One year after its fourth halving, Bitcoin is showing a perplexing trajectory. Although the crypto has climbed since April 2024 — nearing $109,000 in January — its progress remains pale compared to previous cycles. A paradox? Despite absolute records, the annual growth rate is capped at 49%, far from the quadruple digits of the past. How can this historic slowdown be explained when ETFs and the planned coin shortage were supposed to propel the market?