Current Cryptocurrency News for Thursday, December 25, 2025: Bitcoin Holds at $87,000, Altcoins Under Pressure, Institutional Investors Maintain Interest, Top 10 Cryptocurrencies.
As of the morning of December 25, 2025, the cryptocurrency market is experiencing relative stability following the volatile fluctuations of recent days. Bitcoin remains around the $87,000 mark, consolidating after a significant autumn correction. Ethereum and most major altcoins are trading with slight declines, remaining under pressure amid cautious investor sentiment. The total capitalization of the crypto market fluctuates around $3 trillion. Despite the temporary cooling of the market, institutional participants continue to show interest in digital assets, sustaining long-term confidence in the industry.
Market Overview: Consolidation and Pressure on Altcoins
This week, Bitcoin (BTC) is consolidating in the mid-$80,000 range, maintaining a key support level around $85,000. Midweek, BTC attempted to rally towards $90,000; however, momentum quickly weakened, signaling a tapering of the pre-New Year rally. Simultaneously, Ethereum (ETH) stabilized around the $3,000 mark, trying to recover from late autumn declines. Many large altcoins—from Binance Coin to Solana—remain under pressure: their prices have dropped by 1-3% in recent days, leading to a slight increase in Bitcoin's share of the total market capitalization (up to ~58%). Some technical indicators suggest that certain altcoins are oversold, allowing for the possibility of short-term rebounds. Overall, the crypto market is balancing between caution and hopes for growth: low liquidity during the holiday period intensifies volatility, and participants closely monitor external factors, including the decisions of global central banks. On the flip side, ongoing institutional inflows (see below) instill moderate optimism and support the market from deeper declines.
Bitcoin After the Peak: Seeking Balance
In 2025, Bitcoin experienced an impressive surge followed by a subsequent correction. At the beginning of October, BTC reached an all-time high above $126,000, but then experienced a sharp retracement of over 30%. Currently, the first cryptocurrency is stabilizing around $87,000, significantly lower than its peak but still close to the values seen at the end of last year. Bitcoin's market capitalization is approximately $1.7 trillion, accounting for around 57-58% of the total cryptocurrency capitalization. Bitcoin remains the primary "barometer" of the digital market and is perceived by many institutional investors as a long-term store of value. Experts note that, on a short-term basis, a strong move above the $90,000 mark is essential for BTC to continue its growth, while the $85,000 zone serves as the closest support. A breach of this level could intensify downward pressure up to the psychological threshold of $80,000, while recovery above $90,000 would signal market stabilization. Despite recent weakness, fundamental factors—limited issuance (21 million BTC) and institutional interest—continue to favor the largest cryptocurrency.
Ethereum and Leading Altcoins: Mixed Dynamics
Ethereum (ETH), the second largest digital asset by market capitalization, is attempting to recover after the autumn decline. The current price of ETH hovers around $2,900, which is below the levels seen in early November (previously, Ethereum confidently traded above $3,200). Nevertheless, Ethereum still holds approximately 12% of the market and remains a foundational platform for DeFi and NFT ecosystems, bolstered by its transition to a Proof-of-Stake algorithm. Other major altcoins have shown mixed dynamics in recent weeks. For instance, Solana (SOL), after a swift rise in the first half of the year, has retreated to around $120, correcting from local highs (earlier in December, SOL exceeded $130). Binance Coin (BNB) remains around $835, demonstrating relative stability amid legal risks surrounding Binance. The XRP token, following a summer spike on news of Ripple's victory over the SEC, is now trading at approximately $1.85 and is not exhibiting a pronounced trend. Meanwhile, more speculative coins have suffered more significantly: for example, the NFT token sector has collectively dropped by over 9% in the past week. The capital rotation from altcoins into Bitcoin and Ethereum is a notable end-of-year trend reflecting investors' desire to minimize risks. Analysts do not rule out that, should sentiment improve, some funds may return to quality altcoins; however, until global uncertainty decreases, Bitcoin's dominance is likely to remain elevated.
Institutional Investments and ETF Funds
One of the main trends of 2025 has been the increasing presence of large investors in the cryptocurrency market. In the U.S., after a long wait, the first spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for Bitcoin and Ethereum were launched, simplifying access to digital assets for institutional players. Over the year, these funds have attracted billions of dollars; however, by the end of December, signs of profit-taking are also evident. According to reports, on December 23, the total outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs amounted to approximately $188 million, while Ether ETFs saw outflows of about $95 million in a single day. Nevertheless, major organizations are not rolling back their long-term plans for cryptocurrency involvement. For instance, global investment giant BlackRock announced an expansion of its digital asset team, opening new vacancies in New York, London, and Singapore—this move reflects a strategic vision for the future of the industry. Additionally, new exchange products are in development: regulators are considering applications for launching ETFs for other cryptocurrencies (including Solana and Cardano), reflecting further expansion of institutional interest in the market.
