Approaching the close of 2025, Bitcoin continues to trade under the $88,000 threshold, a notable development even as Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) inflows showed a positive trend towards the year's end. This period of relative stagnation for Bitcoin contrasts with the largely unchanged positions of other significant digital currencies, including Ethereum, XRP, and Dogecoin. The broader cryptocurrency market has experienced an unusually subdued December, marked by decreased trading activity and constrained price fluctuations across various altcoins, suggesting a potential precursor to heightened market dynamism.
Coinglass data reveals a substantial liquidation of approximately 88,263 traders over a 24-hour period, amounting to $131.74 million. Conversely, data from SoSoValue indicates net inflows of $355 million into spot Bitcoin ETFs, and an additional $67.8 million into spot Ethereum ETFs, underscoring continued institutional interest despite price consolidation. Among altcoins, Chiliz, Story, and MemeCore emerged as top performers during this 24-hour window.
Crypto analyst Dami-Defi observed that Bitcoin is currently consolidating within a price range of $86,000 to $91,000, following a recent market correction. This range is critically positioned below the 50-week exponential moving average and significant resistance levels between $97,000 and $103,000, rendering the current market structure somewhat precarious. A decisive breach above $91,000 would signal renewed bullish momentum, whereas a drop below $86,000 could expose lower price targets around $79,000 or even $72,000.
CryptosBatman highlighted the critical importance of the monthly close, not merely as the culmination of 2025 but as a pivotal indicator for Bitcoin's overarching long-term trajectory. Bitcoin is presently hovering just beneath the 20-month moving average, valued at approximately $88,900. A monthly close above this benchmark would be instrumental in preserving the existing bull market framework, while a close below it could imply a shift towards a longer-term bearish trend.
Web3Niels pointed out the atypical quietude observed across crypto markets throughout December. Trading volumes plummeted to their lowest two-week period in 2025, with Bitcoin confined to a narrow trading band and altcoins exhibiting minimal movement, largely attributed to holiday-induced inactivity. Weekly trading volumes for major altcoins have seen a year-over-year decline exceeding 50%, a stark divergence from December 2024, when Ethereum and other large-cap tokens remained actively traded.
Historically, prolonged periods of low trading volume, tight price ranges, and reduced market participation have frequently presaged renewed volatility, rather than indicating the conclusion of a market cycle. Markets seldom maintain such extended periods of inactivity.