Bitcoin's performance in 2025 fell short of both gold and the S&P 500, as investors favored productivity assets such as NVIDIA and safe-haven gold amid rising geopolitical tensions. The increasing interest in generative AI shifted investment focus away from Bitcoin, while the introduction of Bitcoin ETFs contributed to reduced volatility, making it behave more like traditional assets. Despite current market dynamics showing mixed signals between profit-taking and long-term buying, Bitcoin's role as a cross-cycle liquidity carrier may re-emerge as AI growth decelerates, potentially impacting future asset allocation strategies.