Cryptocurrency News for December 19, 2025: Bitcoin Drops Below $90,000, Pressure on Altcoins, Institutional Interest, and Overview of the Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies for Investors.
As of the morning of December 19, 2025, the cryptocurrency market is under pressure following a significant correction that came after a rapid rise earlier this year. The price of Bitcoin has fallen below the psychological mark of $90,000, reducing the total cryptocurrency market capitalization to approximately $2.9 trillion. Following Bitcoin, major altcoins led by Ethereum have also declined; many of the top 10 digital assets are trading significantly below their peak values. Nonetheless, institutional investors continue to show interest in cryptocurrencies: some are leveraging the current downturn to increase investments amid mixed macroeconomic signals and gradual improvements in industry regulation.
Bitcoin Below $90,000 Amid Correction
In recent days, Bitcoin (BTC) has dropped below the key level of $90,000 for the first time in nearly two months. On December 17, the price of the first cryptocurrency briefly fell to around $85,000 on some exchanges before partially recovering; currently, BTC is trading around $87,000. The current price is almost 30% below the historical high (~$125,000) reached in October. The market capitalization of BTC is estimated at about $1.75 trillion, accounting for around 60% of the total cryptocurrency capitalization.
Analysts note that the recent decline in Bitcoin is driven by a combination of factors. Investors began to realize profits after an extended rally, and heightened selling has been observed on Asian cryptocurrency exchanges, intensifying price pressure. Meanwhile, in the United States, demand from institutional players remains strong: regulated platforms are seeing capital inflows, indicating that large investors are buying coins released on the Asian market. Additionally, miner activity has an impact: due to decreased mining profitability, some mining pools are selling part of their BTC reserves, increasing short-term supply in the market. However, fundamental metrics of the network provide optimism — the total "realized capitalization" of Bitcoin recently reached a record $1.12 trillion. This means that the amount of funds invested in BTC (considering the purchase price of the coins) is currently at its highest level in history, despite the correction, reflecting the confidence of long-term holders.
Ethereum Falls Below $3,000
Following Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH) is also under pressure. For the first time in recent weeks, the price of ETH has dropped below the psychological mark of $3,000 and is now fluctuating around $2,830. The current price is approximately 40% below the recent peak (~$4,600, reached in August 2025). Ethereum has a market capitalization of about $340 billion, corresponding to ~12% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization; Ether still holds a firm second place among the largest crypto assets.
Ethereum remains a fundamental platform for smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi), which helps sustain demand for Ether overall. However, the current correction has also affected ETH: over the past day, the altcoin has decreased by about 4%, slightly more than Bitcoin. Institutional interest in Ethereum has not waned; in 2025, there was a record influx of capital into Ethereum ETFs following their launch in the United States in the summer of 2024. Major investment funds view ETH as a prospective asset linked to the development of blockchain infrastructure. Furthermore, Ethereum developers are preparing network upgrades aimed at enhancing scalability and reducing fees, which should strengthen ETH's position in the long term.
Altcoins Under Pressure
The broader market for alternative cryptocurrencies reflects the overall downward trend. Over the past day, most major altcoins in the top 10 have fallen by 2-5%, deepening a correction that has been ongoing for several weeks. The total market capitalization of altcoins (excluding BTC) has now decreased to approximately $1.17 trillion, retreating from peak levels this year (around $1.7 trillion). Many popular tokens are trading significantly below their highs. For instance, Ripple (XRP) is holding steady at around $1.90 (down from ~$3 at peak following Ripple's legal victory over the SEC), while Solana (SOL) has fallen to ~$125 after rising above $190 in the fall.
Some major altcoins are demonstrating relative resilience. Binance Coin (BNB) is holding around $840, close to its historical peaks, despite the overall market decline and ongoing regulatory pressure on the Binance exchange. Overall, investors are partially shifting towards less volatile assets, leading to a slight increase in Bitcoin's share: BTC now accounts for about 60% of market capitalization compared to ~58% a few months ago.
Institutional Interest in Cryptocurrencies
Despite market fluctuations, institutional investors continued to increase their presence in the cryptocurrency market in 2025. In the United States, a significant event was the arrival of the first spot ETFs for Bitcoin and Ethereum, which provided major funds and banks with convenient access to digital assets. Total investments in exchange-traded crypto funds have reached record levels, measured in billions of dollars. Asset managers, hedge funds, and individual pension and sovereign funds are including cryptocurrencies in their portfolios, viewing them as a new promising asset class.
The industry is also receiving support signals from prominent players. For example, MicroStrategy, led by Michael Saylor, continues to accumulate Bitcoin even amid the correction, raising its BTC reserves to a record level. Notably, interest from sovereign funds is also growing: Norway's largest investment fund publicly supported Bitcoin-related initiatives for the first time this year. Such moves from institutional players provide long-term support for the market and enhance confidence among a broader range of investors.
Regulation and Macroeconomics
The regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies in 2025 is gradually improving in key jurisdictions. In the United States, after prolonged legal battles in recent years, a degree of clarity has emerged: court rulings (including Ripple's partial victory in its dispute with the SEC) have set important precedents, and Congress is discussing legislation on stablecoins and the taxation of digital assets. The European Union is implementing the MiCA regulatory framework, establishing unified industry requirements and attracting companies due to the predictability of regulation. In Asia, authorities are taking mixed positions: Hong Kong and Singapore are striving to become crypto hubs by introducing clear rules for trading digital assets, while China maintains strict restrictions on cryptocurrency operations.
