Cryptocurrency News for 19 December 2025: Bitcoin Drops Below $90,000, Pressure on Altcoins, Institutional Interest and Overview of the Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies for Investors.
As of the morning of 19 December 2025, the cryptocurrency market is under pressure following a significant correction that followed a rapid increase earlier this year. Bitcoin has slipped below the psychological level of $90,000, reducing the total cryptocurrency market capitalisation to approximately $2.9 trillion. Following Bitcoin, the largest altcoins, led by Ethereum, are also facing declines, with many of the top 10 digital assets trading significantly below their peak values. Nevertheless, institutional investors continue to show interest in cryptocurrencies, with some using the current downturn to increase their investments amid mixed macroeconomic signals and a gradual improvement in industry regulation.
Bitcoin Below $90,000 Amidst Correction
In recent days, Bitcoin (BTC) has fallen below the key level of $90,000 for the first time in nearly two months. On 17 December, the price of the leading cryptocurrency briefly dropped to around $85,000 on some exchanges before partially recovering; BTC is now trading around $87,000. The current price is nearly 30% below its all-time high (~$125,000), reached in October. The market capitalisation of BTC is estimated at approximately $1.75 trillion, representing around 60% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalisation.
Analysts note that the recent decline in Bitcoin is due to a combination of factors. Investors have started to take profits following an extended rally, and there has been heightened selling on Asian cryptocurrency exchanges, intensifying downward pressure on prices. Simultaneously, demand from institutional players in the U.S. remains strong, as capital inflows are observed on regulated platforms, indicating that large investors are purchasing coins released on the Asian market. The activities of miners also play a role: due to falling mining profitability, some mining pools are liquidating part of their BTC reserves, increasing short-term supply in the market. Nevertheless, fundamental network metrics remain optimistic, with Bitcoin's total "realised capitalisation" recently reaching a record $1.12 trillion. This indicates that the volume of funds invested in BTC (considering the purchase price of coins) is now at its highest level in history, despite the correction, reflecting the confidence of long-term holders.
Ethereum Drops Below $3,000
Following Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH) is also under pressure. For the first time in recent weeks, the ETH price has dipped below the psychological mark of $3,000 and is currently hovering around $2,830. The current price is approximately 40% lower than the recent peak (~$4,600, reached in August 2025). Ethereum's market capitalisation stands at about $340 billion, accounting for ~12% of the total cryptocurrency market; Ether continues to hold a strong second position among the largest crypto assets.
Ethereum remains a fundamental platform for smart contracts and decentralised finance (DeFi), which keeps demand for Ether generally steady. However, the current correction has also affected ETH: over the past 24 hours, the altcoin has decreased by about 4%, slightly surpassing Bitcoin's decline. Institutional interest in Ethereum has not waned; throughout 2025, there has been a record influx of funds into Ethereum ETFs following their launch in the U.S. in the summer of 2024. Large investment funds view ETH as a promising asset linked to the development of blockchain infrastructure. Additionally, Ethereum developers are preparing network updates aimed at improving scalability and reducing fees, which should bolster ETH’s position in the long run.
Altcoins Under Pressure
The broader market of alternative cryptocurrencies reflects the overall downward trend. Over the past 24 hours, most major altcoins in the top 10 have declined by 2-5%, deepening a correction that has been ongoing for several weeks. The total market capitalisation of altcoins (excluding BTC) has now decreased to ~$1.17 trillion, retreating from this year's peak values (around $1.7 trillion). Many popular tokens are trading significantly below their highs. For example, Ripple (XRP) is holding around $1.90 (down from ~$3 at its peak following Ripple's legal victory over the SEC), and Solana (SOL) has dropped to ~$125 after previously surpassing $190 in the fall.
