6 Best Crypto Winter Tokens to Buy in December 2025
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Crypto winter tokens are cryptocurrencies that stay resilient during long bearish periods, often called “crypto winters.” The 2025 crypto downturn has created a less favorable landscape for investors, with regulatory uncertainty, macroeconomic pressures, and decreasing institutional interest causing market volatility.
While crypto winters can be challenging, they also hold opportunities for investors who can identify solid projects. Coins with innovative technology, active development, and real-world use cases will likely survive and recover. Investors can navigate the downturn strategically by focusing on reliable projects and continuing to cultivate further growth.
This article reviews some of the best crypto winter tokens to buy in 2025. We also discuss the current state of the market and the pros and cons of investing during such a crypto winter.
The Best Crypto Winter Tokens
A list of the best crypto winter tokens worth considering during this bear market can be found below:
| Coin | Symbol | Current Price | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bitcoin Hyper |
 HYPER +17.00%
|
$0.013455 | $29.62M |
|
PEPENODE |
 PEPENODE +19.68%
|
$0.0012016 | $2.37M |
|
SUBBD |
 SUBBD +4.05%
|
$0.057225 | $1.4M |
|
Bitcoin |
 BTC +3.12%
|
$88,128.11 | $1.76T |
|
Binance Coin |
 BNB +3.91%
|
$859.54 | $119.63B |
|
Polkadot |
 DOT 7.05%
|
$2.57 | $1.11B |
A Closer Look at the Best Coins to Invest in During Crypto Winter
At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency space is firmly in a bear market. However, market-wide decreases mask a variety of intricacies and outliers. Many investors are looking for the best recession-proof cryptos with strong upside potential.
Importantly, some cryptocurrencies show more potential than others. With this in mind, investors will find our analysis of the best coins to invest in during the crypto winter useful. Our research findings can be found below.
1. Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) – Scalable Bitcoin Layer-2 with High-Yield Utility
Bitcoin Hyper HYPER +17.00% is a Bitcoin Layer-2 using Solana’s tech for speed. It cuts fees to fractions of a cent and enables smart contracts. You can bridge Bitcoin to it and stake tokens for rewards. Holders govern upgrades through its DAO. It targets payments and decentralized apps.
Utility tokens often hold more value during downturns. $HYPER focuses on real Bitcoin scaling needs, low costs, and smart contracts rather than speculation. Its fixed supply and staking rewards encourage holding. As infrastructure, it serves practical use even in bear markets.
Adoption isn’t guaranteed. Bitcoin L2s face competition from networks like Stacks. Success depends on developers building apps here. Bridge security also matters; exploits could hurt trust. Monitor whether users actually adopt its features.
| Presale Started | May 2025 |
| Chain | Bitcoin |
| Current Price | $0.013455 |
| Raised So Far | $29.62M |
| Price Change | HYPER +17.00% |
2. PEPENODE (PEPENODE) – Gamified Mine-to-Earn Meme Coin
PEPENODE PEPENODE +19.68% is a new meme coin that has raised more than $2.37M since its presale campaign launched. This platform introduces an innovative mine-to-earn ecosystem, allowing users to build virtual server rooms, purchase digital nodes, and combine them for boosted mining power.
This setup allows participants to simulate crypto mining without hardware or energy costs while earning rewards in meme coins like Pepe and Fartcoin. Beyond gameplay, PEPENODE boasts a deflationary token supply, promising to burn 70% of all tokens spent on node upgrades. This will help tighten supply and potentially support long-term value.
For passive income seekers, PEPENODE offers a headline staking APY of up to 553%, with more than 297 million tokens already staked.
| Presale Started | August 2025 |
| Chain | Ethereum |
| Current Price | $0.0012016 |
| Raised So Far | $2.37M |
| Price Change | PEPENODE +19.68% |
3. SUBBD (SUBBD) – Creator Economy Token with Staking Rewards and Ecosystem Ownership
SUBBD SUBBD +4.05% is an Ethereum token for creators and fans. It provides AI tools, token-gated content, and crypto/fiat payments. Creators keep earnings without fees, while fans stake tokens to earn credits for premium content. The platform cuts out intermediaries and includes governance voting for holders.
