Cryptocurrency News Overview for 21 November 2025: Bitcoin Consolidates After Correction, Ethereum Prepares for Upgrade, Altcoins Recover, Institutional Investors Expand Presence, and Market Stabilises.
As of the morning of 21 November 2025, the cryptocurrency market is attempting to stabilise following a sharp decline in the first half of the month. Bitcoin is trading at around $90,000, having lost nearly 30% from its historic peak in October (approximately $126,000). Over the past month, the total market capitalisation of cryptocurrencies has decreased by approximately $1.2 trillion; however, the decline has paused in recent days. Major altcoins are also holding key levels: Ethereum has stabilised around $3,000 in anticipation of a significant network upgrade, while Bitcoin's dominance index has fallen below 60%, reflecting the relative resilience of several altcoins. Investors and analysts are currently assessing whether the ongoing correction is temporary before a new rally or if the market is set for a more prolonged consolidation phase.
Bitcoin After Extensive Correction
In early October, flagship cryptocurrency Bitcoin (BTC) reached a new high of around $126,000, but quickly entered a correction phase. Last week, the price of Bitcoin dipped to approximately $88,000—the lowest level in six months—indicating a decline of more than a quarter from its historic high. As of now, BTC has recovered to the $90,000–$92,000 range and is showing signs of stabilisation. Bitcoin's market capitalisation stands at around $1.8 trillion, accounting for approximately 58–60% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalisation. Experts have noted that the drivers behind the recent downturn include profit-taking by investors after an extended rally and the Federal Reserve's tightening rhetoric, suggesting the continuation of high rates to curb inflation. Nevertheless, the fundamental factors for Bitcoin remain positive: institutional adoption of the asset continues, and the upcoming halving in 2024 boosts expectations of long-term growth. Currently, Bitcoin is consolidating around the psychologically significant resistance level of $100,000; surpassing this threshold could return the market to a bullish trend, while failure to maintain above $90,000 may signal prolonged consolidation.
Ethereum Prepares for Major Upgrade
The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, Ethereum (ETH), has also experienced significant volatility. After climbing close to $5,000 in October, Ethereum pulled back by approximately 35% and is now trading around $3,000. Despite the correction, Ethereum retains a ~12% market share and a leading status as a platform for decentralised applications and DeFi. Investors are optimistic about the upcoming network upgrade code-named Fusaka, scheduled for early December 2025. This hard fork is designed to enhance Ethereum's scalability and implement new technical solutions (in particular, technologies for accelerating layer two operations), which should improve network efficiency and attract even more users. Discussions surrounding the upgrade have already led to increased activity within the development community and strengthened confidence in the long-term prospects for ETH. In recent weeks, Ethereum has shown relative strength due to expectations of new institutional products—first spot ETFs on Ethereum were approved in the US during the autumn, easing access to ETH for large investors. Analysts believe that a successful execution of the December upgrade could provide Ethereum with additional impetus for position recovery, especially if overall market sentiment improves.
Altcoins Seek Growth Points
The broader altcoin market is attempting to recover following the October downturn. During the correction, many popular altcoins lost 20–30% of their value; however, recent sessions have shown signs of revival. Bitcoin's dominance has decreased from over 60% to approximately 58%, indicating relatively better performance among certain alternative coins. Some high-cap tokens are demonstrating resilience: for example, Ripple (XRP), which soared to a multi-year high of approximately $3.00 following Ripple's summer legal victory over the SEC, has corrected to around $2.1–2.2 but remains above $2, maintaining a significant portion of its gains. Binance Coin (BNB) reached an all-time high (peaking around $1,375) during the October rally; it is now trading at around $900 after the correction, which is still significantly above early-year levels. The sustained interest in BNB can be attributed to Binance's extensive ecosystem and regular coin burns that reduce supply. Other leading market players are also maintaining solid capitalisation: Solana (SOL) is around $140 after peaking at $200, supported by news of potential ETF launches and increased activity within its blockchain ecosystem. Smart contract platform tokens such as Cardano (ADA) and TRON (TRX) fell over 40% from annual highs but continue to rank within the top 10. The popular meme cryptocurrency Dogecoin (DOGE) remains around $0.16–0.17, confirming that even lighthearted coins with active communities can withstand volatility without losing interest. Notably, new promising projects are emerging: several relatively new cryptocurrencies are positioned just behind market leaders. The token of decentralised exchange Hyperliquid (HYPE) rose into the ranks of the largest by capitalisation in 2025, thanks to its unique technological offering, with its price sustained at high levels amid rumours of a new ETF launch. Similarly, altcoins with their own growth catalysts—such as Uniswap (UNI) amidst the development of DeFi tools—are attracting heightened attention. Overall, while no widespread "alt season" is currently observable, individual digital assets demonstrate relative strength even against the backdrop of a general market correction.