Some major altcoins are showing relative resilience. Binance Coin (BNB) remains around $840, close to its historical highs, despite the general market decline and ongoing regulatory pressure on the Binance exchange. Overall, investors are partially shifting towards less volatile assets, resulting in a slight increase in Bitcoin's market share: BTC now accounts for about 60% of the market capitalisation, compared to ~58% a few months ago.
Institutional Interest in Cryptocurrencies
Despite market fluctuations, institutional investors have continued to expand their presence in the cryptocurrency market throughout 2025. In the U.S., a significant development has been the introduction of the first spot ETFs for Bitcoin and Ethereum, providing large funds and banks easier access to digital assets. Cumulative investments in exchange-traded crypto funds have reached record scales, measured in billions of dollars. Asset managers, hedge funds, as well as individual pension and sovereign wealth funds are including cryptocurrencies in their portfolios, viewing them as a new promising asset class.
The industry is also receiving supportive signals from well-known players. For example, MicroStrategy, under the guidance of Michael Saylor, continues to buy Bitcoin even amid the correction, increasing its BTC reserves to a record level. Notably, attention from sovereign wealth funds has also increased: Norway's largest investment fund has publicly supported Bitcoin-related initiatives for the first time this year. Such moves from institutional players provide long-term support for the market and enhance trust among a wider array of investors.
Regulation and Macroeconomics
The regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies in 2025 is gradually improving in key jurisdictions. In the U.S., after prolonged legal battles over the past years, a certain clarity has emerged: court rulings (including a partial victory for Ripple in its dispute with the SEC) have established important precedents, and Congress is discussing legislation regarding stablecoins and the taxation of digital assets. The European Union is implementing a comprehensive set of MiCA regulations, creating unified requirements for the industry and attracting companies due to regulatory predictability. In Asia, authorities are taking mixed positions: Hong Kong and Singapore strive to become crypto hubs by implementing clear regulations for trading digital assets, while China maintains strict restrictions on cryptocurrency operations.
The overall macroeconomic backdrop is also influencing the cryptocurrency market. Major central banks (the U.S. Federal Reserve, ECB) are adhering to a policy of high-interest rates at the end of 2025; however, inflation in these economies is decreasing, leading to expectations of gradual easing of monetary conditions in 2026. This factor could potentially support demand for risky assets, including cryptocurrencies, after a period of tightening. The political situation in the U.S. is drawing investor attention: President Donald Trump's administration has declared support for innovation and is refraining from excessive pressure on the crypto industry (notably, a proposal for a government Bitcoin reserve is under discussion). Collectively, clearer regulation and economic stabilisation reduce uncertainty and create a foundation for new capital inflows into the cryptocurrency market.
Market Sentiment and Volatility
The vigorous summer growth of cryptocurrencies has transitioned to a phase of increased volatility and investor caution. The "Fear and Greed" index for the cryptocurrency market has dropped to around 45 points, corresponding to a "fear" mode (the index had been above 70 in the "greed" zone last autumn). This reflects a noticeable cooling of optimism: market participants are now much more inclined to reduce risks, fearing further price declines.
Statistics on liquidations of margin positions also confirm the nervousness in the market. Over the past 24 hours, forced liquidations on cryptocurrency exchanges exceeded $300 million, primarily affecting long positions in altcoins. Such episodes demonstrate that excessive leverage remains a serious risk: sudden price swings can "knock out" both bearish and bullish positions if traders become overly involved in margin trading.
Forecasts and Expectations
Despite the current price dip, many analysts maintain optimism regarding the future outlook of the cryptocurrency market. Several forecasts from major financial institutions remain "bullish." For instance, reports from one international bank had previously suggested Bitcoin could rise to $150,000–200,000 by the end of 2025; although these targets now appear overly aggressive, some experts expect such levels to be reached by 2026.
