Can Dogecoin (DOGE) and XRP stay resilient after Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum’s (ETH) Q4 slump? Toobit weighs in

The fourth quarter of 2025 was meant to be a victory lap. Forecasts were locked in, “supercycle” takes were everywhere, and optimism ran hot on expectations of easing policy and renewed institutional interest.

Instead, December seems to be closing with a hard reset. Macro shocks and aggressive leverage unwinds turned the quarter into one of the roughest in years.

As Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) logged their weakest Q4 performances in a long time and sentiment slipped into “Extreme Fear,” two familiar outliers, Dogecoin (DOGE) and XRP, refused to fully fold.

The question now is whether that visibility signals resilience or just delayed gravity.

When the giants stumble

To understand why the underdogs are holding up, it helps to start with what broke at the top. The Q4 sell-off was not a slow unwind. It was a shock that ended the “Uptober” narrative on October 10, 2025. A sudden geopolitical threat (proposed 100% tariffs on rare earth minerals) triggered a chain reaction that wiped out more than $19 billion in leveraged positions within a day.

The Bitcoin price had just set a high near $126,000 days earlier. From there, the BTC price movement turned sharply lower. By late December, the price of BTC was stuck between $80,000 and $90,000. On paper, a $90,000 Bitcoin price looks strong.

In context, a near-30% drawdown during what is usually a strong quarter marked a clear loss of momentum. BTC price charts showed a break below the 200-day moving average, a level often treated as the line between trend continuation and broader cooling.

At the time of writing, BTC price is trading at $88,000.

Ethereum didn’t fare any better. The ETH price struggled to hold the $3,000 to $4,000 range and failed to benefit from either Bitcoin’s store-of-value narrative or the surge in AI-related speculation.

The price of ETH lagged as capital rotated elsewhere. ETH price movement reflected weak demand, while ETH price charts pointed to reduced conviction from long-term holders as staking yields and long-standing narratives lost traction.

At the time of writing, Ethereum price is trading just below $3,000.

Against that backdrop, DOGE and XRP standing their ground looks less random and more deliberate.

Why is Dogecoin still in the conversation?

Dogecoin has always thrived in moments that defy logic. While the DOGE price pulled back alongside the broader market, its drawdowns remained relatively contained compared to smaller, more speculative assets. DOGE price charts showed steady engagement, especially during brief risk-on rotations.

Part of DOGE’s resilience lies in its role as a liquidity sponge. When traders grow tired of grinding BTC price movement or flat ETH price action, DOGE often becomes the outlet for short-term positioning.

At the time of writing, price of DOGE is trading at $0.13.

History offers clues here. During previous BTC price slumps, Dogecoin price movement often lagged the initial sell-off, then rebounded sharply once sentiment stabilized. That pattern doesn’t guarantee a repeat, but it explains why DOGE remains on watchlists even during market stress.

XRP’s different kind of strength

XRP’s resilience is rooted in a clear shift in its legal and strategic footing. After years under regulatory pressure, the SEC’s decision to drop its appeal against Ripple removed a major overhang. That clarity allowed XRP price movement to separate from broader weakness.

While the price of XRP dipped alongside Bitcoin price weakness, it avoided the sharp collapses seen in earlier cycles. XRP price charts held support above the $1.85 area, helped by the rollout of RLUSD, a stablecoin aimed at enterprise liquidity rather than speculation alone.

At the time of writing, XRP price is trading near $1.90.

During periods when BTC price and ETH price struggle, assets with independent narratives tend to hold attention longer. XRP fits that bill, which helps explain why it continues to attract volume even as overall market participation thins.

Are DOGE and XRP decoupling or just waiting?

It’s tempting to call this resilience a decoupling, but history urges caution. DOGE price movement and XRP price movement rarely escape gravity forever. When BTC price enters extended downtrends, correlation usually returns with force.

Still, the current behavior is notable. While Bitcoin price action remains heavy and Ethereum price momentum subdued, DOGE and XRP have avoided the cascading breakdowns seen elsewhere. That doesn’t mean they’re immune but it does suggest underlying demand hasn’t vanished.

And this is where cycles matter.

The bottom line

Bitcoin and Ethereum may have stumbled through Q4, but DOGE and XRP haven’t disappeared into irrelevance. Dogecoin price action remains tied to sentiment swings, while XRP price charts reflect a market still willing to engage with its story.

Whether that turns into true resilience depends less on DOGE or XRP themselves and more on what happens next with BTC price movement and ETH price momentum. If history is any guide, stabilization, not euphoria, is the first signal worth watching.

For now, DOGE and XRP aren’t leading the market. But they’re still standing when others aren’t and in this phase of the cycle, that alone keeps them firmly in focus.

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