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

Current Cryptocurrency News for Monday, December 29, 2025: Bitcoin and Ethereum Dynamics, Altcoin Movements, 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 remains around the $88,000–$89,000 mark after a record surge this fall, while leading altcoins display a mixed but generally moderately positive trend. Investors are cautiously optimistic, leaning on a more favorable regulatory environment and active participation by institutional players in the industry.

Cryptocurrency Market: Consolidation at Year-End

The global cryptocurrency market capitalization has approached $3 trillion, slightly below recent record levels. In the days leading up to the holidays, there has been a slight decline in prices (about 1–2% per day) amid low trading volumes. Investors are acting cautiously – the "Fear and Greed" index for cryptocurrencies remains in the "fear" zone. Nonetheless, 2025 has shown significant long-term growth: for instance, Bitcoin reached above $126,000 in October and is now returning to $88,000. This fact indicates ongoing interest in crypto assets despite December's correction.

Bitcoin: Consolidation Around $90,000

The largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Bitcoin (BTC), is trading in the range of $87,000–$88,000 (data as of December 28). BTC's market capitalization exceeds $1.7 trillion, accounting for approximately 58–59% of the entire crypto market. After record highs above $120,000 this fall, Bitcoin has corrected but maintains support around $84,000–$88,000. According to analysts, breaking through the psychological barrier of ~$90,000–$91,000 could set the market tone for early 2026. Institutional flows are impacting trading – at year-end, there were significant outflows from leading spot Bitcoin ETFs. For instance, the largest ETF, BlackRock (IBIT), reduced its assets by nearly 5% ($2.7 billion) over a couple of weeks, signaling a rapid capital redistribution. Bitcoin's dynamics will depend on the revival of fund inflows and global macroeconomic factors.

Ethereum: Strong Fundamentals, Price Lagging

The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum (ETH), trades 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 throughput over the past year. Recent protocol upgrades have improved scalability and reduced fees, stimulating activity growth – the number of transactions and operations with tokens on Ethereum has reached record levels. However, ETH's price is pressured by overall market factors and fund outflows: many holders have not yet recouped losses incurred during price peaks. Experts expect that with Bitcoin stabilizing, interest in Ethereum will rise as investors refocus on it as a foundational asset in the blockchain ecosystem.

Altcoins: Mixed Trends Among Leaders

Leading altcoins are showing mixed dynamics: some coins are rising steadily, while others remain stagnant. Below are some important trends among top altcoins:

• Solana (SOL) – a high-speed blockchain attracting developers due to low fees. Following technical challenges last year, SOL has recovered and is trading around $125 with a market capitalization of about $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 corrected, XRP shows relative resilience: even amid overall market declines, the token continues to be in demand 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 retains a solid position (trading above $850) due to various use cases within the ecosystem.
• Dogecoin (DOGE) and Cardano (ADA) – popular cryptocurrencies that are showing relatively weak dynamics toward year-end. DOGE stays in the top ten due to community support, while ADA, as a scientifically driven project, still boasts a large community. Both coins have mostly traded within narrow ranges in recent weeks, showing no sharp movements.
• TRON (TRX) – a blockchain focused on digital entertainment and stablecoin support. A significant portion of USDT is issued on the TRON network, giving the TRX token (exchange rate around $0.28) high demand, especially in the Asian region.

Institutional Trends: Outflows from ETFs and Corporate Accumulation

Institutional investors continue to impact the market. Throughout 2025, launched spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. increased interest in crypto assets, but by year-end, funds are starting to record outflows. Moreover, corporate deals have become more active: the total M&A volume in the crypto industry reached a record $8.6 billion by year’s end (compared to ~$2.2 billion in 2024). This reflects growing confidence among major players and financial organizations. The largest deals included:

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

At the same time, the year 2025 saw a surge in initial public offerings (IPOs): a total of ~$14.6 billion was raised through IPOs (compared to just $0.31 billion the year prior). Notable market debuts included the parent company of CoinDesk (Bullish, $1.1 billion), the issuer of the USDC stablecoin (Circle, over $1 billion), and the crypto exchange Gemini (~$0.425 billion). These deals reflect the institutional players' desire to access liquid crypto assets amid tightening regulations.

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

Macroeconomics and Investor Sentiments

The end of December is characterized by a moderately positive mood, but with signs of caution. The weakening U.S. dollar and expectations for potential easing of Federal Reserve policies support demand for risk assets and "safe-haven" instruments. This week, gold and silver prices reached historical highs amid geopolitical tensions – a trend that is typically favorable for Bitcoin. Meanwhile, the crypto market has already reacted to concerns: after a slight decline, Bitcoin demonstrates recovery, reflecting its role as digital gold.

However, sentiment indicators, such as the "Fear and Greed" index for cryptocurrencies, remain in the "fear" zone, indicating a cautious mood among participants. Key factors continue to be central bank decisions on rates and the overall economic backdrop: the future dynamics of the market will depend on the macroeconomic situation. For example, the increasing likelihood of Federal Reserve rate cuts in early 2026 could stimulate a capital influx 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 levels above $120,000 and is currently trading around $88,000. The market capitalization of BTC is approximately $1.7 trillion (about 58% of the entire cryptocurrency market).
2. Ethereum (ETH) – the second largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and the leading platform for decentralized applications (DeFi, NFTs). The ETH token is used to pay fees on the Ethereum network. By year-end, its price is around $3,000, with a capitalization of about $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 for holding funds. 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 utilized for trading fee payments and as “gas” for the Binance Smart Chain network. Due to the extensive Binance ecosystem, the coin ranks among the leaders by market capitalization (~$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 capitalization of around $60 billion.
6. XRP (Ripple) – the cryptocurrency of the Ripple payment network, designed for fast interbank transfers with low fees. In 2025, legal clarity (victories in court) restored confidence in XRP. The token price is around $2.50, with a capitalization of approximately $140 billion, returning it to the top five.
7. Solana (SOL) – a blockchain with high throughput and low transactional costs. Solana attracts DeFi and NFT application developers and is considered a promising competitor to Ethereum. SOL remains in the top 10 with a capitalization of around $80 billion.
8. Cardano (ADA) – a platform for smart contracts with a scientific approach to development. ADA is used for staking and paying transaction fees on the Cardano blockchain. Despite slower growth, the project has a large community: ADA's capitalization is approximately $28 billion at a price of around $0.85.
9. Dogecoin (DOGE) – the well-known "meme token," created as a joke but has become a significant phenomenon. DOGE is supported by the community and famous personalities (such as Elon Musk). It is used for micropayments and tips online. The price of Dogecoin is around $0.18, with a market capitalization of about $26 billion.
10. TRON (TRX) – a blockchain focused on digital entertainment and stablecoin issuance. A significant part of USDT and other stablecoins’ issuance comes from the TRON network due to its speed and low fees. The TRX token trades around $0.30, with a market capitalization of around $27 billion.

Market Outlook at the Beginning of 2026

Analysts predict that 2026 will be characterized by gradual consolidation and more sustainable growth in the cryptocurrency market following a turbulent 2025. This is underpinned by the advancements of the outgoing year: 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 make the industry more mature and resilient to shocks.

At the beginning of 2026, investors will closely monitor capital inflow dynamics: a revival of net inflows into crypto funds and ETFs after the holidays could catalyze a new stage of price growth. At the same time, the importance of macro factors remains – decisions by central banks and global economic trends will dictate risk appetite. Against the backdrop of accumulated stablecoin reserves, the market is poised for swift liquidity given improved sentiment. 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.