While leading Layer-1 (L1) blockchains like Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain continue to dominate media coverage, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has emerged as a 'quiet star'.
BCH is likely one of the few Layer-1 altcoins that will end 2025 with strong positive development. Several important factors support this scenario.
How Bitcoin Cash (BCH) surpassed other Layer-1s in 2025
Data shows that BCH has risen nearly 32% so far this year, making it the Layer-1 altcoin with the best return. It has outperformed rivals like Tron, Ethereum, and Solana.
In particular, BCH has largely been outside the ETF and strategic reserve (DATs) narrative. While altcoins like ETH, SOL, and XRP benefit from expectations of institutional accumulation, BCH has climbed without relying on these catalysts.
This development highlights BCH's inherent strength as a Bitcoin fork that has survived multiple market cycles.
At today’s price level above $570, BCH could end 2025 higher than the opening price of $430 at the beginning of the year.
However, many analysts expect more. They believe that BCH will break above the current resistance at $600 and set a new high for the year.
“When the price clearly breaks above the resistance zone of $610–$650, BCH will likely move significantly higher, as ZEC did in September,” predicts investor Karamata.
If BCH breaks above $650, it could mark a two-year high. A movement above $720 could establish the highest level since 2022. Several on-chain factors reinforce this picture.
Positive signals supporting a potential BCH breakout
A notable bullish signal is the increase in the average transaction value for Bitcoin Cash in December 2025.
Historical data from BitInfoCharts shows that the average transaction value has risen above $1.34 million at several peaks, while BCH traded near $600.
This is the highest average transaction value in BCH's history. It reflects an increase in large transactions, likely from major investors or whales, and indicates real capital inflows into the network.
Additional spot trading data supports this trend. The Bitcoin Cash spot average order volume graph from CryptoQuant shows that whale activity has dominated the order book in recent years.
Large whale orders have re-emerged in the last two months, while BCH has been trading around the resistance zone at $600.
Beyond trading statistics, BCH is still one of the most used altcoins for payments. According to Cryptwerk, BCH ranks fourth with 2468 merchants accepting it, only surpassed by BTC, ETH, and LTC.
These factors may contribute to a successful breakout and send BCH towards new records in 2026.
Challenges remain, however. Liquidity constraints and extremely fearful market sentiment continue to be barriers, making a rapid BCH rise more difficult.
