Crypto YouTube Views Sink to 5-Year Lows Amid Bear Market Sentiment

Viewership of cryptocurrency content on YouTube has declined to its lowest level since January 2021. This drop has been observed over the past three months and is now a cause for concern among content creators and analysts according to recent reports.

ITC Crypto founder Benjamin Cowen shared a 30-day moving average of views across various crypto YouTube channels, highlighting the trend. He noted that the decline is not limited to X, where a recent algorithm update also affected engagement according to analysis.

Tom Crown, a crypto YouTuber, added that the decline has been consistent across all platforms since October. He described the current state as being at 'bear market levels of social interest.'

Why Did This Happen?

Retail investors appear to be exhausted by the proliferation of pump and dump schemes. Content creator Jesus Martinez, who built his channel from early 2022, said he experienced intense peaks but nothing approaching the 2021 hype according to his observations.

TikTok creator 'Cloud9 Markets' attributed the drop to the prevalence of scams and 'ponzi' altcoins. He said, 'Retail is tired of getting rekt' as reported.

Marc Shawn Brown, Cointelegraph's head of social media, added that people are pivoting to precious metals and macroeconomic themes. He noted that 2025 was a difficult year for BTC and that alternative assets like gold outperformed.

How Did Markets Respond?

Market analysts are watching for signs that the bear market is stabilizing. On-chain analytics platform Santiment said Bitcoin's social sentiment is becoming more positive. It highlighted that the $90,000 level is critical for maintaining retail optimism according to their analysis.

Ethereum's social sentiment, however, remains scattered and lacks consistent trends. Santiment's report emphasized that Bitcoin appears to be stabilizing, but Ethereum's trajectory is less clear as detailed.

Institutional activity is also a factor. The trend suggests that institutions are now the primary drivers of market activity, with retail participation waning. This shift is expected to continue as investors seek more stable and liquid assets.

What Are Analysts Watching Next?

Analysts are monitoring key price levels and institutional actions for signs of market recovery. VanEck, in a recent report, suggested that Bitcoin could reach $2.9 million by 2050 if it becomes a global settlement currency. However, short-term volatility and regulatory developments remain key risks.

The recent activity of a Satoshi-era miner, who moved 2,000 BTC after 15 years of dormancy, has also attracted attention. The transaction, valued at around $181 million, signals a possible shift in early adopter sentiment. Analysts are watching to see if such activity leads to increased market liquidity or renewed volatility.

The market's resilience in absorbing large-scale selling pressure from early adopters is a positive sign. However, long-term forecasts remain subject to macroeconomic and regulatory shifts. As institutions continue to shape the market, retail investors are expected to remain on the sidelines until confidence returns.