The overall macroeconomic backdrop is also influencing the cryptocurrency market. Leading central banks (the US Federal Reserve, the ECB) are maintaining high interest rates at the end of 2025; however, inflation in these economies is decreasing, providing grounds to expect a gradual easing of monetary conditions in 2026. This factor could potentially support demand for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies, after a period of tightening. The political situation in the United States is attracting investors' attention: President Donald Trump's administration is declaring support for innovation and refraining from excessive pressure on the crypto industry (in particular, an initiative to create a government reserve in Bitcoin is under discussion). Taken together, clearer regulation and economic stabilization reduce uncertainty and create a foundation for new capital inflows into the cryptocurrency market.
Market Sentiment and Volatility
The explosive summer growth of cryptocurrencies has shifted to a phase of increased volatility and investor caution. The "fear and greed" index for the cryptocurrency market has fallen to around 45 points, indicating a "fear" mode (the index was in the "greed" zone above 70 just last autumn). This reflects a noticeable cooling of optimism: market participants are now much more inclined to reduce risks, fearing further price declines.
Statistics on liquidations of margin positions also confirm market nervousness. In the last day, positions worth over $300 million were forcibly closed on crypto exchanges, mainly on long contracts for altcoins. Such episodes demonstrate that excessive use of leverage remains a serious risk: sudden price fluctuations can "knock out" both bearish and bullish positions from the market if traders become overly involved in margin trading.
Forecasts and Expectations
Despite the current price drop, many analysts remain optimistic about the future of the cryptocurrency market. Several forecasts from major financial organizations remain "bullish". For example, in previous reports, one international bank anticipated Bitcoin's growth to $150-200 thousand by the end of 2025; now these targets seem overly aggressive, but some experts expect such levels to be reached in 2026.
Observers note that historically, market cycles following Bitcoin halving have included multi-month rallies. In their opinion, the current decline is a form of interim consolidation before a new growth phase. If macroeconomic conditions improve, the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies could return to record highs next year, exceeding the $5 trillion mark. Conversely, skeptics warn of persistent risks: if tight monetary policy persists or regulators impose stricter requirements, the growth of crypto assets may be restrained. Overall, in a favorable economic environment and with the continued influx of institutional capital, most experts anticipate a gradual restoration of the upward trend in 2026.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
As of the morning of December 19, 2025, the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization include the following digital assets:
- Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $86,450 after a recent correction; the market capitalization is approximately $1.75 trillion (≈60% of the total market).
- Ethereum (ETH) — the leading altcoin and platform for smart contracts. The price of ETH is about $2,834, significantly lower than record levels, with a market capitalization of around $340 billion (≈12% of the market).
- Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar (1:1). USDT is widely used for trading and settlements, with a market capitalization of around $150 billion; the coin maintains a stable price of $1.00.
- Ripple (XRP) — the token of the Ripple payment network for cross-border transactions. XRP is trading around $1.90, with a market capitalization of ~ $110 billion. Investors positively evaluated the legal clarity of XRP's status in the US, previously propelling the token to market leadership. Despite retreating from peak levels, XRP remains among the largest crypto assets.
- Binance Coin (BNB) — the coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and the native token of the BNB Chain. The price of BNB is around $840, close to its historical maximum; market capitalization is about $130 billion. Despite regulatory pressure on Binance, the token remains in the top 5 due to its broad application on the exchange and in the DeFi ecosystem.
- Solana (SOL) — a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications. SOL is trading around $124 (market capitalization ~$50 billion) following impressive growth this year. Interest in Solana is supported by expectations for potential ETF approval for this asset in the US and the growth of the ecosystem of projects based on it.
- USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin, backed by reserves in US dollars (issued by Circle). The price of USDC is maintained at $1.00, with a market capitalization of around $60 billion. USDC is widely used by institutional investors and in DeFi protocols due to high transparency of reserves.
- Cardano (ADA) — a blockchain platform focused on a scientifically informed approach to development. ADA is priced at around $0.65 (market capitalization ~$20 billion) after retreating from recent local highs. The project is attracting attention due to plans to launch its own ETF and an active community that believes in the long-term price growth of ADA.
- TRON (TRX) — a platform for smart contracts and multimedia dApps, particularly popular in Asia. TRX is trading around $0.25; market value is ~ $23 billion. TRON maintains its presence in the top 10 partly due to its network being used for the issuance of stablecoins (a significant portion of USDT circulates on the Tron blockchain).
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most famous meme cryptocurrency, initially created as a joke. DOGE hovers around $0.12 (market capitalization ~$17 billion), supported by community loyalty and periodic attention from high-profile individuals. While the volatility of Dogecoin remains high, this coin still ranks among the top ten, demonstrating remarkable resilience in investor interest.
Cryptocurrency Market on the Morning of December 19, 2025
Key Cryptocurrency Rates:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $86,450
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,834
- Ripple (XRP): $1.86
- Binance Coin (BNB): $844
- Solana (SOL): $124
- Tether (USDT): $1.00
Market Metrics:
- Total Cryptocurrency Market Capitalization: $2.91 trillion
- Bitcoin Dominance: 59.8%
- Fear and Greed Index: 45 (fear)
Daily Change Leaders:
- Gains: Uniswap (UNI) — +4%
- Decline: Conflux (CFX) — -11%
Analysis: Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to face resistance near current levels, and the sentiment index has shifted into the fear zone, reflecting overall caution in the market. The local growth of Uniswap suggests that positive news surrounding certain projects can still support their quotes even during a general downturn. At the same time, the double-digit drop of Conflux indicates high nervousness: investors are likely taking profits or reacting to negative news surrounding this altcoin. Overall, the situation remains tense: many traders are reducing risks and closely monitoring key support levels (e.g., ~$80,000 for BTC) to assess the market's further direction.
