Cryptocurrency News, Monday, December 29, 2025: Bitcoin Around $90K and Year-End Summary

Current Cryptocurrency News for Monday, December 29, 2025: Bitcoin and Ethereum Dynamics, Altcoin Movement, Top 10 Cryptocurrencies by Market Capitalization, and Key Market Trends for Investors Worldwide.

In the final days of 2025, the digital asset market continues to consolidate. Bitcoin is hovering around $88–89k after a record rise this autumn, while leading altcoins display mixed, yet overall moderately positive dynamics. Investors are exhibiting cautious optimism, drawing on a more favorable regulatory environment and actively participating institutional players in the industry.

Cryptocurrency Market: Consolidation by Year-End

The global market capitalization of cryptocurrencies has approached $3 trillion, slightly below recent record highs. In the final days leading up to the holidays, a slight decline in prices (around 1-2% per day) has been observed against low trading volumes. Investors are acting cautiously – the “fear and greed” index for cryptocurrencies remains firmly in the “fear” zone. Nonetheless, 2025 has shown significant long-term growth: for example, Bitcoin rose above $126k in October, and is now returning to $88k. This fact underscores the sustained interest in crypto assets despite the December correction.

Bitcoin: Consolidation Around $90k

The largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Bitcoin (BTC), is trading around $87–88k (data from December 28). BTC's market capitalization exceeds $1.7 trillion, accounting for approximately 58-59% of the entire crypto market. Following record highs above $120k this fall, Bitcoin has corrected but maintains support around $84–88k. Analysts suggest that breaking the psychological barrier of roughly $90–91k could set the tone for the market in early 2026. Institutional flows are affecting trading – by year's end, significant outflows have been observed from leading spot Bitcoin ETFs. For instance, the largest ETF, BlackRock’s IBIT, reported a nearly 5% decline in assets ($2.7 billion) over a couple of weeks, indicating a rapid capital redistribution. Bitcoin's dynamics will depend on the resumption of fund inflows and global macroeconomic factors.

Ethereum: Strong Fundamentals, Lagging Price

The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum (ETH), is trading around $2,950, slightly trailing recent highs. Ethereum remains the primary platform for decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and smart contracts, with the network significantly expanding its capacity over the past year. Recent protocol updates have improved scalability and reduced fees, stimulating growth in activity – the number of transactions and operations with tokens on Ethereum has reached record levels. However, ETH's price is under pressure from overall market factors and fund outflows: many holders have yet to recoup losses incurred during price peaks. Experts anticipate that as Bitcoin stabilizes, interest in Ethereum will rise, as investors will once again focus on Ethereum as a foundational asset of the blockchain ecosystem.

Altcoins: Divergent Trends Among Leaders

Among leading altcoins, mixed dynamics are evident: some coins are rising steadily while others remain stagnant. Below are some key trends among top altcoins:

• Solana (SOL) – a high-speed blockchain attracting developers due to low fees. Following last year’s technical challenges, SOL has recovered and is trading around $125 with a market cap of approximately $70 billion, maintaining its position in the top 10.
• XRP (Ripple) – the token of the Ripple payment system. In 2025, legal clarity regarding XRP's status restored investor confidence. Although the entire sector has corrected, XRP displays relative resilience: even amidst a general market decline, the token continues to be sought after as a payment asset.
• Binance Coin (BNB) – the coin of the Binance exchange and BNB Chain platform. BNB is used for fee payments and has a wide ecosystem. Despite increasing regulatory scrutiny on Binance, the coin maintains strong positions (trading above $850) due to numerous use cases within the ecosystem.
• Dogecoin (DOGE) and Cardano (ADA) – popular cryptocurrencies displaying relatively weak dynamics by year-end. DOGE retains its spot in the top ten due to community support, while ADA, a project with a scientific approach, still commands a significant following. Both coins have traded mostly in narrow ranges without sharp movements in recent weeks.
• TRON (TRX) – a blockchain focused on digital entertainment and stablecoin support. A significant portion of USDT is issued on the TRON network, which contributes to TRX's (exchange rate around $0.28) high demand, especially in the Asian region.

Institutional Trends: Outflows from ETFs and Corporate Accumulation

Institutional investors continue to influence the market. Throughout 2025, newly launched spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. spurred interest in crypto assets, but by year-end, these funds are beginning to report outflows. Additionally, corporate deals have surged: by year-end, M&A volume in the crypto industry reached a record $8.6 billion (compared to around $2.2 billion in 2024). This reflects growing confidence among large players and financial organizations. Notable transactions included:

• the acquisition of the Deribit exchange by Coinbase for $2.9 billion (the largest acquisition in crypto sector history);
• the acquisition of the futures platform NinjaTrader by Kraken for $1.5 billion;
• the purchase of the crypto broker Hidden Road by Ripple for $1.25 billion.

