Why Is Crypto Down Today? – December 29, 2025
The crypto market is barely decrease immediately, with whole market capitalisation slipping by 0.5% over the previous 24 hours to $3.04 trillion, remaining simply above the $3 trillion stage. Despite the gentle pullback, buying and selling exercise stays elevated, with 24-hour quantity at $116.18 billion.
TLDR:
- The crypto market cap slipped 0.5% over the previous 24 hours to $3.04 trillion;
- Most high belongings traded decrease, with BTC down 0.5% to $87,337;
- Onchain information reveals continued aggressive ETH accumulation by massive gamers;
- Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan expects a decade-long Bitcoin uptrend with decrease volatility;
- Technicals present BTC holding key assist at $85,000–$86,000;
- The Crypto Fear and Greed Index holding at 30 within the concern zone;
- US Bitcoin spot ETFs noticed $275.88 million in web outflows;
- US Ethereum spot ETFs recorded $38.7 million in outflows;
- Nasdaq-listed ALT5 Sigma got here underneath scrutiny after reviews that its newly appointed auditor lacks an lively license.
Crypto Winners & Losers
At the time of writing, most high belongings are buying and selling within the pink, reflecting cautious sentiment throughout the market.
Bitcoin (BTC) is down 0.5% on the day, at the moment buying and selling at $87,337, whereas its weekly efficiency reveals a steeper 3.1% decline. Bitcoin’s market cap stands at $1.74 trillion, with greater than $44.7 billion traded previously 24 hours.

Ethereum (ETH) can also be decrease, slipping 0.2% within the final 24 hours to $2,931, extending its seven-day loss to just about 4%. ETH recorded near $25 billion in every day buying and selling quantity, sustaining its place because the second-largest crypto asset by market cap at $354 billion.
Among the remainder of the highest 10, BNB (BNB) declined 0.6% to $850, whereas XRP (XRP) edged down 0.1% to $1.86.
Solana (SOL) fell 0.5% to $123.81, persevering with a broader weekly downtrend of two.6%. Dogecoin (DOGE) posted the steepest weekly loss on this group, down 7.3%, regardless of solely a modest 0.4% dip over the previous day.
Tron (TRX) restricted losses to 1% previously 24 hours, buying and selling at $0.281, making it one of many extra resilient large-cap tokens immediately.
On the upside, choose altcoins outperformed the broader market. TokenFi surged 66.4%, whereas ZEROBASE climbed 68.2% over the previous 24 hours. The White Whale additionally posted robust beneficial properties, rising 57.1%.
Trending tokens embrace Neiro, Bitcoin, and OVERTAKE, with OVERTAKE standing out after leaping greater than 31% on the day.
Meanwhile, Trend Research withdrew 20,850 ETH, price $63.28 million, from Binance on Sunday and instantly borrowed a further $40 million in USDT by way of the lending protocol Aave, which signifies continued aggressive accumulation as Ethereum trades close to $3,000.
The institutional arm of Easy Come Easy Go now controls 601,074 ETH valued at $1.83 billion throughout 5 addresses, having borrowed a complete of $958 million in stablecoins to fund purchases at a median worth of roughly $3,265 per token.
Bitwise CIO Sees Bitcoin Entering a Decade of Steady Gains
Bitcoin is likely to trend higher over the next decade, however with out the sharp, cycle-driven rallies that outlined earlier bull markets, in line with Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan.
Speaking on CNBC, Hougan stated Bitcoin is getting into a protracted interval of “robust however unspectacular” returns, marked by decrease volatility and extra gradual worth appreciation.
Despite latest weak point, Hougan stays bullish on 2026, arguing that regular institutional demand helps stabilize the market.
Bitcoin has pulled again roughly 30% from its October peak close to $125,100 and is buying and selling round $87,800, reviving debate over whether or not the present cycle has already topped. Some analysts level to similarities with previous cycle peaks, elevating issues about additional draw back.
Hougan acknowledged retail promoting strain however stated long-term institutional consumers have restricted the drawdown in contrast with previous cycles, when losses typically exceeded 60%.
Others stay extra optimistic. Strategy CEO Phong Le has argued that Bitcoin’s underlying fundamentals held up all through 2025 regardless of weaker costs, whereas Bitwise chief funding officer Matt Hougan stated earlier this 12 months that he expects 2026 to be an “up 12 months” for the asset.
According to Linh Tran, market analyst at XS.com, Bitcoin’s recent price action underscores the market’s sensitivity to financial coverage expectations moderately than headline financial information.
Levels & Events to Watch Next
At the time of writing on Monday, Bitcoin is buying and selling close to $87,220, down round 0.7% on the day. The latest worth motion reveals BTC extending a broader downtrend that started after the October peak close to $125,000, with sellers sustaining management by way of November and December.
Over the previous a number of weeks, Bitcoin has constantly printed decrease highs, whereas assist across the $85,000–$86,000 zone has held a number of occasions.
A decisive break beneath this vary might expose BTC to a deeper pullback towards $81,000, with a psychological threat of slipping beneath $80,000 if promoting accelerates. On the upside, bulls would want to reclaim $92,000 to sign short-term aid, with stronger resistance ready close to $98,000 after which $103,000.
Ethereum is following an analogous construction, at the moment buying and selling round $2,926, down roughly 0.8% over the previous 24 hours. The chart reveals ETH breaking sharply decrease in early November earlier than getting into a uneven consolidation section beneath the $3,200 stage.

