Cryptocurrency News, Monday, December 29, 2025: Bitcoin Around $90k and Year-End Review

Current cryptocurrency news for Monday, December 29, 2025: Bitcoin and Ethereum dynamics, altcoin movements, top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, and key market trends for investors worldwide.

As 2025 draws to a close, the digital asset market continues to consolidate. Bitcoin remains around the $88–89k mark following a record rise this autumn, while leading altcoins are showing a mixed but generally moderately positive trend. Investors are exhibiting cautious optimism, bolstered by a more favorable regulatory environment and active participation from institutional players in the industry.

Cryptocurrency Market: Consolidation at Year-End

The global cryptocurrency market capitalization has approached $3 trillion, slightly below recent record levels. In the days leading up to the holidays, a slight decline in prices (around 1–2% per day) has been observed amid low trading volumes. Investors are proceeding with caution; the cryptocurrency fear and greed index remains in the "fear" zone. However, in the long term, 2025 demonstrated significant growth: for instance, Bitcoin rose above $126k in October and is now retreating to $88k. This fact underscores the ongoing interest in crypto assets despite the December correction.

Bitcoin: Consolidation Around $90k

The largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Bitcoin (BTC), is trading around $87–88k (data from December 28). BTC's market capitalization exceeds $1.7 trillion, accounting for approximately 58–59% of the entire crypto market. Following record highs above $120k this autumn, Bitcoin has corrected but maintains support around $84–88k. Analysts suggest that breaking the psychological barrier around ~$90–91k could set the tone for the market in early 2026. Market dynamics are influenced by institutional flows; by the year's end, significant outflows have been observed from leading spot Bitcoin ETFs. For example, BlackRock’s largest ETF (IBIT) saw assets decrease by nearly 5% ($2.7 billion) in just a couple of weeks, indicating a rapid capital reallocation. The trajectory of Bitcoin will depend on the resumption of fund inflows and global macroeconomic factors.

Ethereum: Strong Fundamentals, Lagging Price

The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum (ETH), is trading around $2,950, slightly trailing recent highs. Ethereum remains the primary platform for decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and smart contracts, having significantly expanded its capacity over the past year. Recent protocol upgrades have improved scalability and reduced fees, stimulating increased activity—transaction volumes and operations with tokens on Ethereum have reached record levels. Nonetheless, ETH’s price is pressured by market-wide factors and capital outflows: many holders have yet to recover losses incurred during price peaks. Experts expect that as Bitcoin stabilizes, interest in Ethereum will grow, as investors will once again focus on it as a fundamental asset of the blockchain ecosystem.

Altcoins: Divergent Trends Among Leaders

Among leading altcoins, mixed dynamics are observed: some coins are experiencing steady growth, while others remain stagnant. Below are some significant trends among top altcoins:

• Solana (SOL) – a high-speed blockchain attracting developers due to low fees. After last year's technical challenges, SOL has recovered and is trading around $125 with a market capitalization of approximately $70 billion, maintaining its position in the top 10.
• XRP (Ripple) – the token of the Ripple payment system. Legal clarity regarding XRP's status has restored investor confidence in 2025. Despite the overall industry correction, XRP demonstrates relative resilience: even with the market's decline, the token remains sought after as a payment asset.
• Binance Coin (BNB) – the coin of the Binance exchange and BNB Chain platform. BNB is used for fee payments and boasts a wide ecosystem. Despite increasing regulatory scrutiny on Binance, the coin maintains strong positions (trading above $850) due to numerous use cases within the ecosystem.
• Dogecoin (DOGE) and Cardano (ADA) – popular cryptocurrencies that are showing comparatively weak dynamics by year-end. DOGE remains in the top ten due to community support, while ADA, as a project with a scientific approach, still has a large community. Both coins have primarily traded within narrow ranges in recent weeks without significant movements.
• TRON (TRX) – a blockchain focused on digital entertainment and stablecoin support. A significant portion of USDT is minted on the TRON network, providing TRX (trading around $0.28) with high demand, especially in the Asian region.

Institutional Trends: Outflows from ETFs and Corporate Accumulation

Institutional investors continue to impact the market. In 2025, newly launched spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. have spurred interest in crypto assets, but by year-end, these funds begin to experience outflows. Additionally, corporate transactions have surged: the total M&A volume in the crypto industry reached a record $8.6 billion (up from around $2.2 billion in 2024). This indicates growing confidence among larger players and financial organizations. Notable transactions included:

• The acquisition of the Deribit exchange by Coinbase for $2.9 billion (the largest acquisition in crypto sector history);
• The acquisition of the futures platform NinjaTrader by Kraken for $1.5 billion;
• The purchase of the crypto broker Hidden Road by Ripple for $1.25 billion.

Concurrently, primary public offerings exploded in 2025: a total of approximately $14.6 billion was raised through IPOs (compared to just $0.31 billion the previous year). Among notable entries to the public market were the parent company of CoinDesk (Bullish, $1.1 billion), the stablecoin issuer USDC (Circle, over $1 billion), and crypto exchange Gemini (~$0.425 billion). These deals reflect institutional players' desire to access liquid crypto assets amid tightening regulations.

