Global Cryptocurrency News, Sunday, December 28, 2025: Bitcoin on the Brink of $90,000, Altcoins and Market Sentiment, Institutional Trends, and the 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 is holding near the $88,000 mark, demonstrating resilience even after recent fluctuations. Major altcoins, including Ethereum, are gradually regaining ground after a volatile start to the week; many digital assets from the top 10 are showing moderate growth. Investors—both retail and institutional—are exhibiting cautious optimism, bolstered by an improved regulatory environment and sustained interest from major players in crypto assets.
Cryptocurrency Market: Consolidation at Year-End
The global cryptocurrency market is approaching the end of 2025 with a total capitalization of around $3 trillion, slightly below the record values achieved during this year's rally. In recent days, there has been a moderate decrease in prices (approximately 1% daily 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 tempered amidst low liquidity. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index has dropped into the "fear" zone, signaling a dominance of cautious sentiment among participants. However, compared to the start of the year, the market has demonstrated significant growth (Bitcoin has gained over 100% year-to-date), despite the recent correction. Investors are carefully assessing prospects ahead of 2026, opting for 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, holding in the $87–89,000 range and approaching the psychologically important level of $90,000. In the fall, BTC reached an all-time high of around $126,000 (in October 2025), but by December it had retraced approximately 30% from that peak. Such corrections are not new for Bitcoin: during previous cycles (2017, 2021), after rapid price increases, declines of 30-50% occurred followed by recoveries. The current decrease is largely attributed to profit-taking and a reduction in leverage in the market: many traders and funds have cut risk positions amidst a partial outflow of capital.
The end of this week witnessed the largest expiry of cryptocurrency options in history. On December 26, options with a cumulative nominal value of approximately $28 billion (including about $23.7 billion in Bitcoin) expired, which caused increased short-term volatility and kept the price of BTC near key strike levels. Following the expiry date, the pressure has somewhat eased: analysts note that substantial option expirations often lead to neutral or moderately positive dynamics as the market sheds constraining factors. Currently, a key support level for Bitcoin lies in the $85–87,000 range, while resistance is in the $90–93,000 zone. A confident breakthrough above $90,000 could pave the way for new highs (many are anticipating movement towards $100,000), but for now, buyers are acting cautiously.
On-chain metrics, however, indicate a healthy picture. The inflow of Bitcoins to exchanges from large holders (known as "whales") is at a minimum for this cycle, suggesting a lack of panic selling from long-term investors. The supply of stablecoins in the market has reached record levels (approximately $300 billion total), reflecting a significant volume of "dry powder"—capital waiting for a favorable moment to enter the market. These factors instill confidence that following the consolidation phase, Bitcoin will be able to stabilize and resume growth with improved overall market conditions.
Ethereum: Network Activity at Its Peak, Price Lagging
The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum (ETH), is holding around the $2,900–3,000 mark, remaining approximately 35–40% below its peak in 2025. Price dynamics for Ethereum have fallen behind those of Bitcoin in recent months (the ETH/BTC pairs have decreased, reflecting partial capital flow into BTC), yet fundamental metrics for the Ethereum network are breaking records. Recent protocol updates (including the activation of the Dencun upgrade package with Proto-Danksharding technology) have enhanced network throughput and reduced fees, stimulating increased usage. In December, the Ethereum network recorded an all-time high in daily transaction load: approximately 1.9 million transactions were processed within 24 hours at average fees below $0.20. This spike in on-chain activity has largely been fueled by increased operations with stablecoins and decentralized exchanges (DEX), demonstrating sustained demand for the Ethereum platform for financial applications.
Despite the improvement in network metrics, market factors continue to weigh on ETH's price. As with Bitcoin, significant volumes of options on Ethereum (around $6 billion) are expiring this week, and the market is under the influence of these derivative levels. Additionally, many ETH holders are still in the red compared to peak prices this year, limiting short-term optimism. Nevertheless, Ethereum has shown a slight increase (~4%) over the past week, recovering from recent local lows. Experts note that the future dynamics of ETH will depend on capital inflow into the cryptocurrency sector at the beginning of 2026: if Bitcoin stabilizes, investors may once again turn their attention to Ethereum as the cornerstone asset of the decentralized finance ecosystem.
Altcoins: Mixed Trends Among Leading Coins
The altcoin segment is exhibiting mixed dynamics: some leading coins are steadily rising, while others are stagnating. Investors are reassessing their portfolios, betting on projects with the strongest fundamentals. Below are some notable movements and trends among top altcoins:
- Solana (SOL) – one of the brightest "stars" of recent years. The high-speed Solana blockchain attracts developers and users, allowing the coin to confidently secure a position among 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 rise. Solana has recovered its position following technical issues last year and is perceived by some investors as a promising competitor to Ethereum due to its high network throughput.
