2026-01-12 06:26:51

Recently, a phenomenon has been quite disheartening—the popularity of cryptocurrencies on YouTube has dropped to its lowest point in five years. However, this is not an isolated incident on a single platform; the entire industry is experiencing this cold wave.

How are the specific data? Over the past three months, the 30-day moving average views for crypto channels have significantly declined, returning to levels seen in January 2021. On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Xiaohongshu, it’s also clearly noticeable that discussions about the crypto world are waning.

Some analysts have put forward this view: since the peak of the 2021 bull market, the popularity of cryptocurrencies on social media has never truly recovered, remaining in a "bearish atmosphere." Why? Because retail investors are gradually exiting the market.

The logic behind this is quite clear. After experiencing several rounds of "pump and dump" and market manipulation, retail investors’ trust in this market has genuinely declined. Investment has become more cautious, with some turning to relatively stable assets like precious metals and macro assets. Institutions are gaining more influence, but retail participation is declining—the current crypto market looks like this.

Interestingly, however, the sentiment is not entirely uniform. According to on-chain data, Bitcoin’s social sentiment has recently improved and has gradually stabilized near key price levels; but Ethereum’s sentiment remains quite scattered, with no clear direction.

What does this indicate? The decline in social engagement with cryptocurrencies is both a natural result of market cycles and a reflection of the industry’s need to improve in areas such as content dissemination, investor education, and market order. Whether retail investors will return in the future ultimately depends on whether regulatory policies, asset performance, and the overall ecosystem can develop in a coordinated manner.

BTC1,46%

ETH-0,17%

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AirdropBuffet

· 8h ago

Retail investors fleeing the scene, institutional players... really can't afford to play anymore --- Another round of "education" completed, time to clear the field --- Lowest in five years? That means the bottom should be here haha --- Bitcoin is stable while Ethereum is drifting... does anyone know where this difference comes from? --- The era of trust me bro is over, now it's trust data --- From pumping to exiting, I know this routine too well --- It's actually a good thing that the hype has cooled down, clearing out those pure gamblers --- Institutions should leave after harvesting retail investors, looping in a cycle... --- Precious metals and these stable businesses are starting to attract people, indicating that confidence has really shattered

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FlashLoanLord

· 01-13 16:14

Retail investors have long seen through this; they're just afraid of getting cut. That routine of pushing prices up to sell off, they're tired of playing it. Institutional influence is getting stronger and stronger; us small retail investors really have no say. Bitcoin sentiment turning positive? Just listen, wait until it actually rises before talking. Ethereum is still chaotic; honestly, it just doesn't have confidence. This market is now an amusement park for institutions; what can retail investors do? Just smile wryly. A decline in popularity is actually a good thing; at least fewer people get caught in the trap. Once real big gains come, retail investors will naturally return, no need to worry.

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ReverseTrendSister

· 01-12 06:56

Retail investors should have exited early. After being cut so many times, they still haven't learned their lesson.

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GateUser-c802f0e8

· 01-12 06:54

Retail investors have run away, who still wants to be exploited for profits? Raising the price to sell off is getting boring, now only institutions are playing against themselves. Bitcoin can still be salvaged, but Ethereum is really a bit disappointing. The decline in popularity is actually good, at least a batch of new investors have woken up. Five years back to the starting point, is this what you call a historical cycle? Laughs. Trust has been completely lost, and they still want to attract more attention, dream on. Institutions are gaining more influence, what can we retail investors do? Truly speechless.

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GateUser-beba108d

· 01-12 06:52

Retail investors have left, institutions have arrived, this is the current situation --- Raising the price to sell multiple times, who still dares to enter? --- Bitcoin is still okay, Ethereum really has no popularity anymore --- Lowest in five years? These data need to be looked at carefully, it doesn't feel that outrageous --- Basically, retail investors who didn't make money have been discouraged, leaving only the leeks --- Return to the level of January 2021? I was still bottom-fishing back then, now it's really冷淡 --- Institutions have gained more influence, retail investors have no voice, this is the most heartbreaking --- Precious metals and macro assets are indeed stable, but the crypto circle can't really play this game --- Low popularity isn't necessarily a bad thing; cleaning up the market makes it easier to operate --- Once regulation and the ecosystem are truly stable, retail investors will naturally come back

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DAOTruant

· 01-12 06:44

Retail investors have left, this is the truth Raising the price to dump multiple times, who still dares to play BTC is okay, ETH is really a mess Institutional players are in control, we are just the little guys Back to the starting point after five years, it's outrageous

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VibesOverCharts

· 01-12 06:43

Retail investors running away, there's really no way to blame the market cycle Manipulating the market to pump and dump has been going on for so many years, anyone would have to run Institutional influence is becoming increasingly dominant, is this still called cryptocurrency? The positive sentiment around BTC is a good thing, but ETH's situation is too muddy To put it plainly, until market order is properly regulated, retail investors won't return

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fomo_fighter

· 01-12 06:40

Retail investors are really scared of being cut, I understand why they are leaving this time --- BTC is okay, but why is ETH still wavering? --- Basically, there are no new stories anymore. If you can't come up with new content, there will be no traffic --- It's actually good that institutional influence is getting stronger, it's definitely better than a bunch of retail investors blindly following --- Precious metals are indeed stable, some people around me have also shifted to them --- Lowest in five years? This time it's really cold --- Getting tired of the old tactic of pumping up prices to sell, retail investors are just learning to be smarter --- If BTC stabilizes, there are still signals; ETH is indeed confusing --- The industry needs to save itself, otherwise retail investors won't come back --- Repeatedly getting cut, who would dare to come in? --- I actually think this is a reshuffle; we will only know the results after some time

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SybilAttackVictim

· 01-12 06:37

Retail investors are definitely leaving, afraid of getting cut. --- It's not like I haven't seen a pump before, if you need to run, then run. --- BTC has stabilized but ETH is still floating, the difference is quite obvious. --- The drop in popularity shows that everyone has learned to be smarter. --- Institutional influence is getting stronger, and our little investors' influence is getting weaker. --- Instead of waiting for retail investors to return, it's better to wait for clear policies. It's exhausting to buy anything right now. --- Lowest in five years? Those who invested in 2021 must be feeling pretty devastated now. --- Content dissemination and education are all nonsense; if there's no profit, who the hell would come here.

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