Google Trends reveals BTC popularity wanes, X posts decrease by 32%

Bitcoin reaches a new high of $126,080 in 2025, but Google Trends shows a significant drop in search volume. Discussion volume on X platform fell 32% to 96 million posts. After Trump’s inauguration in January and strategic reserves in March, the trend has been downward. Saylor posted 1,268 positive posts, and Back posted 11,450 positive posts. The fear index remains subdued, but the 30-day moving average (MA) crossing above the 90-day MA is a positive signal.

Google Trends shows a sharp decline in Bitcoin search volume

Despite Bitcoin experiencing rollercoaster price movements in 2025, reaching an all-time high and then suffering a major crash, its online discussion and search volume in 2025 have decreased compared to the previous year. The five-year global search data from Google Trends shows that after Donald Trump’s victory in November 2024, searches for “Bitcoin” surged to a peak of 100, but over the following year, search interest declined, with only two minor upticks in the second half of 2025.

Google Trends data reflects the relative popularity of search terms over time, with values from 0 to 100, where 100 indicates peak popularity during a specific period. During Trump’s victory in November 2024, Bitcoin searches hit 100, but by the end of 2025, this value had dropped to around 40, indicating about a 60% decrease in public interest. This decline in search volume contrasts sharply with the price trend, as Bitcoin’s price in 2025 hit a record high of $126,080, far exceeding 2024 levels.

Bitcoin password punk Jameson Lopp also cited data from social media entrepreneur and Bitcoin enthusiast Jean-Christophe Gatuingt, showing that posts containing the term “Bitcoin” decreased by 32% in 2025, down to 96 million posts. In comparison, Bitcoin-related posts in 2024 numbered approximately 140 million. This 32% decline indicates that, despite reaching new highs, social media discussion activity has cooled significantly.

Data shows that the number of Bitcoin posts on X peaked in January, coinciding with Trump’s inauguration and the pardon of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road; another peak occurred in March when the Trump administration established a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Since then, aside from Bitcoin Pizza Day’s 15th anniversary and Bitcoin surpassing $120,000, the trend has been gradually declining. In early October, Bitcoin trading volume was relatively low, even as a bull market seems imminent.

Maturity signals behind the halving of discussion volume on X platform

(Source: Jameson Lopp)

The phenomenon of declining search and discussion volume is not entirely negative; it may reflect the maturation of the Bitcoin market. In early bull cycles, every price increase triggered a flood of new entrants, with social media filled with basic questions like “What is Bitcoin?” and “How to buy Bitcoin.” By 2025, Bitcoin has become a mainstream financial asset, with a spot ETF available in the US, and institutional investors entering in large numbers. For these professional investors, there is no need to discuss Bitcoin fundamentals on social media; they make investment decisions through professional channels.

From Google Trends data, the decline in search volume may also indicate changing investor behavior. When Bitcoin was still new, every price fluctuation prompted大量搜索 (a large amount of searches). As Bitcoin becomes a regular asset class, investor reactions to price swings become more subdued. Just as people don’t frantically search for “stocks” every day due to daily market fluctuations, the decline in Bitcoin searches may signify its shift from a speculative asset to a routine investment tool.

Further evidence from Bitcoin advocate and social media entrepreneur Jean-Christophe Gatuingt’s data shows that a 32% decrease in discussion volume on X platform may also be due to “Bitcoin fatigue”—after topics are repeatedly discussed for years, even with new highs, people’s excitement gradually wanes. Additionally, other hot topics in the crypto market in 2025, such as AI tokens, Meme coins, and Trump coins, have also diverted attention.

Continuous voices from KOLs and institutionalization trends

(Source: Perception)

Although the number of Bitcoin posts on X decreased in 2025, some of the most influential Bitcoin advocates continued to publish throughout the year. Data from Bitcoin media intelligence platform Perception shows that Strategy Chairman Michael Saylor posted 1,268 Bitcoin-related posts, with 97% being positive or neutral. As one of the most aggressive Bitcoin advocates, his company Strategy holds over 700,000 BTC, and his ongoing commentary provides a stable positive narrative for Bitcoin.

Blockstream CEO Adam Back posted over 11,450 Bitcoin-related contents, with activity surging during periods of increased FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt), including during the third quarter when fears of quantum computing reaching a peak. As an early Bitcoin developer and cypherpunk, Back’s technical authority makes him a key voice against FUD. When fears of quantum computing cracking Bitcoin encryption arose, Back’s technical explanations helped soothe market sentiment.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Foundation Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein posted 9,445 Bitcoin-related X posts, of which 23% were classified as positive, mostly related to news linking Bitcoin with personal and financial freedom. Gladstein focuses on Bitcoin’s application in authoritarian countries and among the unbanked, providing a human rights perspective that elevates Bitcoin beyond just an investment tool.

While these KOLs’ continued activity cannot prevent the overall discussion volume from declining, they help maintain the basic public discourse around Bitcoin. Their content quality often surpasses that of casual users’ speculative posts, and this “volume decline, quality rise” trend also reflects the maturity of the Bitcoin community.

Fear index and technical indicator divergence signals

(Source: Santiment)

The crypto market sentiment remains subdued in 2026. Data from crypto analytics platform Santiment shows that despite Bitcoin rising from $90,320 to $97,540 between January 12 and 15, social media comments on Bitcoin have become increasingly bearish. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index also depicts a similar picture; although Bitcoin’s price has risen, the index has mostly remained in the “Fear” and “Extreme Fear” zones since 2026.

However, data from blockchain intelligence platform CryptoQuant indicates that, despite persistent negative sentiment, the 30-day Bitcoin Fear & Greed Moving Average (MA) has broken above the 90-day MA, which is a bullish price indicator suggesting that short-term confidence is beginning to improve beyond long-term cautiousness. This divergence between technical indicators and market sentiment often signals an impending trend reversal.

When market sentiment is extremely pessimistic but technical indicators start to improve, it usually means the most bearish investors have exited, and smart money is quietly entering. The decline in Google Trends and social discussion volume, combined with the subdued fear index, may reflect this “retail exit, institutional entry” process. Future Bitcoin markets may no longer rely on frenzied social media discussions to drive prices but instead be led by institutional capital flows and fundamentals.