Major banks are returning to crypto: JPMorgan is exploring cryptocurrency trading opportunities for institutional clients, while U.S. Bank has resumed Bitcoin custody services for fund managers in partnership with NYDIG. U.S. Senator Lummis noted that the proposed measures by U.S. regulators could put an end to the practice of "de-banking" crypto companies by banks. Thus, traditional financial institutions are preparing to integrate more actively into the digital asset market.

Macroeconomics and Investor Sentiment

The end of December is characterized by moderately positive sentiment, though with signs of caution. The weakening of the U.S. dollar and expectations for possible easing of Federal Reserve policy support demand for riskier assets and "defensive" instruments. This week, gold and silver prices reached historical highs amid geopolitical tensions—trends typically favorable for Bitcoin. Moreover, the cryptocurrency market has already reacted to these concerns: after a slight decline, Bitcoin is showing recovery, reflecting its role as digital gold.

However, sentiment indicators, such as the cryptocurrency fear and greed index, remain in the "fear" zone, indicating a cautious mood among participants. Key factors include central bank decisions on interest rates and the overall economic backdrop: future market dynamics will depend on the macroeconomic situation. For example, the growing likelihood of Fed rate cuts in early 2026 could stimulate capital inflows into riskier assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

1. Bitcoin (BTC) – the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is often referred to as "digital gold" due to its limited supply. In 2025, Bitcoin reached record highs above $120k and is currently trading around $88k. BTC's market capitalization is approximately $1.7 trillion (around 58% of the entire crypto market).
2. Ethereum (ETH) – the second largest cryptocurrency and leading platform for decentralized applications (DeFi, NFTs). The ETH token is used to pay fees on the Ethereum network. At year-end, its price is around $3.0k, with a market capitalization of about $350 billion (~12% of the market).
3. Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar (1 USDT ≈ $1). USDT is widely used on exchanges as a means of exchange and a store of value. Its market capitalization is around $150 billion, reflecting the key role of stablecoins in the crypto economy.
4. Binance Coin (BNB) – the coin of the Binance exchange and BNB Chain platform. BNB is used for trading fee payments and as "fuel" for the Binance Smart Chain. With a broad Binance ecosystem, the coin ranks among the leaders by market capitalization (~$100 billion), maintaining significant transaction volumes.
5. USD Coin (USDC) – one of the leading stablecoins, issued by the Centre consortium (Coinbase and Circle). USDC is fully backed by reserves and known for its high transparency. In 2025, it gained popularity among institutional investors, with a market capitalization of around $60 billion.
6. XRP (Ripple) – a cryptocurrency from the Ripple payment network, designed for fast interbank transfers with low fees. In 2025, legal clarity (winning court disputes) restored confidence in XRP. The token price is about $2.5, with a market cap of approximately $140 billion, regaining a place among the top five.
7. Solana (SOL) – a blockchain with high throughput and low transaction costs. Solana attracts DeFi and NFT application developers and is considered a promising competitor to Ethereum. SOL remains in the top 10 with a market cap of around $80 billion.
8. Cardano (ADA) – a platform for smart contracts with a scientific approach to development. ADA is used for staking and transaction payments on the Cardano blockchain. Despite slower growth, the project has a large community: ADA's market capitalization is around $28 billion with a price of approximately $0.85.
9. Dogecoin (DOGE) – a well-known "meme token" created as a joke but has become a significant phenomenon. DOGE is supported by the community and celebrities (e.g., Elon Musk). It is used for micropayments and tips on the internet. Dogecoin's price is around $0.18, with a market cap of about $26 billion.
10. TRON (TRX) – a blockchain focused on digital entertainment and the issuance of stablecoins. A significant portion of USDT and other stablecoins is issued on the TRON network due to high speeds and low fees. The TRX token trades around $0.30, with a market capitalization of approximately $27 billion.

Market Outlook at the Start of 2026

Analysts predict that 2026 will be characterized by gradual consolidation and more stable growth in the cryptocurrency market following the tumultuous 2025. This foundation is laid on the achievements of the outgoing year: the launch of crypto ETFs in the U.S., the implementation of MiCA in the European Union, technological upgrades of blockchains, and increased institutional participation. These factors render the industry more mature and resilient to shocks.

At the beginning of 2026, investors will closely monitor capital inflow dynamics: a return to net inflows in crypto funds and ETFs post-holidays could act as a catalyst for a new stage of price growth. Concurrently, the importance of macro factors remains – central bank decisions and global economic trends will dictate risk appetite. Given the accumulated reserves of stablecoins, the market is prepared for quick liquidity improvements upon favorable sentiment. Overall, cryptocurrencies have become firmly integrated into the global financial system, and their trajectory in 2026 will depend on both internal technological drivers and external economic conditions.