- XRP (Ripple) – the token of the Ripple payment network remains in the top 5 due to a return of investor confidence. In 2025, Ripple achieved important legal victories in disputes with regulators, removing the uncertainty that had long weighed on XRP. Thanks to this clarity, XRP is demonstrating relative resilience: even when the market declined at the end of the year, investment products related to XRP (ETFs and trusts) continued to see inflows. This has made XRP somewhat of a "safe haven" among altcoins, with its price avoiding sharp downturns and institutional interest supporting its stability.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the token of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, remains in the top 10 by capitalization. BNB serves the Binance Smart Chain ecosystem and provides holders with discounts on exchange fees. In 2025, BNB did not exhibit explosive growth and faced challenges due to regulatory tightening regarding centralized exchanges. However, the coin retains significant capitalization, and the recent market rebound 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 ability to adapt to new regulatory demands globally.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) and Cardano (ADA) – these popular cryptocurrencies are demonstrating relatively weak dynamics by the end of 2025. DOGE, known as a meme token, remains in the top 10 largely due to a devoted community and support from several prominent individuals, but its price is stagnating and has changed little in the past week. Cardano – a smart contract platform with a science-oriented approach to development – has also shown little significant growth in recent months: its ADA token is trading in a narrow range around current levels. Both assets have suffered from capital flow into more "trendy" projects, and their recovery will likely 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 high transaction processing speeds. The HYPE token has caught the attention of investors, rising about 35% over the year, and is already being compared to Solana in terms of growth potential. While Hyperliquid has not yet caught up with market veterans in terms of capitalization, the project demonstrates an upward trend due to its technical advantages. Experts believe that Hyperliquid could eventually vie for a spot in the top 10 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 significant role in the cryptocurrency market. One of the key events of the year was the launch of the first spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S., which gave the market a powerful growth impetus at the beginning of the year. However, by the end of December, the situation has changed: as sentiment deteriorated, those same ETFs became a "quick exit" for capital. In recent weeks, the largest Bitcoin funds have seen capital outflows. For example, BlackRock's flagship spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) lost about $2.7 billion (approximately 5% of its assets) in capital outflows over about a month leading up to the end of November. Such scales of outflows demonstrate how swiftly capital flows can change: what was previously a driver of the rally may exert downward pressure on prices as sentiment shifts.
Outflows are affecting not only Bitcoin but also funds tied to Ethereum—with investors withdrawing a portion of their funds. Nevertheless, some niche products related to altcoins have become exceptions. There have been noted inflows into specific funds linked to, for example, Solana and XRP: in December, they saw slight capital inflows despite the overall trend. This indicates a growing diversification of interests: some institutional players are seeking opportunities not only in BTC and ETH but also in other assets with high growth potential.
Alongside the fluctuating sentiment in ETFs, large corporations and funds have continued strategic accumulation of cryptocurrencies. A notable example is Metaplanet, often dubbed the "Asian MicroStrategy." In December, Metaplanet's shareholders approved an ambitious plan to acquire 210,000 BTC by 2027, which represents approximately 1% of the total Bitcoin supply. Already, Metaplanet owns over 30,000 BTC (accumulated since 2024) and intends to significantly bolster its crypto treasury by attracting capital in Asian markets and through additional stock issuance. This move underscores the enduring 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 in 2025 has advanced—from the emergence of regulated investment products (ETFs) to direct placements of digital assets on corporate balance sheets. It is expected that this trend will continue in 2026, especially as regulators clarify the "rules of the game," making digital assets more accessible and understandable for traditional financial institutions.
Investor Sentiment and Macroeconomic Influence
At the end of December, sentiment in the cryptocurrency market remains cautious. Sentiment indicators, such as the Fear and Greed Index, have remained in the "fear" zone for several weeks, reflecting a predominance of concern 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 sustained appetite for risk overall. However, the rise in U.S. Treasury yields (with 10-year USTs reaching ~4.2%, a multi-month high) has created competition for capital: amidst high rates, risk-free instruments appear more attractive, potentially intensifying outflows from crypto ETFs and pressure on digital asset prices.
Nevertheless, several macro factors play in favor of cryptocurrencies. The U.S. Federal Reserve paused its tightening of monetary policy in December, and markets anticipate a softening of the regulator's rhetoric in 2026, which could potentially increase liquidity in the markets. In other regions, however, tightening has emerged: for instance, the Bank of Japan signaled a gradual unwinding of its ultra-loose policy, causing currency fluctuations. Such mixed actions by central banks enhance volatility in Forex markets and indirectly affect the crypto industry, which is increasingly perceived as an asset class sensitive to global liquidity.
