Cryptocurrency News 25 December 2025 – Bitcoin, Altcoins, and the Global Market

Current Cryptocurrency News for Thursday, 25 December 2025: Bitcoin Holds at $87,000, Altcoins Under Pressure, Institutional Investors Maintain Interest, Top 10 Cryptocurrencies

As of the morning of 25 December 2025, the cryptocurrency market is experiencing relative stability following the volatile fluctuations of recent days. Bitcoin remains 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 capitalisation hovers around $3 trillion. Despite the temporary cooling of the market, institutional players continue to show interest in digital assets, supporting long-term confidence in the sector.

Market Overview: Consolidation and Pressure on Altcoins

This week, Bitcoin (BTC) has been consolidating in the mid $80,000 range, holding a key support level around $85,000. Midweek, BTC attempted to rally towards $90,000, but the momentum quickly faded—signalling a diminishing pre-holiday rally. At the same time, Ethereum (ETH) has stabilised around $3,000, attempting to recover from its late autumn decline. Many major altcoins—from Binance Coin to Solana—remain under pressure, with prices dropping 1-3% in recent days, leading to a slight increase in Bitcoin's market cap share (to ~58%). Some technical indicators suggest that certain altcoins are oversold, allowing for the possibility of short-term rebounds. Overall, the cryptocurrency market is balancing between caution and hopes for growth: low liquidity during the holiday period amplifies volatility, and participants are keeping a close eye on external factors, including decisions from global central banks. Conversely, continuing institutional inflows (as detailed below) instil moderate optimism and support the market from deeper declines.

Bitcoin After Peak: Seeking Balance

In 2025, Bitcoin experienced an impressive surge followed by a subsequent correction. In early October, BTC reached its all-time high, exceeding $126,000, but then the market saw a sharp retreat of over 30%. As of the current moment, the leading cryptocurrency is around $87,000, significantly lower than its peak level, yet still close to the values observed at the end of the previous year. Bitcoin's market capitalisation is estimated at around $1.7 trillion, providing a share of approximately 57-58% of the total cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin continues to be the primary barometer for the digital market and is perceived by many institutional investors as a long-term store of value. Experts note that in the short term, for BTC to continue rising, it must confidently surpass the $90,000 level, while the $85,000 zone serves as the nearest support. A breach of this level could intensify downward pressure towards the psychological barrier of $80,000, whereas recovery above $90,000 would signal market stabilisation. Despite recent weakness, fundamental factors—such as limited issuance (21 million BTC) and institutional interest—continue to benefit the largest cryptocurrency.

Ethereum and Leading Altcoins: Mixed Dynamics

Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest digital asset by market capitalisation, is attempting to recover from its autumn decline. The current price of ETH hovers around $2,900, below the levels from early November (previously, Ether traded confidently above $3,200). Nevertheless, Ethereum still occupies about 12% of the market and remains the foundational platform for DeFi and NFT ecosystems, bolstered by its transition to the Proof-of-Stake algorithm. Other major altcoins have exhibited mixed dynamics in recent weeks. For instance, Solana (SOL) has retreated to around $120 after a rapid rise in the first half of the year, correcting from its local highs (earlier in December, SOL exceeded $130). Binance Coin (BNB) is holding steady at around $835, demonstrating relative stability amidst regulatory risks surrounding Binance. The XRP token, following a summer surge on news about Ripple's victory over the SEC, is currently trading at approximately $1.85 and shows no clear trend. At the same time, more speculative coins are suffering greater losses: for example, the NFT token sector has collectively declined over 9% in the last week. A noticeable trend towards capital rotation from altcoins into Bitcoin and Ether reflects investors' desire to mitigate risks as the year comes to a close. Analysts do not rule out the possibility that, if sentiment improves, some funds may return to quality altcoins, but until global uncertainty diminishes, Bitcoin's dominance will likely remain elevated.

Institutional Investments and ETF Funds

One of the main trends of 2025 has been the increasing presence of large investors in the cryptocurrency market. In the United States, after a long wait, the first spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for Bitcoin and Ether have been launched, simplifying access to digital assets for institutional players. Throughout the year, these funds have attracted billions of dollars; however, some signs of profit-taking are evident by the end of December. Reports indicate that, on 23 December, the total outflow from US spot Bitcoin ETFs was around $188 million, while Ether ETFs saw outflows of about $95 million in just one day. Nevertheless, major organisations are not scaling back their long-term plans for engaging with cryptocurrencies. For example, the global investment giant BlackRock has announced the expansion of its digital assets team, opening new positions in New York, London, and Singapore—this move reflects a strategic vision for the sector's prospects. Furthermore, new exchange products are in the works, with regulators considering applications for ETFs for other cryptocurrencies (including Solana and Cardano), indicating further expansion of institutional interest in the market.

