Global Cryptocurrency News, Sunday, December 28, 2025: Bitcoin on the Brink of $90,000, Altcoins and Market Sentiments, Institutional Trends and Top 10 Cryptocurrencies
Current cryptocurrency news as of December 28, 2025: the digital asset market is consolidating in the final days of the year. Bitcoin remains near the $88,000 mark, demonstrating resilience even after recent fluctuations. Major altcoins, including Ethereum, are gradually recovering positions after a volatile start to the week; many digital assets from the top 10 are showing moderate gains. Investors—both retail and institutional—exhibit cautious optimism, relying on an improving regulatory environment and continued interest from larger players in crypto assets.
Cryptocurrency Market: Consolidation Towards Year-End
The global cryptocurrency market is nearing the end of 2025 with a total market capitalization of around $3 trillion, just slightly below record highs achieved during this year's rally. In the past few days, there has been a moderate price decline (about 1% per day as of December 27), reflecting investor caution ahead of the New Year holidays. Trading volumes remain subdued due to the holiday lull, and market volatility is restrained by low liquidity. The "fear and greed" index for cryptocurrencies has fallen into the "fear" zone, indicating a predominance of cautious sentiments among participants. Nevertheless, compared to the beginning of the year, the market has demonstrated significant growth (Bitcoin has gained over 100% this year), despite the recent correction. Investors are carefully evaluating prospects ahead of 2026, preferring a wait-and-see approach until new signals emerge.
Bitcoin: Consolidation Below $90,000 After Record Rally
The largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC), is currently trading relatively steadily, hovering in the $87–89 thousand range while inching closer to the psychologically significant level of $90,000. In the autumn, BTC reached an all-time high of around $126,000 (in October 2025), but by December, it has pulled back approximately 30% from that peak. Such corrections are not new for Bitcoin; in previous cycles (2017, 2021), prices dropped by 30–50% after rapid increases before recovering. The current decline is largely attributed to profit-taking and the reduction of leverage in the market: many traders and funds have decreased risk positions amid partial capital outflows.
The end of this week marked the largest options expiration event in cryptocurrency history. On December 26, options with a total nominal value of about $28 billion expired (including approximately $23.7 billion in Bitcoin), causing increased short-term volatility and keeping the BTC price near key strike levels. Following the expiration date, pressure has somewhat eased: analysts note that large-scale options expirations often lead to neutral or mildly positive dynamics as the market becomes free from restraining factors. Currently, key support for Bitcoin is in the $85–87 thousand area, while resistance lies around $90–93 thousand. A confident breakthrough above $90,000 could pave the way to new highs (with many expecting a move towards $100,000), but for now, buyers are acting cautiously.
On-chain metrics, meanwhile, present a healthy picture. Coin inflow to exchanges from large holders (so-called "whales") is at a minimum for the current cycle, indicating a lack of panic selling from long-term investors. The supply of stablecoins in the market has reached record levels (around $300 billion in total), reflecting a significant amount of "dry powder"—capital awaiting a favorable moment to enter the market. These factors instill confidence that after the consolidation phase, Bitcoin could stabilize and resume growth with improved overall market conditions.
Ethereum: Network Activity High, Price Lagging
The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum (ETH), is holding around the $2,900–3,000 mark, remaining approximately 35–40% below its 2025 peak. Ethereum's price dynamics have lagged behind Bitcoin in recent months (ETH/BTC pairs have decreased, reflecting some capital flow to BTC). However, fundamental performance metrics for the Ethereum network are setting records. Recent protocol updates (including the activation of the Dencun update package with Proto-Danksharding technology) have increased network throughput and lowered fees, stimulating usage growth. In December, the Ethereum network recorded a historical peak of daily load: around 1.9 million transactions processed within 24 hours at average fees below $0.20. This spike in on-chain activity is largely due to increased operations with stablecoins and decentralized exchanges (DEXs), demonstrating sustained demand for the Ethereum platform for financial applications.
