Current Cryptocurrency News for Thursday, December 25, 2025: Bitcoin Holds at $87K, Altcoins Under Pressure, Institutional Investors Maintain Interest, Top 10 Cryptocurrencies.
As of the morning of December 25, 2025, the cryptocurrency market is experiencing relative stability after the volatile fluctuations of recent days. Bitcoin is holding steady around the $87,000 mark, consolidating after a significant autumn correction. Ethereum and most major altcoins are trading slightly lower, remaining under pressure amid cautious investor sentiment. The total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies hovers around $3 trillion. Despite the temporary cooling of the market, institutional participants continue to show interest in digital assets, sustaining long-term confidence in the sector.
Market Overview: Consolidation and Pressure on Altcoins
This week, Bitcoin (BTC) is consolidating in the mid-$80,000 range, maintaining a key support level around $85,000. Midweek, BTC attempted to rally towards $90,000, but the momentum quickly weakened – signaling a possible slowdown in the pre-New Year rally. At the same time, Ethereum (ETH) stabilized around $3,000, trying to recover from a late autumn decline. Many major altcoins – from Binance Coin to Solana – remain under pressure: their prices have decreased by 1–3% in recent days, resulting in a slight increase in Bitcoin's market cap share (to ~58%). Some technical indicators suggest that select altcoins are oversold, allowing for the possibility of short-term rebounds. Overall, the crypto market is balancing between caution and hopes for growth: low liquidity during the holiday season intensifies volatility, and market participants are closely monitoring external factors, including decisions from global central banks. On the other hand, ongoing institutional inflows (see below) instill moderate optimism and help cushion the market from deeper declines.
Bitcoin After the Peak: Searching for Balance
In 2025, Bitcoin experienced a remarkable surge followed by a correction. In early October, BTC reached an all-time high, surpassing $126,000, but then the market faced a sharp retreat of more than 30%. Currently, the first cryptocurrency is stabilizing around $87,000, significantly lower than its peak level yet still close to values seen at the end of last year. Bitcoin's market capitalization is estimated at approximately $1.7 trillion, accounting for about 57–58% of the total cryptocurrency market cap. Bitcoin remains the main "barometer" of the digital market and is seen by many institutional investors as a store of value over the long term. Experts note that for BTC to continue its upward trajectory in the short term, it needs to confidently exceed the $90,000 mark, while the $85,000 zone acts as the nearest support. A break below this level could intensify downward pressure down to the psychological threshold of $80,000, while recovery above $90,000 would signal market stabilization. Despite recent weakness, fundamental factors – limited supply (21 million BTC) and institutional interest – continue to play in favor of the largest cryptocurrency.
Ethereum and Leading Altcoins: Mixed Dynamics
Ethereum (ETH), the second largest digital asset by market cap, is attempting to recover from its autumn slump. The current ETH price hovers around $2,900, below levels seen at the beginning of November (previously, Ethereum traded confidently above $3,200). However, Ethereum still holds around 12% of the market and remains the foundational platform for the DeFi and NFT ecosystems, bolstering its position through the transition to a Proof-of-Stake algorithm. Other major altcoins have shown mixed dynamics in recent weeks. For instance, Solana (SOL), after a rapid rise in the first half of the year, has retraced to ~$120, correcting from local highs (earlier in December, SOL was above $130). Binance Coin (BNB) is stabilizing around $835, showing relative stability amidst regulatory risks surrounding the Binance exchange. The XRP token, after a summer surge due to news of Ripple's victory over the SEC, is currently trading around ~$1.85 and does not exhibit significant trend direction. Meanwhile, more speculative coins are suffering more; for example, the NFT token sector declined by over 9% in total last week. The capital rotation from altcoins to Bitcoin and Ethereum is a notable year-end trend, reflecting investors' desire to mitigate risks. Analysts do not rule out that should sentiment improve, some funds will return to quality altcoins; however, until global uncertainty decreases, Bitcoin's dominance is likely to remain elevated.
Institutional Investments and ETF Funds
One of the major trends of 2025 has been the increasing presence of large investors in the cryptocurrency market. In the U.S., after a long wait, the first spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for Bitcoin and Ethereum were launched, simplifying access to digital assets for institutional players. Over the year, these funds attracted billions of dollars, but by the end of December, there are signs of profit-taking as well. According to reports, on December 23, the total outflow from U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs was about $188 million, while Ethereum ETFs experienced outflows of approximately $95 million in a single day. Nevertheless, large organizations are not abandoning their long-term plans regarding cryptocurrencies. For example, global investment giant BlackRock announced an expansion of its digital assets team, opening new positions in New York, London, and Singapore – this move reflects a strategic vision for the industry's prospects. Additionally, new exchange products are in development: regulators are reviewing applications for launching ETFs for other cryptocurrencies (including Solana and Cardano), reflecting the continued growth of institutional interest in the market.