Regulation and Global Factors

The regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies has evolved significantly in 2025 worldwide. In the United States, after several years of uncertainty, progress has been made: authorities have provided clearer guidelines regarding the status of digital assets, and a court precedent in the XRP case clarified the boundaries of SEC oversight. Additionally, the US administration has shown interest in the sector (earlier discussions considered the possibility of forming a strategic reserve of Bitcoin and permitting pension fund investments in crypto assets). The European Union implemented comprehensive regulations (MiCA regulation) in 2025 aimed at standardising oversight of the industry and improving operational transparency. In major Asian jurisdictions—from Singapore to Hong Kong—regulatory standards are also being introduced, balancing innovation stimulation with investor protection. Despite the overall rise in clarity, regulatory pressure on the sector persists: for instance, the largest cryptocurrency exchanges still face heightened demands for compliance and reporting. Concurrently, security incidents (including a recent hack on the Polymarket prediction platform) serve as reminders of the risks, prompting regulators to enhance consumer protection measures. In summary, the global landscape presents a mixed picture: on one hand, clearer rules attract institutional investors; on the other hand, the market must adapt to new requirements to achieve sustainable growth.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

Despite current fluctuations, investors remain predominantly focused on the ten largest digital assets, which largely set the tone for the entire market. As of 25 December 2025, the following cryptocurrencies make up the top 10 by market capitalisation:

1. 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 principal market sentiment indicator (≈58% of total capitalisation). Due to its status as a safe-haven asset, Bitcoin attracts substantial institutional investment as a means of value preservation.
2. Ethereum (ETH) – The leading altcoin and smart contract platform that underpins decentralized finance (DeFi) and NFT ecosystems. Ethereum confidently holds second place by capitalisation (~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.
3. Tether (USDT) – The largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio. USDT ensures high liquidity for trading on cryptocurrency exchanges, allowing participants to swiftly convert capital into dollar equivalents for transactions and hedging against volatility. The market capitalisation of USDT stands at approximately $150 billion; the coin consistently maintains a price close to $1.00.
4. Binance Coin (BNB) – The native token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, and the associated BNB Chain. BNB is used for paying fees on the exchange and participating in ecosystem services (Launchpad, DeFi applications, etc.), allowing it to maintain its position among the market leaders. Despite regulatory scrutiny facing Binance in several jurisdictions, the broad utility of the token supports its demand and top-five positioning.
5. Ripple (XRP) – The token of the Ripple payment network designed for rapid cross-border settlements between banks. XRP has attracted heightened attention following Ripple's legal victory over the SEC: a US court confirmed that the sale of XRP does not violate securities laws. This clarification has strengthened XRP's market position (market capitalisation is estimated at around $110 billion), although its price remains significantly below historical highs.
6. USD Coin (USDC) – The second-largest stablecoin, issued by the Centre consortium (Circle and Coinbase) and fully backed by dollar reserves. USDC enjoys the trust of institutional investors thanks to regular audits of its reserves and transparency. The coin is widely used for transactions, trading, and within the DeFi sector as a reliable digital equivalent of the US dollar.
7. Solana (SOL) – A high-performance blockchain platform for decentralised 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 launched on its platform, and the anticipated approval of the first SOL ETF boosts investor interest. A minor price correction at the year's end has not hindered SOL's position among the largest crypto assets.
8. TRON (TRX) – A blockchain platform popular primarily in Asia, used for smart contract creation, entertainment content, and issuing stablecoins. TRX remains in the top ten due to stable user base growth and the development of decentralised applications on the platform. Additionally, a significant share of USDT is issued on the TRON blockchain, which supports the demand for this network and its token.
9. Dogecoin (DOGE) – The most well-known meme cryptocurrency, originating as a joke on the internet. Despite its initially parody nature, DOGE has become a significant asset thanks to a devoted community and periodic endorsements from well-known entrepreneurs (such as Elon Musk) on social media. The volatility of Dogecoin remains high, but widespread recognition and network effects allow it to maintain its status among the largest coins, demonstrating sustained investor interest.
10. Cardano (ADA) – A blockchain platform for smart contracts, developed based on academic research and code verification. ADA has one of the most active communities and maintains its position in the top ten, although the real-world implementation of applications based on it is progressing slower than expected. The project attracts long-term investors who are counting on the network's reliability and scalability in the future.

The Cryptocurrency Market on the Morning of 25 December 2025

Major cryptocurrency prices are as follows:

• 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 capitalisation: $3.02 trillion
• Bitcoin dominance: 58.1%
• Fear and Greed Index: 27 (fear)

Leaders in change over the last 24 hours:

• Gains: Quantum Resistant Ledger (QRL) — +31%
• Declines: ApeCoin (APE) — -9%

Analysis: Bitcoin and Ether demonstrate relative stability at current levels, while market sentiment remains cautious (the fear index confirms a prevalent wariness among investors). The sharp surge of the lesser-known token QRL illustrates that even in a calm market, certain projects with strong news backgrounds can attract speculative interest. Meanwhile, the price decline of ApeCoin highlights the weakness in the NFT sector amid profit-taking and waning excitement. In the current environment of low trading volumes and holiday periods, market participants are preferring to diversify risks, awaiting new drivers for more defined price movements.