During the latest classes, ETH has struggled to carry momentum above $3,000, turning that zone into near-term resistance. As lengthy as worth stays beneath it, draw back dangers persist. A drop beneath $2,800 might open the door towards $2,650, a stage that beforehand acted as assist throughout the November selloff. Further weak point could convey $2,500 into focus.
On the restoration facet, a sustained transfer again above $3,100 could be the primary signal of renewed energy, doubtlessly organising a push towards $3,400 after which $3,650.
Meanwhile, crypto market sentiment stays subdued, with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index holding at 30, firmly within the concern zone, in line with the most recent information.
The studying reveals little change from latest days, indicating that merchants stay cautious as costs wrestle to regain momentum. Risk urge for food seems restricted, with traders hesitant to extend publicity amid ongoing volatility.

US Bitcoin spot ETFs ended the most recent session within the pink, with web outflows of $275.88 million on Dec. 26, in line with the information proven. Cumulative web inflows nonetheless stand at $56.62 billion, whereas whole web belongings throughout US BTC spot ETFs stay elevated at $113.53 billion, equal to roughly 6.5% of Bitcoin’s whole market capitalization.
Outflows had been concentrated among the many largest merchandise. BlackRock’s IBIT led the declines, recording $192.61 million in web outflows on the day. Fidelity’s FBTC adopted with $74.38 million leaving the fund, whereas Grayscale’s GBTC noticed extra modest outflows of $8.89 million.

US spot Ethereum ETFs additionally recorded web outflows of $38.7 million on Dec. 26. The pullback was pushed by two funds. BlackRock’s ETHA led the declines with $22.12 million in outflows, adopted by Grayscale’s ETHE, which noticed $16.58 million depart the fund. The remaining ETH ETFs posted flat flows, with no merchandise recording inflows throughout the session.
Cumulative web inflows stand at $12.34 billion, whereas whole web belongings throughout US ETH ETFs quantity to $17.73 billion, representing simply over 5% of Ethereum’s whole market capitalisation.

Meanwhile, Nasdaq-listed ALT5 Sigma is facing renewed scrutiny after a report discovered that the corporate’s newly appointed auditor is at the moment barred from performing audits resulting from an expired license.
According to the Financial Times, ALT5 Sigma moved to interchange its earlier auditor this month after failing to file its third-quarter monetary outcomes by the required deadline.
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Bitwise CIO