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 after a rapid rise earlier this year. The price of Bitcoin has fallen below the psychological level of $90,000, reducing the total market capitalization to approximately $2.9 trillion. Following Bitcoin, the largest altcoins led by Ethereum have also seen declines; many of the top 10 digital assets are trading well below their peak values. Nevertheless, institutional investors continue to show interest in cryptocurrencies: some are using the current downturn to increase their investments amid mixed macroeconomic signals and gradual improvements in industry regulation.
Bitcoin Falls Below $90,000 Amid Correction
In recent days, Bitcoin (BTC) dropped below the crucial $90,000 level 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, after which it partially recovered; BTC is currently trading at approximately $87,000. The current price is nearly 30% lower than its all-time high of around $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 market capitalization.
Analysts note that the recent decline in Bitcoin is attributed to a combination of factors. Investors began taking profits after a prolonged rally, while increased selling was observed on Asian cryptocurrency exchanges, adding pressure to the price. At the same time, demand from institutional players remains in the U.S.; regulated platforms are witnessing inflows of capital, meaning large investors are buying coins released on the Asian market. The activity of miners also plays a separate role: due to falling profitability, some mining pools have been selling off portions of their BTC reserves, increasing the short-term supply in the market. However, the fundamental metrics of the network instill optimism — the total "realized capitalization" of Bitcoin recently reached a record $1.12 trillion. This indicates that the amount of funds invested in BTC (considering the purchase price of coins) is currently at its highest ever, despite the correction, reflecting the confidence of long-term holders.
Ethereum Drops Below $3,000
Following Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH) is also under pressure. For the first time in recent weeks, the price of ETH has fallen below the psychological level of $3,000 and is currently hovering around $2,830. The current price is approximately 40% lower than the recent high of around $4,600 recorded in August 2025. The market capitalization of Ethereum is about $340 billion, which corresponds to approximately 12% of the overall cryptocurrency market capitalization; ETH remains firmly in second place among the largest crypto assets.
Ethereum continues to be a fundamental platform for smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi), sustaining the overall demand for ETH. 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 vanished — throughout 2025, there was a record influx of funds into Ethereum ETFs following their launch in the U.S. in the summer of 2024. Large investment funds view ETH as a promising asset linked to the development of blockchain infrastructure. Additionally, Ethereum developers are preparing network upgrades aimed at improving scalability and reducing fees, which should strengthen ETH's position in the long run.
Altcoins Under Pressure
The broader market for alternative cryptocurrencies reflects the overall downward trend. Over the past day, most major altcoins from the top 10 have dropped by 2–5%, deepening a correction that has been ongoing for several weeks. The overall market capitalization of altcoins (excluding BTC) has now fallen to approximately $1.17 trillion, retreating from peak values of this year (around $1.7 trillion). Many popular tokens are trading significantly below their highs. For example, Ripple (XRP) is holding around $1.90 (down from approximately $3 at its peak after Ripple's legal victory over the SEC), and Solana (SOL) has dropped to around $125 after rising above $190 in the fall.
Some larger altcoins are demonstrating relative resilience. Binance Coin (BNB) is holding around $840, close to its historical highs, despite the overall market decline and ongoing regulatory pressure on Binance. In general, however, investors are partially shifting to less volatile assets, resulting in a slight increase in Bitcoin's market share: BTC currently accounts for about 60% of the market capitalization, up from around 58% a few months ago.
Institutional Interest in Cryptocurrencies
Despite market fluctuations, institutional investors have continued to grow their presence in the cryptocurrency market in 2025. In the U.S., a significant milestone has been the emergence of the first spot ETFs for Bitcoin and Ethereum, which has provided large funds and banks convenient access to digital assets. Total investments in exchange-traded cryptocurrency funds have reached record levels, amounting to billions of dollars. Asset managers, hedge funds, and individual pension and sovereign wealth funds are including cryptocurrencies in their portfolios, viewing them as a new promising investment class.
The industry is also receiving signals of support from notable players. For instance, MicroStrategy under the leadership of Michael Saylor continues to accumulate Bitcoin even during the correction, increasing its BTC holdings to record levels. Notably, attention from sovereign wealth funds has also emerged: Norway's largest investment fund publicly supported a Bitcoin-related initiative for the first time this year. Such steps from institutional players provide long-term support to the market and increase the confidence of a wider range of investors.