Observers note that historically, market cycles following Bitcoin halvings have included multi-month rallies. They believe the current decline represents an intermediate consolidation before a new growth phase. If the macroeconomic environment improves, the total capitalisation of the cryptocurrency market could return to record highs and exceed the $5 trillion mark next year. However, skeptics warn of persistent risks: if tight monetary policy extends, or if regulators tighten requirements, the growth of crypto assets may be restrained. Overall, under favourable economic conditions and continued inflows of institutional capital, most experts anticipate a gradual recovery of the upward trend in 2026.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
As of the morning of 19 December 2025, the top ten cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation are as follows:
- Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $86,450 after a recent correction; the market capitalisation is approximately $1.75 trillion (≈60% of the total market).
- Ethereum (ETH) — the leading altcoin and platform for smart contracts. The ETH price is around $2,834, significantly below record levels, with a capitalisation of approximately $340 billion (≈12% of the market).
- Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin, pegged to the U.S. dollar (1:1). USDT is widely used for trading and transactions, with a capitalisation of approximately $150 billion; the coin maintains a stable price of $1.00.
- Ripple (XRP) — the token of the Ripple payment network for cross-border transactions. XRP is trading around $1.90, with a market capitalisation of approximately $110 billion. Investors have positively assessed the legal clarity of XRP's status in the U.S., which has previously propelled the token to market leadership. Despite retreating from peak levels, XRP remains among the largest crypto assets.
- Binance Coin (BNB) — the coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and the native token of the BNB Chain. The price of BNB is holding around $840, close to its historical maximum; the capitalisation is approximately $130 billion. Despite regulatory pressure on Binance, the token remains in the top 5 due to its wide range of applications on the exchange and in the DeFi ecosystem.
- Solana (SOL) — a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralised applications. SOL is trading around $124 (capitalisation around $50 billion) after impressive growth this year. Interest in Solana is supported by expectations of possible ETF approval for this asset in the U.S. and the growing ecosystem of projects based on it.
- USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin, backed by reserves in U.S. dollars (issuer — Circle). The price of USDC is stable at $1.00, with capitalisation around $60 billion. USDC is widely used by institutional investors and in DeFi protocols due to high transparency in its reserves.
- Cardano (ADA) — a blockchain platform focused on a scientifically grounded approach to development. ADA is priced around $0.65 (capitalisation around $20 billion) after retreating from recent local highs. The project is attracting attention due to plans to launch its ETF and an active community believing in long-term price growth for ADA.
- TRON (TRX) — a platform for smart contracts and multimedia dApps, particularly popular in Asia. TRX is trading around $0.25; the market value is approximately $23 billion. TRON maintains its presence in the top 10 partly due to its network being used for the issuance of stablecoins (a significant portion of USDT circulates on the TRON blockchain).
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most famous meme cryptocurrency, initially created as a joke. DOGE is holding around $0.12 (capitalisation around $17 billion), supported by community loyalty and periodic attention from high-profile individuals. Although Dogecoin's volatility remains high, this coin still ranks among the top ten, demonstrating remarkable resilience in investor interest.
Cryptocurrency Market as of 19 December 2025
Key cryptocurrency prices:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $86,450
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,834
- Ripple (XRP): $1.86
- Binance Coin (BNB): $844
- Solana (SOL): $124
- Tether (USDT): $1.00
Market indicators:
- Total cryptocurrency market capitalisation: $2.91 trillion
- Bitcoin's market share: 59.8%
- Fear and Greed index: 45 (fear)
Leaders in Daily Change:
- Increase: Uniswap (UNI) — +4%
- Decrease: Conflux (CFX) — -11%
Analysis: Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to face resistance near current levels, and the sentiment index has shifted into the fear zone, reflecting overall caution in the market. The local increase in Uniswap indicates that positive news about specific projects can still support their quotes even during a general downturn. At the same time, the double-digit decline in Conflux reflects heightened nervousness: investors are likely taking profits or reacting to negative news surrounding this altcoin. Overall, the situation remains tense: many traders are reducing risks and closely monitoring key support levels (e.g., ~$80,000 for BTC) to assess the market's further direction.
