A six-year information evaluation reveals 5 massive and mid-cap cryptocurrencies typically acquire throughout December. Nonetheless, their “Santa rally” success is clustered in particular bull and restoration years, not each Christmas.
The evaluation covers December efficiency from 2019 to 2024. It focuses on USD returns for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Coin, Litecoin and Monero.
Bitcoin: Huge December Strikes in Bull Cycles
Bitcoin delivered its strongest December in 2020, rising about 48% from roughly $19,700 to $29,000. It posted one other stable December acquire in 2023, including about 12% as ETF optimism returned.
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In contrast, Bitcoin fell about 5% in December 2019 and almost 19% in 2021. It slipped round 4% in 2022 and barely over 3% in 2024.
The sample is evident. Bitcoin’s December rallies seem primarily in robust bull or restoration phases, not throughout tightening or late-cycle stress.
Round Christmas, the largest strikes often got here after the vacation. In 2020 and 2023, the week after Christmas outperformed the week earlier than.
BREAKING: Bitcoin is on observe for its largest day by day acquire since Could 2025, nearing $91,000, as levered quick liquidations surge.
Within the final 60 minutes alone, ~$140 million of shorts have been liquidated in comparison with simply ~$3 million of longs.
Current swings in crypto are ENTIRELY… https://t.co/cIDnDkvV6B pic.twitter.com/ElxAw4BUiw
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) December 2, 2025
Ethereum: Follows Bitcoin’s Cycle, With Sturdy 2020 and 2023
Ethereum confirmed an identical December profile to Bitcoin, with standout good points in 2020 and 2023. In December 2020, ETH climbed about 21%, from round $615 to $750.
Throughout December 2023, Ethereum added roughly 11%, monitoring the broader market restoration. Each rallies coincided with bettering macro sentiment and stronger community exercise.
But Ethereum fell sharply in bearish or late-cycle years. It dropped about 15% in December 2019, 20% in 2021 and round 8% in 2024, with a smaller 8% decline in 2022.
Total, Ethereum tends to rally in December when liquidity is ample and threat urge for food is excessive. When macro circumstances tighten, its December efficiency turns adverse shortly.
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A whale transferred $120,000,000 in $ETH after 10 years of dormancy.
He purchased them for simply $12,400 and is now sitting on a 9,633x return.
Life-changing wealth with Ethereum. pic.twitter.com/sOaBGLgMyz
— Ted (@TedPillows) November 30, 2025
BNB: Explosive December Rallies in 2020 and 2023
The previously labeled Binance Coin reveals among the most dramatic December good points within the dataset. BNB rose about 19% in December 2020 as Binance volumes surged late within the bull run.
Its largest transfer got here in December 2023, leaping roughly 37% from round $228 to $312. That rally adopted bettering readability round Binance’s authorized place and a rebound in spot volumes.
Nonetheless, BNB additionally suffered heavy December drawdowns. It fell about 13% in 2019, 18% in 2021 and one other 18% in 2022 throughout exchange-related FUD.
BNB’s December file is excessive beta. When sentiment swings constructive, its rallies outpace Bitcoin, however its losses are deeper in stress durations.
BNB 3-Month Value Chart. Supply: CoinGeckoSponsored
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Litecoin: Basic Excessive-Beta December Play
Litecoin behaved like a leveraged wager in the marketplace’s December temper. Its strongest month was December 2020, when LTC surged about 42%, from roughly $88 to $125.
That transfer tracked Bitcoin’s breakout and adopted higher cost help, together with PayPal’s crypto rollout. It cemented Litecoin’s position as a “digital silver” commerce throughout bull-market holidays.
Litecoin then struggled in later years. It dropped about 13% in 2019, almost 30% in 2021 and round 12% in 2022.
Even so, it posted modest good points of about 5% in December 2023 and an estimated 7% in 2024. These smaller rallies present Litecoin nonetheless advantages from late-year risk-on phases, particularly round halving narratives.
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Monero: Quiet however Constant Vacation Power
Monero stands out for its defensive however constructive December sample. It rose round 15% in December 2020 and roughly 9% in December 2022 whereas many cash fell.
Monero additionally gained about 10% in December 2023, transferring from the mid-$160s towards $180. Its December drawdowns in different years have been comparatively gentle in contrast with main altcoins.
This resilience doubtless displays regular transactional demand and its privateness use case. Monero tends to behave as a defensive crypto asset during times of alternate or regulatory worry.
Throughout 2019–2024, Monero prevented excessive December crashes and sometimes completed the month larger. That makes it one of many extra constant late-year performers amongst mid-cap cash.
Santa Rallies Are Selective, Not Assured
The information reveals these 5 cash have delivered a number of robust Decembers, particularly in 2020 and 2023.
Nonetheless, each coin additionally logged adverse December returns in no less than one yr.
Rallies cluster in bullish macro environments and restoration phases. In the meantime, bear-market Decembers reward extra defensive belongings like Monero and, at instances, Litecoin.
