- ETFs funneled capital into Bitcoin and Ether, preventing broad altcoin rotation and compressing market breadth.
- Altcoin rallies shortened to approximately 20 days as narratives peaked faster and retail attention shifted to equities.
- Derivatives and OTC trading grew, signaling a more mature market focused on yield, protection, and discretion.
Liquidity entered crypto markets throughout 2025, yet it failed to spread as expected. According to Wintermute’s 2025 Digital Asset OTC Markets report, capital concentrated instead of rotating. Using proprietary OTC flow data, Wintermute examined where funds moved, when activity peaked, and how trading behavior changed across regions, products, and assets during the year.
ETFs Drove Capital Into Majors, Not Altcoins
According to Wintermute, exchange-traded funds and digital asset trusts directed liquidity toward Bitcoin, Ether, and select large-cap tokens. As a result, broader altcoin rotation never materialized. Trading activity clustered near the top of the market, reducing market breadth.
Altcoins felt the impact through shorter rallies. Wintermute data shows average altcoin rallies lasted about 20 days in 2025, down from roughly 60 days in 2024. Consequently, narratives compressed rapidly. Memecoin launchpads, perpetual DEXs, and AI tokens all peaked quickly, then faded.
Meanwhile, retail interest shifted elsewhere. Wintermute reported that equities absorbed attention previously drawn to crypto. AI, robotics, and quantum themes led equity markets. After Oct. 10, broker-linked flows showed retail rotating back into major crypto assets for the first time since late 2023.
Derivatives and OTC Trading Signaled Market Maturity
Derivatives activity expanded sharply during 2025. Wintermute reported options volumes and trade counts more than doubled year over year. Notably, usage shifted away from directional bets. Traders instead favored systematic strategies, including yield generation, downside protection, and covered calls.
At the same time, execution methods evolved. OTC trading gained importance as participants prioritized discretion and capital efficiency. Wintermute observed deeper counterparty engagement, even as price performance remained muted. This shift reflected more deliberate execution strategies across large positions.
Regional Flows Shifted With Macro Events
Liquidity flows varied by region rather than moving together. According to Wintermute, Asia sold during April’s tariff-driven volatility. Europe redistributed positions through the summer months. Meanwhile, the United States led net selling into year-end, following hawkish Federal Reserve signals.
Wintermute noted that ETFs and DATs joined stablecoins as primary liquidity funnels. Their mandates shaped where capital settled, limiting spillover beyond major assets. The report states that 2025 outcomes reflected concentration patterns, not traditional cycle timing, as market structure continued to grow.