.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-1b6e4370fee89e3b-1707793147387902-300x120.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-1b6e4370fee89e3b-1707793147387902-768x308.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-1b6e4370fee89e3b-1707793147387902.png 1511w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">BTCFi TVL chart. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/defillama.com\/chain\/bitcoin?currency=BTC\">DefiLlama<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Even so, the segment hit serious adoption snags. As ForkLog editor Alex Kondratyuk <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/btcfi-stalled-evolution-or-a-temporary-setback\">noted<\/a>, \u201cthe key barrier to the segment\u2019s growth remains the extremely poor usability of services,\u201d and apps in this niche \u201care impossible for an ordinary person to use\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wide of the mark<\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes trend-spotting not only misses reality but produces the opposite outcome. So it was with entire crypto sectors.<\/p>\n<p>Messari\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/messari.io\/report\/the-crypto-theses-2025#consumer\">The Crypto Theses 2025<\/a> spotlighted two areas\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-gamefi\">GameFi<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/decentralised-society-and-its-enemies-can-desoc-replace-x-facebook-and-youtube\">DeSoc<\/a>\u2014that proved disappointments of the year.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWe are convinced that gaming retains enormous potential as an entry point into <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-web3\"><em>Web3<\/em><\/a><em>. As major Web2 players move into the sector, the release of higher-quality games and improving sentiment among gamers are expected to create a positive cumulative effect\u201d<\/em>, Messari forecast.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Despite heavy marketing and onboarding of gamers into the new AAA title Off The Grid, GameFi as a whole stagnated.<\/p>\n<p>According to Messari, at its peak the project drew more than 150,000 concurrent viewers on Twitch\u2014helped by streams from star creators such as Ninja, TimTheTatman and Shroud. These influencers not only showcased gameplay mechanics but also explained the product\u2019s Web3 components in plain language.<\/p>\n<p>Even that push could not keep blockchain gaming afloat. To mass-market gamers, the sector held little appeal.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e59fd5d30fe4d9da-1707793788412741-1024x510.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-272383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e59fd5d30fe4d9da-1707793788412741-1024x510.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e59fd5d30fe4d9da-1707793788412741-300x149.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e59fd5d30fe4d9da-1707793788412741-768x383.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e59fd5d30fe4d9da-1707793788412741.png 1493w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Off The Grid screenshot. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/store.epicgames.com\/ru\/p\/off-the-grid-7e3cc5\">Epic Games<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.footprint.network\/@Cipher\/Web3-Gaming-Data\">Footprint Analytics<\/a>, active users of Web3 games fell from a 2.5m peak in August 2024 to 600,000 by December 2025.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e8937e3cf283c892-1707793324701523-1024x438.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-272381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e8937e3cf283c892-1707793324701523-1024x438.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e8937e3cf283c892-1707793324701523-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e8937e3cf283c892-1707793324701523-768x328.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e8937e3cf283c892-1707793324701523-1536x657.png 1536w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e8937e3cf283c892-1707793324701523.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.footprint.network\/@Cipher\/Web3-Gaming-Data\">Footprint Analytics<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Blockchain social networks fared similarly, remaining niche. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/dune.com\/pixelhack\/farcaster\">Dune<\/a>, daily users of the leading platform Farcaster slipped over the past six months, hovering around 30,000. Stats for <a href=\"https:\/\/dune.com\/lens\/lens-chain\">Lens<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/dune.com\/cryptokoryo\/friendtech\">Friend.Tech<\/a> point to <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/the-decline-of-desoc-friend-tech-abandons-smart-contracts-and-farcaster-stagnates\">a lack of<\/a> activity.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-773db9cc71d5f729-1707793092917344.webp\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-272375\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Farcaster daily users. Source: Dune.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Error margins are inevitable when forecasting fast-moving markets. Many analyst calls missed; <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/moonpay-chief-predicts-revival-of-meme-tokens\">memecoins<\/a>, especially those <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/from-hamsters-to-whales-why-ai-linked-meme-tokens-have-taken-off\">tied to AI<\/a>, no longer command past levels of user interest. Token and <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/crypto-pre-markets-what-they-are-and-how-they-work\">points<\/a> pre-sale platforms have faded from the news cycle\u2014and so, too, have tap-to-earn apps like <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/mass-adoption-or-mania-the-big-questions-for-hamster-kombat\">Hamster Combat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Even so, specialist media turn to forecasts and research. Such materials help readers navigate an ever more complex, fast-changing crypto market, increasingly shaped by politics and corporate power.<\/p>\n<p>But no expert\u2019s authority relieves anyone of the need to make independent, well-considered decisions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A look at what top analysts promised for 2025\u2014and what actually happened.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":92547,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"select":"1","news_style_id":"1","cryptorium_level":"","_short_excerpt_text":"What analysts forecast for 2025\u2014and what actually happened","creation_source":"","_metatest_mainpost_news_update":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1144],"tags":[1146,1145,1138],"class_list":["post-92546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-longreads","tag-cryptocurrency-market-forecasts","tag-market-analysis","tag-opinions"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"views":"302","promo_type":"1","layout_type":"1","short_excerpt":"What analysts forecast for 2025\u2014and what actually happened","is_update":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92546"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":92566,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92546\/revisions\/92566"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}