There are also positive signals within the cryptocurrency market itself. Beyond the aforementioned record supplies of stablecoins and minimal activity from "whale" sellers, volumes of margin lending in DeFi protocols are decreasing—traders are consciously reducing risks, clearing the market of overheated positions. All of this lays the groundwork for a more stable state of the industry: as sentiment shifts to positive, significant reserves of capital could quickly re-enter the game. Experts recommend that investors adopt a balanced strategy: amidst a thin holiday market, avoid excessive leverage and wait for an increase in trading volumes and a return of institutional money. Many participants are currently taking a wait-and-see approach, observing how the market will navigate the holiday period and significant derivatives expirations.
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 supply 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, and its market capitalization is approximately $1.7 trillion (dominance ~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) ecosystems, NFTs, and many blockchain applications. The ETH token is used to pay fees on the network and is in high demand from developers and users worldwide. The current price of ETH is around $3,000, below multi-year peaks, yet Ethereum's role in the crypto industry remains critical (capitalization around $350 billion, ~12% of the market).
- Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar (1 USDT = $1). USDT is widely used for trading and holding funds, providing a link between the cryptocurrency and fiat markets. Its high market capitalization (around $150 billion) reflects the significant role of stablecoins in the crypto economy. USDT maintains a stable exchange rate due to full backing with reserves and remains an indispensable liquidity tool on most exchanges.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the token of the Binance exchange and its blockchain platform (BNB Chain). BNB is used to pay fees on the exchange (with discounts for holders) and serves as "fuel" for transactions on the Binance Smart Chain. Thanks to its wide ecosystem, the BNB token has secured its place among leading cryptocurrencies by market evaluation (capitalization around $100 billion). Despite regulatory pressure on Binance in various countries, BNB maintains a strong position due to its multiple 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 U.S. dollar and fully backed by reserves. Thanks to 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 is characterized by high transaction speeds and low fees. In 2025, interest in XRP increased due to legal clarity regarding the token's status: a favorable outcome from the court dispute in the U.S. instilled confidence in the market. This has allowed XRP to regain its place among 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, offering high transaction processing speeds and supporting smart contracts. Solana attracts developers of decentralized applications and competes with Ethereum in the DeFi and NFT sectors while maintaining lower fees. SOL has secured its place in the top 10 due to the rapid growth of its ecosystem and investor optimism regarding the network's technical advantages (capitalization around $80 billion).
- Cardano (ADA) – a blockchain platform evolving with a focus on a scientifically-validated approach and technology verification. The Cardano project is known for its gradual implementation of updates and commitment to high reliability. The ADA cryptocurrency is used within the Cardano network for staking and paying transaction fees. Despite slower development rates, Cardano has a large community and remains one of the largest cryptocurrencies by capitalization (~$28 billion), although its price (around $0.85) has seen moderate growth in 2025.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – the most recognized "meme" token, initially created as a joke but has become a phenomenon in the crypto market. DOGE did not aspire to seriousness, but thanks to community support and backing from certain entrepreneurs (such as Elon Musk), its capitalization soared, and the coin found its way among leaders. Currently, Dogecoin continues to be used for micropayments and tips online, remaining a pop culture symbol in the crypto world (price around $0.18, capitalization ~$26 billion).
- TRON (TRX) – a blockchain platform aimed at the entertainment sector 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 portion of USDT circulates on the TRON network). The TRX token is used for transaction payments and executing smart contracts on the Tron network; the project maintains its position among industry leaders, particularly in the Asian region (capitalization around $27 billion, price ~$0.30).
Market Prospects 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. 2026 is expected to be characterized by more stable, gradual growth without extreme price spikes. The foundations laid in the past year—the launch of ETFs, clarification of regulatory frameworks (e.g., the implementation of the MiCA regulation in the EU), and technological upgrades of key blockchains—are making the industry more mature and resilient to shocks.
In the short term, market participants will closely monitor the dynamics of institutional capital inflows after the holiday lull. If clean inflows into crypto funds and ETFs resume in January 2026, this could serve as a catalyst for a new phase of price growth. The significant reserves of stablecoins accumulated in accounts also indicate potential for rapid liquidity infusion as soon as sentiment improves. At the same time, macroeconomic factors—including central banks' decisions on interest rates—will remain crucial for appetite for risk. Cryptocurrencies have firmly integrated into the global financial landscape in 2025, and in 2026, their trajectory will depend on both internal factors (technological developments, regulatory implementation) and the overall economic environment.
Thus, as we enter the new year, investors should maintain balanced expectations. The global cryptocurrency market still has the capacity for surprises, but current trends indicate its gradual maturation. Strengthening infrastructure, increasing institutional and community trust, and enhancing transparency of the "rules of the game" may lay the groundwork for a new phase of industry development in 2026. With discipline and careful risk consideration, crypto investors worldwide look to the future with cautious optimism.