Despite the improvement in network metrics, market factors continue to weigh on the price of ETH. Like Bitcoin, significant volumes of options on Ethereum are expiring this week (around $6 billion), and the market is influenced by these derivative levels. Furthermore, many ETH holders still remain at a loss relative to this year's peak prices, limiting short-term optimism. Nevertheless, Ethereum has shown slight growth (~4%) over the past week, rebounding from recent local lows. Experts note that further dynamics for ETH will depend on capital inflows into the cryptocurrency sector at the beginning of 2026: if Bitcoin stabilizes, investors may turn their attention back to Ethereum as a fundamental asset in the decentralized finance ecosystem.
Altcoins: Diverging Trends Among Leading Coins
In the altcoin segment, mixed dynamics are observed: some leading coins are steadily rising, while others stagnate. Investors are reevaluating their portfolios, betting on projects with the strongest fundamentals. Below are some notable movements and trends among top altcoins:
- Solana (SOL) – one of the most prominent "stars" of recent years. The high-speed Solana blockchain is attracting developers and users, enabling the coin to confidently enter the market leaders. Currently, SOL is trading around $125 (market capitalization of approximately $70 billion) and has grown nearly 900% over the past three years, significantly outpacing Bitcoin's growth. Solana has redeemed its position after last year's technical issues and is perceived by some investors as a promising competitor to Ethereum due to its network's high throughput.
- XRP (Ripple) – the token of the Ripple payment network remains in the top 5 due to a return of investors' trust. In 2025, Ripple achieved significant legal victories in disputes with regulators, eliminating the uncertainty that had long weighed on XRP. Thanks to this clarity, XRP demonstrates relative resilience: even when the market declined at the end of the year, investment products linked to XRP (ETFs and trusts) continued to see capital inflows. This has made XRP a sort of "safe haven" among altcoins: the token's price avoids sharp declines, and institutional interest supports its stability.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, continues to rank among the top ten by capitalization. BNB services the Binance Smart Chain ecosystem and provides holders with discounts on exchange fees. In 2025, BNB did not experience explosive growth and has faced challenges due to tightening regulations concerning centralized exchanges. Nevertheless, the token maintains significant capitalization, and the recent market rebound has helped BNB regain some of its lost positions. Investors are closely monitoring the situation surrounding Binance: the future stability of BNB will depend on the exchange's adaptability to new global regulatory requirements.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) and Cardano (ADA) – these popular cryptocurrencies are demonstrating relatively weak dynamics towards the end of 2025. DOGE, known as a meme token, remains in the top 10 mainly due to its dedicated community and the support of several well-known personalities, yet its price has stagnated and has changed little over the past week. Cardano, a smart contract platform with a scientific approach to development, has also shown no significant growth in recent months: its ADA token is trading in a narrow range near current levels. Both assets have suffered from capital flow to more "trendy" projects, and their recovery is likely to require new drivers such as technological updates or expanded practical applications.
- Hyperliquid (HYPE) – a new promising player in the Layer-1 sector, launched in 2025. The Hyperliquid platform ensures compatibility with Ethereum (thanks to HyperEVM technology) and offers high transaction processing speed. The HYPE token has attracted investor attention, rising approximately 35% over the year, and is already being compared to Solana for its growth potential. Although in terms of capitalization, Hyperliquid has not yet caught up with market veterans, the project demonstrates an upward trend due to its technical advantages. Experts believe that Hyperliquid may eventually vie for a top 10 spot if it maintains its development pace and attracts more developers to its ecosystem.
Institutional Trends: Outflows from ETFs and Corporate Accumulation
In 2025, institutional investors played a notable role in the cryptocurrency market. One of the key events of the year was the launch of the first spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US, which provided a powerful growth impetus to the market early in the year. However, by the end of December, the situation changed: with deteriorating sentiments, these ETFs became a "quick exit" for capital. In recent weeks, the largest Bitcoin funds have been recording capital outflows. For instance, the flagship spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT from BlackRock) lost approximately $2.7 billion (about 5% of its assets) due to capital withdrawal over roughly a month leading up to the end of November. Such levels of outflows illustrate how swiftly flows can change: what was previously a rally driver can exacerbate price pressure as sentiment shifts.
Not only Bitcoin but also Ethereum funds have suffered from outflows—by the year's end, investors are pulling some funds out of them. Nevertheless, some niche products related to altcoins have been exceptions. Inflows have been noted in specific funds associated with, for example, Solana and XRP: in December, they saw a small inflow of funds, despite the overall trend. This indicates a growing diversification of interests: some institutional players are seeking opportunities not just in BTC and ETH but also in other assets with high growth potential.
