Have we reached the end of December? A single concept begins to circulate in the markets
Santa Rally (What is it?)
Santa Rally; is defined as a seasonal tendency where investor psychology and year-end position adjustments are reflected in prices during the last week of the year and the first days of January.
But an important point: this is not a rule, but a statistical and behavioral trend — meaning it is not guaranteed every year, but it is on investors’ radar because it has been frequently repeated in the past.
📈 1) Stocks (Stock Market)
• The origin of the Santa Rally comes from the stock market world, and positive returns during this period have been observed for many years in major indices like the S&P 500. • Since 1950, during this 7-day period, the S&P 500 tends to show a positive performance with an average ~%1.3 increase annually, with about 3/4 of these increases occurring.
This short-term period, combined with behavioral effects such as year-end position adjustments, low-volume holiday markets, and optimism at the start of the year, can push stocks upward.
📉 2) Cryptocurrencies
While crypto markets now follow the Santa Rally concept, they may not always operate like traditional stock markets. Crypto assets are more volatile; trading volumes decrease during holiday periods, which can lead to faster price movements.
Let’s look at past data:
• 2019 → 2020 Bitcoin closed the year at around $7,200. It rose to $9,300 at the beginning of January. A rally of approximately 29% occurred.
• 2020 → 2021 The psychological resistance of $20,000 was broken. In January, the price extended to $40,000. This was one of the strongest examples of a Santa Rally in the crypto market (38%).
• 2022 → 2023 After the FTX-induced crypto winter, the movement starting around $16,500 exceeded $23,000 in January. A sharp recovery of about 39% was observed.
• 2021 → 2022 The Fed’s tight monetary policy and interest rate hikes dominated. The Santa Rally expectation did not materialize. Bitcoin retreated by about 10% in January.
📌 This table shows us a clear thing: Santa Rally does not happen every year. But in the years it occurs, its impact is generally not underestimated.
🪙 3) Gold & Silver (Precious Metals)
Precious metals like gold and silver can also show remarkable performance during the year-end period. As of 2025, gold and silver prices approached all-time highs — especially silver, which showed a very strong percentage increase.
This situation is usually influenced by:
✔️ Expectations of interest rate cuts, ✔️ Dollar weakness, ✔️ Geopolitical risks, and ✔️ Safe haven demand
macro factors.
Gold and silver can move in the same direction as stocks — especially during risk-off periods — and can perform strongly independently of them. Therefore, demand for precious metals may also increase during the “Santa Rally” period.
Why Do Different Assets React Differently?
📌 Stock Markets: Can be positive in the short term due to behavioral and seasonal effects. 📌 Crypto: More volatile, riskier, and more affected by low liquidity. 📌 Gold & Silver: Can show a separate rally due to “safe haven” demand amid macro uncertainties.
In other words, Santa Rally is not just a “calendar season”; it is a complex effect that combines market behaviors, liquidity, and macro expectations.
Summary
Santa Rally can be observed across many asset classes — but:
🔹 Stocks tend to show a positive performance trend most years historically. 🔹 Cryptocurrencies also follow this expectation, but their behavior is more volatile and more tied to macro factors. 🔹 Gold and silver can especially rally during periods of uncertainty.
Santa Rally is not a “gift”; it is a seasonal behavioral trend. When making investment decisions, it is best to interpret this not as a standalone signal but together with volume, trend, and macro conditions.
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#2025GateYearEndSummary
Have we reached the end of December? A single concept begins to circulate in the markets
Santa Rally (What is it?)
Santa Rally; is defined as a seasonal tendency where investor psychology and year-end position adjustments are reflected in prices during the last week of the year and the first days of January.
But an important point: this is not a rule, but a statistical and behavioral trend — meaning it is not guaranteed every year, but it is on investors’ radar because it has been frequently repeated in the past.
📈 1) Stocks (Stock Market)
• The origin of the Santa Rally comes from the stock market world, and positive returns during this period have been observed for many years in major indices like the S&P 500.
• Since 1950, during this 7-day period, the S&P 500 tends to show a positive performance with an average ~%1.3 increase annually, with about 3/4 of these increases occurring.
This short-term period, combined with behavioral effects such as year-end position adjustments, low-volume holiday markets, and optimism at the start of the year, can push stocks upward.
📉 2) Cryptocurrencies
While crypto markets now follow the Santa Rally concept, they may not always operate like traditional stock markets.
Crypto assets are more volatile; trading volumes decrease during holiday periods, which can lead to faster price movements.
Let’s look at past data:
• 2019 → 2020
Bitcoin closed the year at around $7,200.
It rose to $9,300 at the beginning of January.
A rally of approximately 29% occurred.
• 2020 → 2021
The psychological resistance of $20,000 was broken.
In January, the price extended to $40,000.
This was one of the strongest examples of a Santa Rally in the crypto market (38%).
• 2022 → 2023
After the FTX-induced crypto winter,
the movement starting around $16,500 exceeded $23,000 in January.
A sharp recovery of about 39% was observed.
• 2021 → 2022
The Fed’s tight monetary policy and interest rate hikes dominated.
The Santa Rally expectation did not materialize.
Bitcoin retreated by about 10% in January.
📌 This table shows us a clear thing:
Santa Rally does not happen every year.
But in the years it occurs, its impact is generally not underestimated.
🪙 3) Gold & Silver (Precious Metals)
Precious metals like gold and silver can also show remarkable performance during the year-end period.
As of 2025, gold and silver prices approached all-time highs — especially silver, which showed a very strong percentage increase.
This situation is usually influenced by:
✔️ Expectations of interest rate cuts,
✔️ Dollar weakness,
✔️ Geopolitical risks, and
✔️ Safe haven demand
macro factors.
Gold and silver can move in the same direction as stocks — especially during risk-off periods — and can perform strongly independently of them. Therefore, demand for precious metals may also increase during the “Santa Rally” period.
Why Do Different Assets React Differently?
📌 Stock Markets: Can be positive in the short term due to behavioral and seasonal effects.
📌 Crypto: More volatile, riskier, and more affected by low liquidity.
📌 Gold & Silver: Can show a separate rally due to “safe haven” demand amid macro uncertainties.
In other words, Santa Rally is not just a “calendar season”; it is a complex effect that combines market behaviors, liquidity, and macro expectations.
Summary
Santa Rally can be observed across many asset classes — but:
🔹 Stocks tend to show a positive performance trend most years historically.
🔹 Cryptocurrencies also follow this expectation, but their behavior is more volatile and more tied to macro factors.
🔹 Gold and silver can especially rally during periods of uncertainty.
Santa Rally is not a “gift”; it is a seasonal behavioral trend. When making investment decisions, it is best to interpret this not as a standalone signal but together with volume, trend, and macro conditions.