New Cryptocurrency ETFs and Institutional Interest
One of the key themes towards the end of 2025 has been the expansion of tools for institutional investors in the cryptocurrency market. Following the successful launch of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in previous months, regulators in the US have approved the listing of the first multi-asset cryptocurrency ETF. The fund by Bitwise, which received preliminary approval from the SEC in November, tracks an index of the 10 largest digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple (XRP), Solana (SOL), and other top currencies. This decision signals a significant advancement: the market views it as a step towards further integration of cryptocurrencies into the traditional financial system. Notably, amid ETF news, capital flows are being redistributed: according to industry reports, there was a net outflow of about $1.6 billion from Bitcoin funds in November—likely due to profit-taking following the previous rally—while Solana-related funds, conversely, attracted approximately $26 million in new investments. This dynamic highlights interest from some investors in promising altcoins and asset diversification. Institutional players continue to enter the cryptocurrency space: media reports indicate that several major university endowments and pension funds have increased their investments in crypto funds. For example, it has been reported that Harvard's fund invested around $440 million in BlackRock's Bitcoin trust—considered a sign of long-term confidence in BTC from conservative institutional investors. The regulatory environment for the industry is also gradually clarifying: in the US, new laws aimed at ensuring more transparent regulation of cryptocurrencies have come into effect (including initiatives for digital asset classification and investor protection). Experts anticipate that further development of exchange-traded products on various crypto assets (with ETFs on XRP, Ethereum Layer-2 tokens, etc., in the works) will depend on regulators' readiness to acknowledge the utilitarian value of these projects. The expansion of the crypto ETF lineup and the influx of institutional funds solidify the market's foundation, albeit adding correlation with traditional finance.
Market Sentiment and Volatility
The period of rapid growth followed by a sharp correction has affected trader sentiment. The "fear and greed" index for cryptocurrencies, which surpassed 70 points ("greed") during the height of the October rally, fell into the "fear" zone around 30–40 points in November. This indicated a predominance of cautious sentiments: many market participants reduced risks amidst falling prices. The scale of volatility is confirmed by liquidation statistics: according to exchanges, on the days of the sharpest declines (10–11 October), the total volume of forced position closures exceeded $10–15 billion—many leveraged traders were wiped out from the market. Last week, when Bitcoin briefly fell below $100,000, the daily liquidation volume also exceeded $1 billion, particularly among long positions, which amplified the downward momentum. However, after reaching a local bottom, signs of panic began to ease. Volatility remains elevated but has somewhat decreased compared to October's peak levels. The sentiment index has risen from deep "fear zone" levels towards neutral values, reflecting a gradual return of confidence as prices stabilise. Analysts warn that sharp fluctuations remain possible in the market—especially in the case of unexpected macroeconomic news or regulatory developments. Nonetheless, the gradual cooling of euphoria and the phase of "capitulation" among speculators may create a foundation for more balanced growth ahead. The experience of recent years shows that following periods of extreme volatility, the cryptocurrency market often enters a phase of relative calm, allowing investors to regroup and evaluate new entry points.
Forecasts and Expectations
Despite the recent correction, many experts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook on the future of the cryptocurrency market. Analysts at Standard Chartered note that the current ~30% decline in Bitcoin fits within the typical correction range of a bull market and is likely nearing its end. Their assessment indicates that this decline is the third comparable drop since the launch of the first spot ETFs, and each time following such retracements, the market has found a new bottom and resumed growth. The bank still considers an end-of-year rally scenario: the baseline forecast anticipates Bitcoin returning to an upward trend in December if macroeconomic conditions remain stable. Some market participants also point to on-chain indicators suggesting that sellers are "exhaling": short-term holders have already realised losses, and exchange volumes have decreased, characteristic of local bottom phases. Optimists believe that in 2026, as monetary policies ease and interest in cryptocurrencies grows in developing markets, Bitcoin could reach new heights—targets as high as $180,000–200,000 have been mentioned. More conservative forecasts expect a gradual recovery: for instance, several analysts on Wall Street anticipate that the $120,000 mark will again become achievable in the second half of 2026, provided no new crises emerge. Regarding altcoins, their prospects largely depend on Bitcoin's behaviour: for a full-scale "alt season" to commence, BTC needs to stabilise near its record values and attract new capital inflows into the market. Thus far, forecasts suggest that quality projects with real-world applications—such as smart contract platforms and key infrastructural tokens—will recover faster and attract more investors than speculative coins lacking fundamental value. Amid remaining uncertainty, market participants are advised to exercise caution, although they note: each significant downturn previously offered long-term investors opportunities to enter the market at more attractive prices.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
As of the morning of 21 November 2025, the following digital assets rank among the ten most popular cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation:
- Bitcoin (BTC) – the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is currently trading around $91,000 after a recent correction, with a capitalisation of approximately $1.8 trillion (around 59% of the entire market). Bitcoin maintains its status as "digital gold" and the cornerstone of the cryptocurrency market, embodying the trust of most institutional investors.