Simultaneously, 2025 saw a boom in initial public offerings: a total of about $14.6 billion was raised through IPOs (up from just $0.31 billion the previous year). Among the notable listings were the parent company of CoinDesk (Bullish, $1.1 billion), the issuer of the USDC stablecoin (Circle, over $1 billion), and the crypto exchange Gemini (approximately $0.425 billion). These deals reflect the desire of institutional players to gain access to liquid crypto assets amid tightening regulations.

Major banks are returning to the crypto space: JPMorgan is exploring cryptocurrency trading opportunities for institutional clients, and U.S. Bank has resumed Bitcoin custody services for fund managers with the help of partner NYDIG. In the U.S., Senator Lummis noted that proposed regulatory measures could end the "de-banking" practice of crypto companies by banks. Thus, traditional financial institutions are preparing to integrate more actively into the digital asset market.

Macroeconomics and Investor Sentiment

The end of December is characterized by a moderately positive sentiment, albeit with signs of caution. The weakening of the U.S. dollar and expectations of potential Federal Reserve policy easing support demand for riskier assets and "defensive" instruments. This week, gold and silver prices reached historical maximums amid geopolitical tensions – a trend that is usually favorable for Bitcoin. At the same time, the cryptocurrency market has already responded to these concerns: after a slight drop, Bitcoin is showing recovery, reflecting its role as digital gold.

Nonetheless, sentiment indicators, such as the cryptocurrency “fear and greed” index, remain in the "fear" zone, indicating a cautious mood among participants. Key factors continue to include central bank rate decisions and the overall economic backdrop: the future dynamics of the market will depend heavily on macroeconomic conditions. For instance, the increasing likelihood of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in early 2026 may stimulate capital inflows into risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

1. Bitcoin (BTC) – the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is often referred to as “digital gold” due to its limited supply. In 2025, Bitcoin reached record highs above $120k and is now trading around $88k. Its market capitalization is approximately $1.7 trillion (about 58% of the entire crypto market).
2. Ethereum (ETH) – the second-largest cryptocurrency and leading platform for decentralized applications (DeFi, NFTs). The ETH token is used for fee payments on the Ethereum network. By year-end, its price is around $3,000, with a market cap of approximately $350 billion (~12% of the market).
3. Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar (1 USDT ≈ $1). USDT is widely used on exchanges as a medium of exchange and store of value. Its market capitalization is around $150 billion, reflecting the key role of stablecoins in the crypto economy.
4. Binance Coin (BNB) – the native coin of the Binance exchange and BNB Chain platform. BNB is used for trading fee payments and fuels the Binance Smart Chain. Thanks to Binance's expansive ecosystem, the coin ranks among the leaders by market cap (~$100 billion), maintaining significant transaction volumes.
5. USD Coin (USDC) – one of the leading stablecoins, issued by the Centre consortium (Coinbase and Circle). USDC is fully backed by reserves and is known for its high transparency. In 2025, it gained popularity among institutional investors, with a market cap of around $60 billion.
6. XRP (Ripple) – cryptocurrency of the Ripple payment network, designed for fast interbank transfers with low fees. In 2025, legal clarity (wins in court) restored confidence in XRP. The token price is around $2.5, with a market cap of approximately $140 billion, returning it to the top five.
7. Solana (SOL) – a blockchain with high throughput and low transaction costs. Solana attracts DeFi and NFT app developers and is considered a promising competitor to Ethereum. SOL remains in the top 10, with a market capitalization of around $80 billion.
8. Cardano (ADA) – a platform for smart contracts with a scientific development approach. ADA is used for staking and transaction payments on the Cardano blockchain. Despite slower growth, the project has a large community: ADA's market cap is approximately $28 billion with a price around $0.85.
9. Dogecoin (DOGE) – a well-known "meme token" created as a joke but has grown into a significant phenomenon. DOGE is supported by the community and prominent figures (like Elon Musk). It is used for micropayments and tips online. Dogecoin's price is about $0.18, with a market cap of around $26 billion.
10. TRON (TRX) – a blockchain focused on digital entertainment and stablecoin issuance. A substantial portion of USDT and other stablecoins is issued on the TRON network due to high speeds and low fees. The TRX token trades around $0.30 with a market cap of about $27 billion.

Market Prospects at the Start of 2026

Analysts predict that 2026 will be marked by gradual consolidation and more sustainable growth in the cryptocurrency market after the tumultuous year of 2025. This foundation is supported by the year's achievements: the launch of crypto-ETFs in the U.S., the implementation of MiCA in the European Union, technological upgrades of blockchains, and increased institutional participation. These factors are making the industry more mature and resilient to shocks.

In early 2026, investors will be closely monitoring capital inflow dynamics: a resurgence of net inflows into crypto funds and ETFs after the holidays could catalyze a new phase of price growth. At the same time, macro factors will remain crucial – central bank decisions and global economic trends will shape risk appetite. Against a backdrop of accumulated stablecoin reserves, the market is poised for quick liquidity should sentiments improve. Overall, cryptocurrencies are firmly integrated into the global financial system, and their trajectory in 2026 will depend on both internal technological drivers and external economic conditions.