Cryptocurrency trading bots powered by super-advanced artificial intelligence and a potential US-listed Solana exchange-traded fund (ETF) could boost the fortunes of cryptocurrencies in 2025, according to crypto industry watchers.

Meanwhile, hackers, powered by equally advanced AI technology, could witness another banner year of thefts and exploits.

From best to worst and ending with the most inspiring development, here are the three most significant cryptocurrency predictions for 2025.

US-listed Solana ETF opens for business

More companies are vying for a Solana ETF, including asset management giants VanEck, Grayscale, 21Shares, Bitwise and Canary Capital

As the leading monolithic blockchain network, Solana's $91 billion market cap is four times smaller than Ethereum's $403 billion, meaning it needs to capture less investment for more upward momentum.

Crypto investors see an approved Solana ETF (SOL) as a potential price catalyst, and some say it may not be priced at all.

SOL ETF Prediction Market. Source: Polymarket.com

“As it is still very uncertain, the approval of an ETF in the US would have a positive impact on the price of Solana, as the probability is low and therefore not yet priced in,” said Alejo Pinto, former growth leader of IBM blockchain and founder of the Lumio network, layer-2 of Solana.

Solana ETFs are currently under review by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), with a preliminary decision due by the end of January 2025.

The deadline for Grayscale's Solana ETF application is Jan. 23, while the other four applicants expect a preliminary decision by Jan. 25, 45 days after the SEC formally accepted the ETF's application for review in November.

SOL ETF Forecast.

Alex Svanevik, CEO of crypto intelligence platform Nansen, predicted that a U.S.-listed Solana ETF would go live in 2025 as part of nine predictions that could make next year “the mother year of all bull markets.” He wrote in a Nov. 27 X post:

“SOL ETF. And it does better than the ETH ETF in its debut.”

Brazil’s first Solana ETF was approved on August 7, setting a precedent for other global jurisdictions.

Solana surged above $230 on Dec. 11, fueled by growing trader anticipation for a SOL ETF, along with Bitwise setting a $750 price target for Solana, which was trading above $189 at 7:30 UTC.

AI-Powered Crypto Scams and Irresistible Targets for Hacks

In a significant blow to the mainstream acceptance of crypto, crypto hackers stole $2.3 billion in value in 2024, marking a 40% increase compared to 2023, according to a report shared by onchain security firm Cyvers.

Total annual fund loss by attack vector. Source: Cyvers

The rising value of cryptocurrencies and the increase in the number of digital payments could fuel a new wave of cyber theft in 2025.

Investors should be particularly aware of authorized payment app (APP) fraud and so-called “pig-fattening schemes,” according to Deddy Lavid, co-founder and CEO of Cyvers.

“APP fraud tricks victims into authorizing payments, while pig fattening uses prolonged manipulation to drain assets through fake crypto investments,” Lavid said.

More funds were lost to fraud in 2024 than to security attacks, highlighting their growing financial impact. The continued development of artificial intelligence is also making scams more sophisticated, Lavid added:

“Combating them will require advanced detection systems, stricter compliance and consumer education to protect an increasingly valuable and vulnerable digital ecosystem.”

The industry must remain vigilant as North Korean hackers may start targeting larger targets such as U.S. Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), according to Michael Pearl, vice president of GTM strategy at onchain security firm Cyvers.

AI-Powered Cryptocurrency Trading Could Outperform Humans

The field of AI and AI-powered crypto projects have received significant investor attention in 2024, emerging as a key focus for venture capital firms despite the proliferation of AI-powered scams in the crypto industry.

AI-powered cryptocurrency trading could be the next significant market trend, and the continued development of AI agents could result in AI bots outperforming human investors, according to Jawad Ashraf, co-founder and CEO of blockchain startup Vanar.

“KOLs, traders and influencers will find themselves outclassed by AI agents capable of precision, 24/7 presence and even being more engaging than their real-life counterparts,” said Ashraf.

“AI agents will provide market insights, execute trades based on real-time data analysis, or influence market sentiment with an efficiency that humans cannot match.”

The symbiotic relationship between AI and blockchain is set to reshape the crypto ecosystem. Ashraf said this “evolution will challenge our notions of trust, control, and creativity, creating a less human-centric crypto economy.” “As always, Web3 is at the forefront of technology,” Ashraf added.

AI-related cryptocurrencies have a cumulative market capitalization value of $42 billion as of Dec. 25, data from CoinGecko shows.

AI-related cryptocurrencies.

Crypto trading bots have been used to analyze and replicate human trading behavior, offering users 24/7 market access, despite presenting significant trading and security risks, as illustrated by a hack on the Telegram Banana Gun bot that cost users nearly $2 million in lost funds.

Still, an AI agent is a more advanced form of software than crypto trading bots, as they can adapt and evolve over time, learning from new market dynamics.

Other honorable mentions

While the above trends only scratch the surface of all the exciting crypto predictions, they illustrate the rapidly changing dynamics of the cryptocurrency industry.

Donald Trump's upcoming presidential inauguration is also seen as a significant catalyst for the growth of the crypto space, and is associated with expectations of more innovation-friendly crypto regulation.

Industry participants also expect to see more crypto adoption by institutions and governments, driven by excitement surrounding a potential Bitcoin reserve act in the US, which would implement BTC as a financial savings technology.

Ultimately, investors are hoping to see more regulatory clarity and crypto-based ETFs after Jan. 20, when incoming SEC Chairman Paul Atkins replaces Gary Gensler, reigniting hopes that the regulator may drop its legal case against Ripple Labs.