Cryptocurrency News for Friday, December 26, 2025: Bitcoin and Ethereum Dynamics, Altcoin Market, Top 10 Cryptocurrencies, Institutional Investors, and Key Trends in the Global Crypto Market.
Current cryptocurrency news for December 26, 2025: The cryptocurrency market is consolidating following the Christmas holidays. Bitcoin remains near the $88,000 mark, demonstrating resilience even amidst recent fluctuations. Major altcoins, including Ethereum, are gradually regaining ground after a volatile start to the week; many digital assets in the top 10 are showing moderate growth. Investors – both retail and institutional – are exhibiting cautious optimism, relying on an improved regulatory environment and ongoing interest from large players in crypto assets.
Bitcoin Consolidating Below $90,000
In the final days of December, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading relatively steadily, consolidating in the $85–89,000 range. After a brief drop earlier in the week (due to thin holiday liquidity, BTC's price briefly fell below $85,000), the leading cryptocurrency swiftly recovered to its current level of approximately $88,000. This is significantly lower than the year's historical high (earlier in 2025, Bitcoin briefly surpassed $120,000), yet roughly 120% higher than the levels at the beginning of the year, highlighting impressive growth over the year despite the recent correction. The market capitalisation of BTC stands at about $1.7 trillion, with Bitcoin's share accounting for ~58% of the total cryptocurrency market cap. Technical analysts note that Bitcoin has yet to break through the psychologically significant threshold of $90,000 – there is resistance around this level. Nevertheless, BTC's resilience near $88,000 suggests investor confidence: even during the holiday lull, sellers were unable to push the price significantly lower. Experts also point to the impact of macroeconomic factors: a shift in monetary policy is anticipated in the US and Europe in 2026, traditionally enhancing the appeal of risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. Additionally, the crypto-friendly policy of the Donald Trump administration has had a positive effect: in 2025, legislation on stablecoins was passed in the US, and the first Bitcoin spot ETFs were launched, reinforcing institutional investors' trust in the market.
Ethereum Maintains Position
Following Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, is also exhibiting stability. Earlier in the summer, Ethereum approached multi-year highs (around $4,800), but by the end of December, its price corrected along with the rest of the market. After dropping below $3,000 mid-week, ETH managed to recoup some of its losses: it is currently trading around $3,000, showing moderate growth over the past day. The capitalisation of ETH is approximately $350 billion (around 12% of the total market capitalisation), securing its strong second place. Ethereum continues to be the foundational platform for smart contracts, DeFi protocols, and the NFT ecosystem, which sustains fundamental demand for the coin. Investors are anticipating further development of the Ethereum ecosystem in 2026 – focus is on the launch of new network upgrades to enhance scalability, as well as the possible approval of the first Ethereum spot ETFs following Bitcoin ETFs. These factors establish a positive long-term outlook for ETH, even if its short-term price dynamics remain volatile.
Altcoins Show Recovery
The broader altcoin market is attempting to establish recovery following December's fluctuations. Many of the major altcoins in the top 10 are currently in the green, compensating for recent downturns. Over the past 24 hours, prices of most leading digital assets have increased by 2–4%, reflecting a moderate improvement in sentiment. For instance, Binance Coin, Solana, and Cardano are gaining a few percentage points following the stabilization of Bitcoin and Ethereum. The total market capitalisation of the cryptocurrency market is estimated at around $3.0 trillion, compared to $4.1 trillion at its peak in August – the correction has significantly reduced the market's overall value, but the current consolidation indicates attempts to form a new base for growth. Market observers note a rotation of interest: retail traders have become more cautious following the recent decline and are switching to more reliable “blue-chip” cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin and Ethereum), while institutional investors continue to accumulate positions, anticipating a transition to a new growth phase. Individual mid-cap coins are also showing strength – for example, Monero (XMR) is only ~10% off its all-time high, signalling selective interest in niche projects (in this case, private cryptocurrencies). In general, altcoins are currently lagging behind Bitcoin in terms of recovery pace, but they retain the potential for a rally should overall conditions improve.
