Bitcoin has fallen nearly 30% from its 2025 peak, lagging behind everything from tech stocks to T-bills. Once promoted as a high-growth play, an inflation hedge, and a portfolio diversifier, the world’s largest cryptocurrency now faces the prospect of ending the year in the red — without fulfilling any of those roles. Gold — often dismissed by Bitcoin believers as outdated — is easily outperforming the token, which the crypto faithful have dubbed digital gold.