Concurrently with the fluctuations of sentiments in ETFs, large corporations and funds continued to strategically accumulate cryptocurrencies. A notable example is the company Metaplanet, dubbed the "Asian MicroStrategy." In December, Metaplanet's shareholders approved an ambitious plan to acquire 210,000 BTC by 2027, which equates to approximately 1% of total Bitcoin issuance. As of now, Metaplanet holds over 30,000 BTC (accumulated since 2024) and aims to significantly expand its crypto treasury, attracting capital in Asian markets and through the issuance of additional shares. This move underscores the long-term confidence of major players in Bitcoin's potential: despite volatility, companies view BTC as a strategic reserve asset. Overall, institutional acceptance of cryptocurrencies advanced in 2025—from the emergence of regulated investment products (ETFs) to direct placement of digital assets on corporate balance sheets. This trend is expected to continue in 2026, especially as regulators clarify the "rules of the game," making digital assets more accessible and understandable for traditional financial institutions.
Investor Sentiments and Macroeconomic Influences
As December draws to a close, sentiments in the cryptocurrency market remain cautious. Sentiment indicators, such as the "fear and greed" index, have been in the "fear" zone for several weeks, reflecting a predominance of concerns over greed. Investors are worried about a combination of factors: recent price corrections, record events in the derivatives market, and external macroeconomic signals.
By year-end, the influence of traditional markets on the crypto industry has intensified. Global stock indices and gold prices have reached historical highs, indicating a persistent high risk appetite overall. However, the rise in yields on US government bonds (10-year UST reached ~4.2%, a maximum for recent months) has created competition for capital: in the face of high rates, risk-free instruments look more attractive, which might have intensified outflows from crypto ETFs and pressure on digital asset prices.
Nevertheless, several macro factors are working in favor of cryptocurrencies. The US Federal Reserve paused tightening monetary policy in December, and markets expect a softening of regulatory rhetoric in 2026, potentially increasing liquidity in markets. In other regions, in contrast, a tightening trend has emerged; for example, the Bank of Japan has signaled a gradual unwinding of its ultra-loose policy, causing currency fluctuations. Such diverging central bank actions heighten volatility in Forex markets and indirectly impact the cryptocurrency industry, which is increasingly perceived as an asset class sensitive to global liquidity.
Within the cryptocurrency market itself, there are also positive signals. In addition to the already mentioned record stablecoin reserves and minimal activity from "whale" sellers, volumes of margin lending in DeFi protocols are decreasing—traders are consciously reducing risks, cleaning the market of overheated positions. All this lays the groundwork for a more resilient state in the industry: when sentiments shift to positive, significant reserves of capital could quickly re-enter the game. Experts recommend that investors adopt a balanced strategy: in a thin holiday market, avoid excessive leverage and wait for an increase in trading volumes and the return of institutional money. Many participants are currently taking a wait-and-see position, watching how the market navigates the holiday period and significant expirations of derivatives.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC) – the first and largest cryptocurrency in the world. BTC is often compared to "digital gold" due to its limited issuance and role as a protective asset. In 2025, Bitcoin reached new historical highs (over $120,000), attracting increased attention from both retail and institutional investors. Currently, BTC is trading around $88,000, with a market capitalization of approximately $1.7 trillion (dominating ~58% of the entire market).
- Ethereum (ETH) – the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and the leading platform for smart contracts. Ethereum underpins decentralized finance (DeFi), NFT ecosystems, and many blockchain applications. The ETH token is used for fee payments on the network and is in demand among developers and users worldwide. The current price of ETH is around $3,000, which is below multi-year peaks, but Ethereum's role in the crypto industry remains fundamental (capitalization around $350 billion, ~12% of the market).
- Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar (1 USDT = $1). USDT is widely used for trading and holding funds, bridging the gap between crypto and fiat markets. Its high market capitalization (around $150 billion) reflects the significant role of stablecoins in the crypto economy. USDT maintains a stable rate due to complete backing by reserves and remains an indispensable liquidity instrument on most exchanges.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the proprietary token of the Binance exchange and the eponymous blockchain platform (BNB Chain). BNB is used to pay exchange fees (with discounts for holders) and serves as "fuel" for transactions on the Binance Smart Chain. Due to Binance's broad ecosystem, BNB has solidified its position among leading cryptocurrencies by market evaluation (capitalization around $100 billion). Despite regulatory pressure on Binance in various countries, BNB maintains strong positions due to numerous use cases in the crypto ecosystem.