Institutional Investment and Regulation
A key trend in 2025 has been the increasing institutional involvement in the crypto market. Despite recent corrections, the interest of major investors in digital assets remains high. Throughout the year, the first spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Bitcoin launched in the US, and during the first months of their operation, these funds accumulated hundreds of thousands of BTC. However, by the end of the year, a partial outflow was noted: according to recent data, some Bitcoin ETFs reduced their reserves by approximately 24,000 BTC (around $2.1 billion) in December, indicating that some institutional investors may be taking profits. However, concurrently, other players are increasing their investments: public companies, hedge funds, and even the governments of certain countries are adding Bitcoin to their treasury reserves, reinforcing BTC's status as “digital gold.” Notably, in Asia, an equivalent to MicroStrategy is emerging: the company Metaplanet (Japan) received shareholder approval at the year's end for an ambitious plan to accumulate 210,000 BTC by 2027 (approximately 1% of the total Bitcoin supply). Such decisive actions by institutional investors indicate long-term confidence in the growth of cryptocurrencies. Regulators are also gradually creating clearer rules: the passed Stablecoin Act in the US sets standards for collateralized digital currencies, and legislation (the CLARITY bill) is being discussed to more clearly define the status of crypto assets. Overall, the easing of regulatory uncertainty in leading jurisdictions (the US, EU, Asia) and the accommodating rhetoric from authorities are facilitating the influx of institutional capital into the sector.
Market Sentiment and Volatility
The sharp price fluctuations that occurred in the middle of the current week reminded investors of the persistent volatility in the crypto market. On Monday and Tuesday, over $1 billion in margin positions were liquidated when Bitcoin's rapid decline below $85,000 triggered a “washout” of leveraged trades. Nevertheless, by Friday, the situation had stabilised. The Fear and Greed Index for cryptocurrencies is currently sitting at around ~50 out of 100 points, reflecting a neutral sentiment (in comparison, the index exceeded 70 during the summer, indicating euphoria). The drop in the index reflects a partial cooling of enthusiasm among retail market participants following the correction. Many traders have taken a wait-and-see approach amid the holidays and low liquidity – historically, the end of December is characterised by a decrease in trading activity, which can lead to increased volatility when any major news emerges. Meanwhile, analysts highlight a divergence in sentiments among different groups of investors: retail players are cautious following the volatility, while institutional investors remain “bullish” and view dips as entry opportunities. Collectively, market sentiment can be characterised as cautiously optimistic: the quick rebound from local lows has strengthened confidence in the market's resilience, but for a new full-blown rally, investors would prefer to see additional drivers – such as an improvement in macroeconomic conditions or significant positive news within the industry.
Forecasts and Expectations
The outlook for the cryptocurrency industry heading into 2026 remains predominantly optimistic, notwithstanding the current pause in growth. Many analysts and financial institutions maintain “bullish” forecasts for Bitcoin and the market overall. For instance, the major British bank Standard Chartered has recently stated that it anticipates BTC's value will grow to $500,000 by 2030 in the long term, highlighting limited issuance and growing demand from investors. In the nearer term, forecasts are more cautious: Galaxy Digital experts believe that 2026 may be volatile and “hard to predict,” although they do not rule out Bitcoin reaching $200,000–250,000 by 2027. The upcoming 2026 will be the first full year following the launch of crypto ETFs in the US, and market participants will closely monitor the capital influx through these instruments. An additional factor is the potential reduction in global interest rates – easing monetary policies could provide a new impetus for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. Also on the agenda is the next Bitcoin halving (the reduction in miner rewards), expected in 2028 – historically, the market has begun to rise several quarters prior to this event, which leads many to anticipate increased bullish trends in 2026–2027. Overall, long-term holders and institutional investors express confidence that the current consolidation is temporary, and in the coming years, the cryptocurrency market can achieve new highs as the industry matures and new capital flows in. However, some analysts caution against persistent risks: potential tightening of regulations in certain countries, geopolitical instability, or unforeseen macroeconomic shocks could temporarily cool the market. Investors are advised to balance enthusiasm with caution, carefully evaluating both growth potential and risks.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
As of the morning of December 26, 2025, the ten most popular cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation are as follows:
- Bitcoin (BTC) – the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $88,000 after a volatile week, demonstrating the ability to hold its achieved positions. Bitcoin's market capitalisation is approximately $1.7 trillion (dominating ~58% of the entire market).
