News from CoinDesk and Bloomberg flag BTC’s break below its recent trading range and the risk of a retest of the $80,000 area or worse, with some technicians like Peter Brandt warning that a snapped parabolic arc could open downside toward $25,000, even as on-chain models cited by Bitcoin Magazine suggest fair value closer to $100,000.
Market waiting for a catalyst as traders eye dense macro calendar
Across the coverage, from CoinDesk’s Daybook to Investing.com’s morning brief, commentators describe a crypto market stuck in a choppy, range-bound consolidation. With U.S. nonfarm payrolls, CPI, PMI readings, Fed speeches and a potentially hawkish Bank of Japan decision ahead, most participants are staying sidelined, leaving prices vulnerable to sharp moves in either direction once fresh data hits.
BTC holds below $90K as macro uncertainty caps upside
BTC trades around $87.9K, fractionally lower, after repeatedly failing to break a descending trendline near $94K and slipping back under the psychologically important $90K level. FXStreet and Investing.com highlight cautious risk sentiment ahead of a heavy week of U.S. data and global central bank meetings, with some analysts (e.g., Peter Brandt) warning of downside risk toward $80K or even $25K if the broken parabola plays out.
Eth softens after rejection at 50-day EMA
ETH is near $3,050, down about 0.5% on the day, giving back part of last week’s modest bounce. FXStreet notes ETH was rejected at its 50-day EMA around $3,280 and now risks a deeper pullback toward $3,017 and potentially $2,749 if that support breaks, even as some venues still show it slightly positive intraday amid generally subdued altcoin flows.
Sol bucks the drift with a small gain but stays inside downtrend
SOL is slightly higher near $130–$132, up about 0.5%, outperforming most large caps today. Still, CoinDesk notes that Solana, along with other high‑beta altcoins, has been under pressure in recent weeks as year‑end profit‑taking in BTC and thin liquidity amplify moves, leaving SOL down on the week and still vulnerable if Bitcoin retests lower supports.
Derivatives and sentiment data show a fearful, range‑bound market
CoinDesk reports the Crypto Fear and Greed Index back in ‘extreme fear’ after prior liquidations wiped out overleveraged longs, and FXStreet/Coinglass data show rising open interest in selective names like Dogecoin as traders hunt for rebound plays. Overall, flows are light and ranges tight, with analysts repeatedly describing ‘a market waiting for a catalyst’ in the form of incoming U.S. data or central bank surprises.
Macro backdrop: Fed cuts done for now, BOJ/ECB/BoE in focus
Despite the Fed’s third rate cut of 2025 and a softer dollar, crypto has failed to mount a sustained relief rally, suggesting the bullish impulse from easier policy is fading. News from Investing.com, Yahoo Finance and FXStreet stress that this week’s U.S. jobs and inflation prints plus the Bank of Japan’s widely expected hike—historically associated with BTC drawdowns—are keeping traders defensive across digital assets.
Bitcoin stabilizes below $90K as macro risk-off mood persists
BTC trades near $89K–$90K, up about 1.5% intraday but still stuck in a tight range after a multi-week slide. Caution ahead of key U.S. jobs and inflation data and the Bank of Japan decision is curbing fresh risk-taking and keeping volatility muted.
Downside risks for BTC grow, with $80K retest back on traders’ radar
CoinDesk notes BTC has retreated from roughly $93K since Friday, with technicals pointing to rising odds of a pullback toward the $80K area if support around the mid‑$80Ks fails. A weak Nasdaq and thin year‑end liquidity are reinforcing defensive positioning.
Ethereum outperforms majors but stalls below key resistance
ETH is around $3,150, up roughly 2.8% on the day and modestly firmer than BTC over the week. FXStreet highlights that rejection at the 50‑day EMA near $3,280 leaves ETH vulnerable to a move toward $3,000–$2,750 if macro data or risk sentiment deteriorate.
XRP pinned near $2.00 as it tests critical support-resistance zone
XRP sits around $1.98–$2.00, barely higher on the day after failing several times to clear $2, which CoinDesk frames as a near‑term inflection level. FXStreet warns that a daily close below ~$1.96 could open room toward $1.77, while holding this base keeps $2.35 in play.