Regulation and Global Factors
The regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies in 2025 has notably evolved worldwide. In the United States, after several years of uncertainty, progress has been made: authorities provided clearer clarifications regarding the status of digital assets, and the precedent set by the legal ruling in the XRP case clarified the boundaries of SEC oversight. Moreover, the U.S. administration has shown interest in the sector (previously discussing the possibility of forming a strategic reserve of Bitcoin and allowing pension funds to invest in crypto assets). The European Union implemented comprehensive regulations (the MiCA framework) in 2025 aimed at standardizing oversight of the industry and increasing transparency in operations. In major Asian jurisdictions – from Singapore to Hong Kong – regulatory standards are also being introduced that balance innovation stimulation and investor protection. Despite the overall increase in certainty, regulatory pressure on the industry persists: for instance, major cryptocurrency exchanges still face demands for heightened control and reporting. Simultaneously, security incidents (including the recent hacking of the prediction platform Polymarket) remind us of the risks, prompting regulators to intensify their focus on consumer protection. As a result, the global picture is mixed: on one hand, clearer rules attract institutional players; on the other hand, the market must adapt to new requirements to achieve sustainable growth.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
Despite the current fluctuations, investors remain focused on the top ten largest digital assets, which largely set the tone for the entire market. As of December 25, 2025, the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization are as follows:
- Bitcoin (BTC) – the first and largest cryptocurrency, often referred to as "digital gold." BTC has a fixed issuance limit of 21 million coins and remains the main market sentiment indicator (≈58% of total capitalization). With its status as a safe-haven asset, Bitcoin attracts significant institutional investment as a store of value.
- Ethereum (ETH) – the leading altcoin and smart contract platform that underpins the ecosystems of decentralized finance (DeFi) and NFTs. Ethereum confidently ranks second by market capitalization (~12% of the market) and transitioned to an energy-efficient Proof-of-Stake algorithm in 2022, enhancing its appeal as the "digital oil" of the blockchain industry.
- Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 ratio. USDT provides high liquidity for trading on cryptocurrency exchanges, allowing participants to swiftly transfer capital into dollar equivalents and back for transactions and hedging against volatility. USDT's market capitalization is around $150 billion; the coin consistently holds a price around $1.00.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the native token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and its associated blockchain network, BNB Chain. BNB is used to pay fees on the exchange and participate in ecosystem services (Launchpad, DeFi applications, etc.), allowing it to remain among the market leaders. Despite regulatory pressure on Binance in several countries, the wide range of applications for the token supports its demand and position in the top 5.
- Ripple (XRP) – the token of the Ripple payment network, intended for fast cross-border settlements between banks. XRP gained heightened attention after Ripple’s legal victory over the SEC: a U.S. court confirmed that the sale of XRP does not violate securities laws. This lifted the uncertainty surrounding XRP and strengthened its market position (the token's market capitalization is estimated at around $110 billion), although its price remains significantly below historical highs.
- USD Coin (USDC) – the second-largest stablecoin, issued by the Centre consortium (comprising Circle and Coinbase) and fully backed by reserves in dollars. USDC enjoys trust among institutional investors due to regular auditing of reserves and transparency. The coin is widely used for transactions, trading, and in the DeFi sector as a reliable digital equivalent of the U.S. dollar.
- Solana (SOL) – a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications (dApps), known for its high transaction speeds and low fees. After the 2022 crisis, Solana has managed to regain a significant market share in 2025: new DeFi and NFT projects have been launched on its platform, and the pending approval of the first ETF for SOL enhances investor interest. A slight price correction at the end of the year has not hindered SOL's position among the largest crypto assets.
- TRON (TRX) – a blockchain platform popular mainly in Asia, used for creating smart contracts, entertainment content, and issuing stablecoins. TRX maintains a spot in the top 10 due to the stable growth of its user base and the development of decentralized applications on the platform. A significant share of USDT is also issued on the TRON blockchain, supporting the demand for this network and its token.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – the most well-known meme cryptocurrency, which originated as a joke on the internet. Despite its parodic nature, DOGE has become a significant asset due to its loyal community and occasional support from notable entrepreneurs (e.g., Elon Musk) on social media. The volatility of Dogecoin remains high, but mass recognition and the network effect allow it to remain among the largest coins, demonstrating sustained investor interest.
- Cardano (ADA) – a blockchain platform for smart contracts developed based on academic research and code verification. ADA boasts one of the most active communities and retains its position in the top ten, although real-world application deployment on its foundation is proceeding more slowly than expected. The project attracts long-term investors, relying on the network's reliability and scalability in the future.
Cryptocurrency Market as of the Morning of December 25, 2025
Cryptocurrency rates:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $86,800
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,920
- XRP (XRP): $1.85
- BNB (BNB): $830
- Solana (SOL): $121
- Tether (USDT): ₽85.00
Market indicators:
- Total cryptocurrency market capitalization: $3.02 trillion
- Bitcoin dominance: 58.1%
- Fear and Greed Index: 27 (fear)
Leaders in change over 24 hours:
- Increase: Quantum Resistant Ledger (QRL) — +31%
- Decrease: ApeCoin (APE) — -9%
Analysis: Bitcoin and Ethereum are demonstrating relative stability at current levels, while the market sentiment remains cautious (the fear index confirms predominant caution among investors). The sharp rise of the lesser-known token QRL suggests that even in a quiet market, certain projects with strong news backgrounds can attract speculative interest. At the same time, the price drop of ApeCoin underscores the weakness in the NFT sector amid profit-taking and reduced excitement. With low trading volumes and the holiday season, market participants prefer to diversify risks while waiting for the emergence of new drivers for a more definitive price movement.