Its model focuses on real utility, content creation, and fan engagement, not speculation. The fixed supply and staking rewards encourage holding during downturns. Reducing industry fees targets lasting demand. This makes it resilient when markets slow.
Creator adoption is essential but uncertain. Established Web3 platforms already compete for users. The platform needs consistent fan engagement to sustain token value. Also, new AI tools must deliver real value to stand out. Success depends entirely on actual usage, not hype.
| Presale Started | April 2025 |
| Chain | Ethereum |
| Current Price | $0.057225 |
| Raised So Far | $1.4M |
| Price Change | SUBBD +4.05% |
4. Bitcoin (BTC) – Top Crypto Winter Token for Long-Term Store of Value
Bitcoin BTC +3.12% is the most well-known cryptocurrency and has become a global phenomenon. BTC was the first blockchain-based digital asset, and it has been steadily gaining popularity since 2009. Bitcoin is widely recognized as the benchmark for the market, making it one of the best crypto winter tokens.
BTC went from less than a cent in 2009 to a current price of $88,128.11 in 2025. After an extended bearish phase, the recent recovery helped Bitcoin reach its ATH on May 22, 2025, at $126,173.18. The coin traded at a -3.83% decrease in the last 30 days.
This crypto asset has a fixed supply of 21 million coins, making it one of the best deflationary cryptos in 2025. Around 94% of all BTC tokens are in circulation at the time of writing. Bitcoin’s market capitalization is $1.76T, and BTC remains the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
| Launch Date | 2009 |
| Chain | Bitcoin |
| Current Price | $88,128.11 |
| Market Cap | $1.76T |
| Price Change | BTC +3.12% |
5. Binance Coin (BNB) – Native Token of the World’s Largest Exchange by Trading Volume
BNB BNB +3.91% is one of the best cryptos to buy during the crypto winter, as it is Binance’s native currency. Binance is the largest cryptocurrency exchange globally in terms of daily trading volume. BNB is one of the best utility tokens on the market. Binance users can receive discounts on commissions by using BNB tokens to make payments.
As a result, even in a down market, BNB tokens are still widely used. In other words, they continue to have a certain fundamental level of demand. Moreover, investors may have more trust in them than they might in other cryptocurrencies because of their connection to Binance.
BNB’s market cap of $119.63B reflects its significant position in the cryptocurrency market. This robust market presence underscores BNB’s role as a pivotal asset within the broader blockchain ecosystem.
| Launch Date | 2020 |
| Chain | Binance Smart Chain |
| Current Price | $859.54 |
| Market Cap | $119.63B |
| Price Change | BNB +3.91% |
6. Polkadot (DOT) – Layer 1 Addressing Interoperability and Scalability
The Polkadot blockchain, similar to Ethereum, was created to serve an ecosystem of DeFi services and dApps. Polkadot DOT 7.05% aggregates several blockchains and uses the platform’s PoS consensus process, sometimes called the relay chain. This process confirms transactions and protects the network.
Polkadot offers fast transactions because shard chains (sometimes referred to as para chains) can execute them in parallel rather than sequentially. The creator of Polkadot (and founder of the Web3 Foundation) predicts that the blockchain will eventually enable one million transactions per second.
Polkadot addresses scalability and interoperability, two major issues plaguing the blockchain sector. Both are high on developers’ priorities, too. This shows in the number of active monthly developers using Polkadot, making it the largest active ecosystem of its kind. With all this in mind, DOT is one of the best crypto winter tokens for investors to consider buying in the current climate.
| Launch Date | 2020 |
| Chain | Polkadot |
| Current Price | $2.57 |
| Market Cap | $1.11B |
| Price Change | DOT 7.05% |
What Is the Crypto Winter?
Crypto winter is a more extended period of market decrease in the crypto industry, usually when asset prices fall, trading activity is reduced, and there is an overall bearish feeling. During this phase, it’s important to remain cautious due to lower liquidity and slower adoption of new projects. Crypto winters don’t have a pre-defined duration but are usually marked by long periods of stagnation and uncertainty.