- Ethereum (ETH) – the leading altcoin and smart contract platform. The price of ETH is around $3,000, which is below recent local peaks, but Ethereum remains the second-largest crypto asset with a market value of approximately $360 billion (~12% of the market). With its extensive ecosystem of decentralised applications, Ethereum retains the interest of investors and developers.
- Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio. USDT is actively used for trading operations and hedging on cryptocurrency exchanges, with a market capitalisation of around $150 billion. The coin consistently maintains its value at $1.00 (≈₽80) per token due to reserve backing, remaining a vital element of liquidity in the market.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, and the native coin of the BNB Chain blockchain. Following October's record highs, BNB is trading at approximately $900 (capitalisation around $140 billion), remaining among the leaders. BNB is in high demand due to its wide range of uses: paying fees on the exchange, participating in token sales, and being used in DeFi projects on the BNB Chain.
- Ripple (XRP) – the token of the Ripple payment network for cross-border settlements. XRP is trading around $2.13, with a capitalisation of about $110 billion. In summer 2025, XRP received legal validation of its status (not being a security in the US), which restored trust and returned XRP to the top ranks of cryptocurrency ratings.
- Solana (SOL) – a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralised applications. SOL is valued at approximately $140 per coin (capitalisation around $65 billion), showing recovery after its dip. Solana attracts investors with its high transaction speeds and recent news of a potential ETF launch based on its platform, underscoring growing institutional interest.
- USD Coin (USDC) – the second-largest stablecoin, issued by Circle and backed by dollar reserves. USDC is steadily trading at $1.00, with a market capitalisation of about $60 billion. Thanks to transparent reserves and partnerships with traditional financial institutions, USDC is widely used in corporate settlements and on the DeFi market, remaining a reliable "safe haven" for traders.
- TRON (TRX) – a blockchain platform for smart contracts and entertainment dApps, popular in Asia. TRX is priced around $0.28 (capitalisation ~ $27 billion). Tron has established itself in the top 10 largely due to its active network use for issuing stablecoins (a significant share of USDT operates on the Tron blockchain) and by maintaining high network throughput and low fees.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – the most well-known "meme cryptocurrency," created as a joke and becoming iconic. DOGE is trading around $0.16 (capitalisation ~ $24 billion). Despite its playful origins, Dogecoin retains a devoted following of supporters and occasionally receives growth boosts from backing by notable entrepreneurs. DOGE's volatility remains high, but its presence in the top 10 underscores the unique community effect on the value of crypto assets.
- Cardano (ADA) – a blockchain platform developed based on a scientific approach and phased updates. ADA is priced at approximately $0.47 after its correction (capitalisation around $16 billion). Earlier in 2025, Cardano attracted attention with the anticipation of ETF launches and network upgrades; however, the current decline has returned its price to mid-year levels. Nonetheless, the project boasts an active community and scaling plans that sustain its position among the largest cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrency Market on the Morning of 21 November 2025
- Prices of Major Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC) ~$91,300; Ethereum (ETH) ~$3,010; XRP ~$2.13; BNB ~$900; Solana (SOL) ~$141; Tether (USDT) $1.00.
- Market Indicators: total cryptocurrency market capitalisation around $3.2 trillion; Bitcoin's share – ~58%; fear and greed index – 45 (neutral/moderate fear mode).
- Top Gainers Over the Day: Zcash (ZEC) +11% (increased interest in privacy coins amid discussions around regulation); Polygon (MATIC) +4% (recovery following network upgrade).
- Top Losers Over the Day: Filecoin (FIL) –6% (correction following a short-term price spike); Conflux (CFX) –5% (profit-taking in the absence of new drivers).
- Analysis: The market demonstrates mixed dynamics—leading coins are holding their positions, while smaller altcoins show varied fluctuations. The moderate rise in the sentiment index indicates a softening of panic feelings; however, selling activity remains prevalent among certain tokens lacking strong news triggers. Investors are closely monitoring Bitcoin in the $90,000–$100,000 range as an indicator of market direction: a confident rise could lift the entire cryptocurrency market, while prolonged BTC consolidation may signify continued selective movement in altcoins based on their fundamental news.