- USD Coin (USDC) – another popular stablecoin issued by the Centre consortium (with participation from Coinbase and Circle). USDC is also pegged to the US dollar and fully backed by reserves. With transparent reporting and regulatory compliance, USDC has gained widespread adoption among institutional investors and has become the second-largest stablecoin in the world (capitalization around $60 billion).
- XRP (Ripple) – a cryptocurrency used in the Ripple payment network for fast interbank and international transfers. XRP features high transaction speeds and low fees. In 2025, interest in XRP increased due to legal clarity regarding the token's status: a favorable outcome in a court case in the US reassured the market. This allowed XRP to regain its place among the leaders (current price around $2.5, capitalization ~ $140 billion) and re-enter the top 5 cryptocurrencies.
- Solana (SOL) – one of the fastest-growing blockchain projects that offers high transaction processing speed and smart contract support. Solana attracts developers of decentralized applications and competes with Ethereum in the DeFi and NFT space while providing lower fees. SOL has secured a spot in the top 10 due to the booming growth of its ecosystem and investor optimism regarding its network's technical advantages (capitalization around $80 billion).
- Cardano (ADA) – a blockchain platform focused on a scientifically grounded approach and technology verification. The Cardano project is known for its gradual rollout of updates and its commitment to high reliability. The ADA cryptocurrency is used in the Cardano network for staking and transaction fees. Despite slower development speeds, Cardano has a large community and remains one of the largest cryptocurrencies by capitalization (~$28 billion), although its price (around $0.85) showed moderate growth in 2025.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – the most famous "meme" token, originally created as a joke, but has become a phenomenon in the crypto market. DOGE did not claim seriousness, but thanks to community support and the backing of individual entrepreneurs (such as Elon Musk), its capitalization soared, allowing the coin to remain among the leaders. Dogecoin continues to be used for micropayments and tips online, remaining a symbol of pop culture in the crypto world (price around $0.18, capitalization ~$26 billion).
- TRON (TRX) – a blockchain platform focused on entertainment and decentralized applications, as well as supporting stablecoins. TRON offers high throughput and virtually zero fees, making it popular for issuing and transferring stablecoins (a significant amount of USDT circulates in the TRON network). The TRX token is used for transaction payments and executing smart contracts in the TRON network; the project maintains its status among industry leaders, particularly in the Asian region (capitalization around $27 billion, price ~$0.30).
Market Outlook at the Beginning of 2026
As the new year approaches, many analysts note that the cryptocurrency market is entering a phase of consolidation and qualitative development after the turbulent growth of 2025. It is expected that 2026 will be characterized by more sustainable, gradual growth without extreme price spikes. The foundations laid in the outgoing year—the launch of ETFs, clarification of the regulatory framework (such as the enforcement of the MiCA regulation in the EU), and technological upgrades of key blockchains—make the industry more mature and resilient to shocks.
In the short term, market participants will closely monitor the dynamics of institutional capital inflow after the holiday lull. If net inflows of funds into crypto funds and ETFs resume in January 2026, this could act as a catalyst for a new phase of price growth. Significant reserves of stablecoins accumulated in accounts also indicate potential for quick liquidity injection, as soon as sentiments improve. At the same time, macroeconomic factors—including central bank decisions on interest rates—will remain key to risk appetite. Cryptocurrencies have firmly integrated into the global financial landscape in 2025, and their trajectory in 2026 will depend on both internal factors (technology development, implementation of regulatory norms) and the overall economic environment.
Thus, entering the new year, investors should maintain balanced expectations. The global cryptocurrency market remains capable of surprises, but current trends indicate its gradual maturation. Strengthening infrastructure, increasing trust from institutions and communities, and enhancing transparency of the "rules of the game" could lay the foundation for a new round of industry development in 2026. By adhering to discipline and considering risks, crypto investors globally look towards the future with cautious optimism.