Regulation and Macroeconomics
The regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies in 2025 is gradually improving in key jurisdictions. In the U.S., after prolonged legal battles over the past few years, some clarity has emerged: court decisions (including Ripple's partial victory in its dispute with the SEC) have established important precedents, and Congress is discussing legislation on stablecoins and the taxation of digital assets. The European Union is implementing the MiCA framework, establishing unified requirements for the industry and attracting companies through predictable regulations. 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 broader macroeconomic background is also impacting the cryptocurrency market. Major central banks (the U.S. Federal Reserve, ECB) are adhering to high interest rate policies at the end of 2025; however, inflation in these economies is decreasing, creating expectations for a gradual easing of monetary conditions in 2026. This factor has the potential to support demand for riskier assets, including cryptocurrencies, after a period of tightening. The political landscape in the U.S. is attracting investor attention: the administration of President Donald Trump declares support for innovation and refrains from excessive pressure on the crypto industry (specifically, initiatives are being discussed to create a government reserve in Bitcoin). Collectively, clearer regulations and economic stabilization reduce uncertainty and create a foundation for a new influx of capital into the cryptocurrency market.
Market Sentiment and Volatility
The vigorous summer growth of cryptocurrencies has transitioned into a phase of increased volatility and caution among investors. The "fear and greed" index for the cryptocurrency market has dropped to around 45 points, indicating a "fear" regime (the index was above 70 in the "greed" zone last fall). This signifies a substantial cooling of optimism: market participants are now much more inclined to reduce risks, fearing a continued decline in prices.
Statistics on margin position liquidations also confirm nervousness in the market. Over the past day, positions amounting to over $300 million were forcibly closed on cryptocurrency exchanges, primarily in long contracts on altcoins. Such episodes demonstrate that excessive use of leverage remains a serious risk: sudden price fluctuations can "liquidate" both bullish and bearish positions if traders become overly involved in margin trading.
Forecasts and Expectations
Despite the current price pullback, many analysts remain optimistic about the future prospects of the cryptocurrency market. A number of forecasts from major financial institutions remain "bullish." For instance, reports from one international bank previously speculated on Bitcoin rising to $150,000–200,000 by the end of 2025; these targets now appear overly aggressive, although some experts expect similar levels to be reached by 2026.
Observers note that historically, market cycles following Bitcoin halvings have included multi-month rallies. They believe that the current drop is a form of intermediate consolidation before a new growth phase. If the macroeconomic environment improves, the total capitalization of the cryptocurrency market could return to record highs above $5 trillion next year. However, skeptics warn of lingering risks: if tight monetary policy extends or regulators tighten requirements, the growth of crypto assets could be restrained. Overall, with a favorable economy and continued inflow of institutional capital, most experts expect a gradual recovery of the upward trend in 2026.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
As of the morning of December 19, 2025, the ten largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization are as follows:
- Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $86,450 after a recent correction; its 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 approximately $2,834, significantly lower than record levels, with a capitalization around $340 billion (≈12% of the market).
- Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar (1:1). USDT is widely used for trading and transactions, with a 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 approximately $110 billion. Investors have reacted positively to the legal clarity surrounding XRP's status in the U.S., previously propelling the token to market leader status. Despite a pullback 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 holds around $840, close to its historical peak; the capitalization is about $130 billion. Despite regulatory pressure on Binance, the token remains in the top 5 due to its wide 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) after impressive growth this year. Interest in Solana is bolstered by expectations of possible ETF approval for this asset in the U.S. and the growth of its project ecosystem.
- USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin backed by reserves in U.S. dollars (issuer — Circle). The price of USDC is maintained at $1.00, with a capitalization around $60 billion. USDC is widely used by institutional investors and in DeFi protocols due to the high transparency of reserves.
- Cardano (ADA) — a blockchain platform focused on a scientific approach to development. ADA is priced around $0.65 (market capitalization ~$20 billion) after a pullback from recent local highs. The project is attracting attention with 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; its market value is approximately $23 billion. TRON maintains its place in the top 10 partly due to its network being used for stablecoin issuance (a significant share of USDT circulates on the Tron blockchain).
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most famous meme cryptocurrency originally created as a joke. DOGE is holding around $0.12 (capitalization ~$17 billion), supported by community loyalty and periodic attention from celebrities. Although Dogecoin's volatility remains high, the coin continues to be among the top ten, demonstrating remarkable investor interest.
The Cryptocurrency Market on the Morning of December 19, 2025
Major cryptocurrencies' prices:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $86,450
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,834
- Ripple (XRP): $1.86
- Binance Coin (BNB): $844
- Solana (SOL): $124
- Tether (USDT): $1.00
Market Indicators:
- Total cryptocurrency market capitalization: $2.91 trillion
- Bitcoin's market share: 59.8%
- Fear and Greed Index: 45 (fear)
Daily Change Leaders:
- Gainers: Uniswap (UNI) — +4%
- Losers: Conflux (CFX) — -11%
Analysis: Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to face resistance near current levels, and the sentiment index has moved into the fear zone, reflecting overall caution in the market. The localized growth of Uniswap indicates that positive news regarding specific projects can still support their prices even during a general downturn. Concurrently, the double-digit drop in Conflux indicates high nervousness: investors likely took profits or reacted to unfavorable news surrounding this altcoin. Overall, the situation remains tense: many traders are reducing their risks and closely monitoring key support levels (e.g., ~$80,000 for BTC) to assess the future direction of the market.