- Ethereum (ETH) – the leading altcoin and main platform for smart contracts. The price of ETH is around $3,000, which is below multi-year peaks, but Ethereum maintains a key role in DeFi and NFT ecosystems. ETH's capitalisation is around $350 billion (~12% of the market).
- Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin, pegged to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio. USDT is widely used for trading and transactions in the crypto market, with a capitalisation of about $150 billion; the coin consistently keeps its price close to $1.00 thanks to in-kind reserves.
- Ripple (XRP) – the token of the Ripple payment network for cross-border transactions. XRP is trading around $2.50, with a market capitalisation estimated at ~$140 billion. Investors reacted positively to legal clarity regarding XRP's status in the US, allowing the token to reclaim its spot among market leaders in 2025.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the coin of the largest crypto exchange Binance and the native token of the BNB Chain blockchain. BNB is valued at around $650 (with a capitalisation of approximately $100 billion). Despite regulatory pressures on Binance in various jurisdictions, BNB remains among the top 5 due to its wide range of applications – from paying exchange fees to being used in DeFi protocols.
- Solana (SOL) – a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralised applications. SOL is trading around $150 per coin (capitalisation ~$80 billion), which is close to early 2022 levels. Interest in Solana is supported by the growth of the project's ecosystem and expectations of a future ETF launch for Solana, which may attract additional investments.
- USD Coin (USDC) – the second-largest stablecoin issued by Circle and fully backed by dollar reserves. The price of USDC remains stable at $1.00, with a capitalisation of approximately $60 billion. USDC is actively used by institutional investors and in DeFi due to its high transparency of reserves and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Cardano (ADA) – a blockchain platform focusing on a scientific research approach to development. ADA currently stands at about $0.85 (market value ~$28 billion) following recent volatility. Cardano attracts attention with plans for network scalability and the development of a decentralised application ecosystem; communities and investors are hopeful for long-term growth of this project.
- TRON (TRX) – a platform for smart contracts and decentralised applications, particularly popular in Asia. TRX is trading around $0.30; market capitalisation ~ $27 billion. TRON remains in the top ten largest cryptocurrencies partly due to its active use for stablecoin issuance (a significant share of USDT circulates on the TRON blockchain), as well as the ongoing development of content and DeFi ecosystems on this platform.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – the most well-known “meme” cryptocurrency initially created as a joke. DOGE remains around $0.18 (capitalisation ~$26 billion), largely due to the community's loyalty and periodic attention from well-known figures. Despite high volatility and a lack of fundamental value, Dogecoin continues to remain in the top ten, demonstrating remarkable resilience in investor interest.
Cryptocurrency Market on the Morning of December 26, 2025
Prices of Major Cryptocurrencies:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $87,400
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,980
- XRP (XRP): $2.55
- BNB (BNB): $645
- Solana (SOL): $152
- Tether (USDT): $1.00
Market Indicators:
- Total cryptocurrency market capitalisation: ~$3.0 trillion
- Bitcoin's share: 58.2%
- Fear and Greed Index: 50 (neutral)
Leaders in Daily Change:
- Growth: Monero (XMR) — +5.4%
- Decline: Conflux (CFX) — –7.8%
Analysis: Bitcoin and Ethereum are demonstrating relative stability near current levels, instilling confidence among market participants following recent turbulence. The sentiment index (Fear and Greed) is at a neutral level, whereas just a few months ago it indicated ‘greed’ – suggesting a partial shift in sentiment towards a more cautious outlook. The growth leader, XMR, reflects investor interest in privacy and alternative cryptocurrencies amid a search for new growth points. Simultaneously, the decline in CFX over the day may be connected to profit-taking on previously surged tokens or local negative news about the project. Overall, the market enters the final days of the year in a state of equilibrium: active movements are concentrated in individual altcoins while the major currencies are consolidating, preparing for potential impulses in the new year.