Solana edges higher but remains pressured alongside high‑beta altcoins
SOL trades near $132, up about 1.8% but still lagging after recent drawdowns as Coindesk flags year‑end profit‑taking and thin liquidity across ETH, SOL, and ADA. Risk-sensitive names like SOL remain tethered to BTC direction and broader tech‑stock sentiment.
Digital asset treasuries and crypto-proxy stocks enter ‘Darwinian phase’
Yahoo Finance reports that bitcoin‑heavy corporates such as Strategy Inc. have been hit hard since October’s BTC crash, with mNAVs compressing toward 1x. This is forcing balance‑sheet hoarders to build cash reserves and could accelerate consolidation if BTC remains range‑bound.
HashKey IPO and continued institutional accumulation contrast with retail caution
HashKey’s Hong Kong IPO, reportedly multiple times oversubscribed, underscores ongoing institutional interest in crypto infrastructure even as spot prices stall. On-chain and balance‑sheet data cited by CoinDesk show whales and corporates quietly accumulating BTC while retail flows and leverage stay muted.
Ethereum Holds Firm While Altcoin Performance Diverges
Ethereum is trading around $3,100, aligning with recent data showing it at $3,115.23 on December 14, 2025, after a slight uptick from $3,085 the prior day. This reflects minor daily fluctuations amid broader crypto market declines, with the user's noted 0.3% loss fitting the volatile sentiment.
Market Trends
Polkadot (DOT) and XRP have shown relative strength, outperforming Ethereum despite overall risk aversion impacting DeFi tokens and altcoins. Total market capitalization and sentiment indicators continue to signal caution, consistent with Ethereum's year-over-year drop of about 20% from $3,907.
Key Performers
- Outperformers: Polkadot and XRP Ledger tokens hold ground better than Ethereum.
- Underperformers: DeFi sector and major altcoins weaken alongside falling market cap.
This setup points to persistent trader caution in the crypto space.
Regulation and policy tone turn more crypto‑friendly under Trump
A New York Times investigation notes the SEC has pulled back from its earlier aggressive enforcement stance toward crypto since Trump returned to office, reinforcing the narrative that regulatory headwinds have eased even as macro and demand‑side pressures keep prices below record highs.
BTC extends post-October correction amid crash fears
Bitcoin trades near $88.5K, down about 2% on the day and far below its $126K October peak as investors digest warnings from Michael Saylor and others about potential index exclusions and a $1 trillion market drawdown. Extreme fear readings, heavy liquidations and concerns that corporate bitcoin-treasury buying has largely run its course are reinforcing expectations for a deeper correction even as ETF flows are viewed as the next major upside driver (Forbes, Yahoo Finance, CoinDesk).
Broader crypto market under pressure as macro tailwinds fade
Ethereum, XRP and Solana are all down 1%–2% today, echoing recent CoinDesk data showing a 5.7% weekend drop in BTC and a roughly 7% slide in the CoinDesk 20 Index as hawkish signals from the Bank of Japan and a more cautious global rate-cut outlook sap risk appetite (CoinDesk, Bloomberg). The Fed’s ‘hawkish cut’ and fading expectations for aggressive easing into 2026 are curbing the monetary-policy tailwind that powered crypto earlier in the year, keeping traders defensive into a data-heavy week with U.S. jobs, CPI and retail sales on deck (Sources: DailyForex, Yahoo Finance).
Digital asset treasury stocks hit a "Darwinian phase"
Shares of bitcoin and ether heavy treasury companies such as Strategy and other DAT names have plunged 30%–60% since October’s liquidation event, with some now trading near or below the value of their underlying crypto holdings (Yahoo Finance, Forbes, CoinDesk). Analysts describe a shakeout in which only firms with sustainable cash-generating businesses alongside their token treasuries are likely to survive, while MSCI’s pending index-rule decision adds another overhang for Saylor’s Strategy in early 2026.