The main characteristics of this period are sustained price declines, decreased trading volumes, and the failure of weaker projects that lack enough adoption and funding. Investors start to feel uncertain, leading to less innovation, fewer token launches, and careful spending by developers and companies.
Regulatory pressures, macroeconomic instability, and reduced institutional interest have shaped the 2025 crypto winter. Uncertainty regarding government regulations, inflation risks, and the reduction of speculative hype from the previous year also contributed to the current landscape.
Are We Currently in a Crypto Winter?
At this point in 2025, the cryptocurrency market is in a pullback, rather than a de facto crypto winter. The underlying sentiment is bullish; however, many investors expect crypto prices to increase as a function of depreciating fiat currencies worldwide.
For example, Bitcoin’s current price is down -3.83% month over month. Conversely, its price is down -6.44% compared to the same time last year, which shows sustained bullish momentum, not a crypto winter.
Although the majority of altcoins have not performed as well as they did in previous cycles, niche sectors, such as meme coins and internet capital markets (e.g., crypto ETFs and DATs), have performed well, while core settlement layers (i.e., Ethereum, Solana, and BNB) have made all-time highs and show sustained support at current price levels.
Advantages of Investing During a Crypto Winter
Those searching for the best crypto winter tokens may wonder whether it’s a good time to invest. While there are no guarantees, history has shown us that buying wisely during a crypto winter can potentially result in gains once the market recovers.
✅ Much Lower Entry Prices
During a crypto winter, coin prices usually drop significantly from their previous highs. This gives buyers a chance to enter the market at much lower prices. Cryptos that were previously out of reach became more accessible to acquire because they were valued too high, allowing investors to buy a larger portion with the same amount of money.
✅ Better Value for Money
After the crypto winter thawed in 2022, there was a period of phenomenal growth that lasted for most of 2023. For example, Ethereum started 2023 at almost $1,545 per token and peaked at over $4,000 in March 2024. Investors during this time saw gains of around 170%.
✅ Reduced FOMO
With decreased hype and market euphoria, investors can make more rational decisions based on thorough research rather than emotional impulses. As a result, FOMO is less prevalent during a crypto winter. This phase typically fizzles out any overvalued pricing in the market.
Drawbacks of Investing During a Crypto Winter
While investing during a crypto winter can offer high returns, it’s crucial to understand the potential risks with this strategy. A crypto winter is typically also characterized by extended periods of declining prices and market stagnation. Such a scenario would often present unique challenges that investors should carefully consider.
❌ Potential for Further Loss
One of the biggest risks of buying during a crypto winter is that prices could decrease. Even if asset prices look low compared to their all-time highs, that doesn’t mean they’ve hit their lowest point. As the market continues to correct, investors may lose more money, which could test their willpower and financial capacity.
❌ Long Wait Before Next Bull Run
It could be challenging to spot the best crypto bull run coins because crypto winters can last for long periods—sometimes years. This means that investors might have to be ready to stay committed long before they see big gains. This waiting period can be psychologically challenging and may tie up capital that could be used for other investments.
❌ Overwhelming Negative Sentiment
The general mood of the market is usually very negative during a crypto winter. This widespread pessimism can be hard on investors’ emotions and make it hard to trust their investment choices. A steady stream of bad news and market analysis can make people question things and could make investors sell at a loss out of fear and doubt.
Conclusion
The question of whether to invest in a crypto winter is not easy to answer. It depends on various factors, such as the investor’s experience, appetite for risk, and short-term or long-term goals. That said, doing plenty of research and investing in the best crypto winter tokens could pay off later.
This guide has discussed the best crypto winter tokens in detail and ranked projects we believe could have the most potential. Some investors look to buy tokens during a crypto winter, as many assets are trading at a discounted price.
Bitcoin Hyper stands out for its real utility during market downturns. It offers a Layer 2 solution to the Bitcoin ecosystem to enhance the chain’s scalability issues while lowering fees and raising transaction speed. So far, $HYPER has raised over $29.62M and offers staking APY of up to 39%.
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