Regulation and Global Factors
The regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies in 2025 has notably evolved worldwide. In the United States, after several years of uncertainty, progress has been made: authorities have provided clearer explanations regarding the status of digital assets, and a legal precedent in the XRP case has clarified the boundaries of SEC oversight. Furthermore, the U.S. administration has shown interest in the sector (previously, discussions were held on the possibility of creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve and allowing pension funds to invest in crypto assets). The European Union implemented comprehensive rules (the MiCA regulation) in 2025, aimed at standardizing oversight of the industry and increasing transparency in operations. In major Asian jurisdictions—from Singapore to Hong Kong—regulatory standards continue to be introduced that balance the promotion of innovation with investor protection. Despite the overall increase in certainty, regulatory pressure on the industry remains: for instance, major cryptocurrency exchanges still face demands for stricter oversight and reporting. At the same time, security incidents (including the recent hack on the predictive platform Polymarket) remind us of the risks, prompting regulators to enhance their focus on consumer protection. Ultimately, the global picture is mixed: on one hand, clearer rules attract institutional investors; on the other, the market must adapt to new requirements to achieve sustainable growth.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
Despite current fluctuations, investors continue to focus primarily on the top ten largest digital assets, which significantly influence the overall market. As of December 25, 2025, the following cryptocurrencies ranked in the top 10 by market capitalization:
- Bitcoin (BTC) – the first and largest cryptocurrency, often referred to as "digital gold." BTC has a fixed issuance limit of 21 million coins and remains the primary indicator of market sentiment (≈58% of total capitalization). With its status as a safe-haven asset, Bitcoin attracts significant institutional investments as a store of value.
- Ethereum (ETH) – the leading altcoin and smart contract platform underpinning Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and NFT ecosystems. Ethereum confidently holds second place by capitalization (~12% of the market) and transitioned to an energy-efficient Proof-of-Stake algorithm in 2022, enhancing its appeal as the "digital oil" of the blockchain industry.
- Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio. USDT provides high liquidity for trading on cryptocurrency exchanges, allowing participants to quickly convert capital into dollar equivalents and vice versa for transactions and volatility hedging. USDT's market capitalization is approximately $150 billion; the coin consistently holds a price around $1.00.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the native token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and its associated blockchain network BNB Chain. BNB is used for paying fees on the exchange and engaging in ecosystem services (Launchpad, DeFi applications, etc.), helping it remain among the market leaders. Despite regulatory pressures on Binance in several countries, the broad applicability of the token supports its demand and position in the top five.
- Ripple (XRP) – the token of the Ripple payment network designed for fast cross-border transactions between banks. XRP gained heightened attention after Ripple's legal victory over the SEC: a U.S. court confirmed that the sale of XRP does not violate securities laws. The removal of this uncertainty bolstered XRP's market position (the token's capitalization is estimated at about $110 billion), although its price remains significantly lower than historical highs.
- USD Coin (USDC) – the second largest stablecoin issued by the Centre consortium (Circle and Coinbase) and fully backed by reserves in dollars. USDC is trusted by institutional investors due to regular audits of reserves and transparency. The coin is widely used for transactions, trading, and in the DeFi sector as a reliable digital equivalent of the U.S. dollar.
- Solana (SOL) – a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications (dApps), known for its high transaction speeds and low fees. After the 2022 crisis, Solana has regained a significant market share in 2025: new DeFi and NFT projects have been launched on its platform, and the proposed approval of the first ETF on SOL boosts investor interest. A slight price correction at year-end has not hindered SOL's position among the largest crypto assets.
- TRON (TRX) – a blockchain platform primarily popular in Asia, used for creating smart contracts, entertainment content, and issuing stablecoins. TRX remains in the top 10 due to stable growth in the user base and the development of decentralized applications on the platform. Additionally, a significant portion of USDT is issued on the TRON blockchain, which supports the demand for this network and its token.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – the most well-known meme cryptocurrency that started as an internet joke. Despite its initially parody nature, DOGE has become a significant asset due to its dedicated community and periodic support from notable entrepreneurs (e.g., Elon Musk) on social media. The volatility of Dogecoin remains high, but its mass recognition and network effect allow it to stay among the largest coins, demonstrating sustained investor interest.
- Cardano (ADA) – a blockchain platform for smart contracts developed based on academic research and code verification. ADA boasts one of the most active communities and maintains its place among the top ten, although the real-world adoption of applications built on it is progressing more slowly than expected. The project attracts long-term investors who are betting on the reliability and scalability of the network in the future.
Cryptocurrency Market as of Morning December 25, 2025
The prices of major cryptocurrencies are as follows:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $86,800
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,920
- XRP (XRP): $1.85
- BNB (BNB): $830
- Solana (SOL): $121
- Tether (USDT): R85.00
Market indicators:
- Total cryptocurrency market capitalization: $3.02 trillion
- Bitcoin dominance: 58.1%
- Fear and greed index: 27 (fear)
Leaders in change over the 24 hours:
- Rise: Quantum Resistant Ledger (QRL) — +31%
- Fall: ApeCoin (APE) — -9%
Analysis: Bitcoin and Ethereum demonstrate relative stability at current levels, while market sentiment remains cautious (the fear index confirms prevailing caution among investors). The sharp rise of the lesser-known token QRL shows that even in a calm market, certain projects with a strong news background can attract speculative interest. Simultaneously, the price drop of ApeCoin highlights the weakness in the NFT sector amid profit-taking and declining hype. In conditions of low trading volumes and holidays, market participants prefer to diversify risks, awaiting new catalysts for more definitive price movements.
