The article reflects on the shifting perception of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, in 2025. While Bitcoin reached new price highs during the year, a longer-term, 10-year comparison reveals it underperformed traditional assets like gold and US stocks. The core sentiment is that despite higher prices, the overall investor experience is deteriorating. This signals a broader transformation: cryptocurrencies are no longer seen as the automatic "best investment" but are increasingly treated and priced as high-risk assets, subject to rigorous comparison with traditional markets. The piece concludes by questioning whether this represents temporary growing pains or the end of an era where simply participating in crypto guaranteed rewards.