As of today, Bitcoin is trading within the range of $88,200-$88,800, with a slight increase of about 1% over the past 24 hours. Although it has retreated nearly 30% from the October high of around $126,000, this year-end rebound is mainly driven by short covering and year-end sentiment. However, the $88,000 level still faces pressure to break through the $90,000 barrier.



Ethereum's performance is relatively weak, fluctuating between $2,920 and $2,980, remaining flat or slightly down over the past 24 hours, consistently under pressure at the $3,000 mark. Meanwhile, related ETFs continue to experience outflows, although the development of Layer2 ecosystems and future upgrade expectations provide long-term support.

The total global cryptocurrency market cap is approximately $3.06-$3.1 trillion, with a 24-hour increase of 0.5-1%. Market sentiment shows the Fear & Greed Index at 30-40, indicating a cautious overall investor attitude.

Looking back at 2025, the crypto market gradually retreated from early high expectations, with most gains wiped out. The market witnessed a massive $1.9 billion liquidation event, setting a record, ending the year with a generally weak bearish trend.

On the institutional side, large asset management firms continue to deploy Bitcoin at low levels, but retail investor participation has noticeably declined. Google searches for "Bitcoin" have hit a near six-month low, indicating a decrease in public interest. In contrast, traditional safe-haven assets like gold and silver have reached record highs, with some funds flowing out of the crypto market into precious metals.

In the global macro context, stock markets in 2025 generally recorded double-digit gains, with US stock indices approaching all-time highs. Major indices like the S&P 500 maintained strong performance at year-end, but risk assets faced headwinds from the weakening crypto market.

Looking ahead to trading strategies, the year-end holiday effect has led to extremely thin market liquidity, making false breakouts more likely. It is not advisable to chase highs or hold overly leveraged positions. The best approach now is to maintain a super relaxed mindset, hold moderate cash, and adopt low-leverage strategies to safely weather the winter. In the medium to long term, institutional deployment and macro environments may become more favorable in 2026, but the current focus should be on a cautious cross-year transition and spending time with loved ones.
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DegenWhisperervip
· 3h ago
Institutions are bottom-fishing, retail investors are fleeing. This is the story of crypto this year. --- 88k holding steady, feels like it's going to drop back down, not gonna lie. --- Why is everyone buying gold? Are traditional assets so optimistic? --- Fake breakouts are deadly traps. Don't get caught up at the end of the year. --- ETF outflows, retail enthusiasm at an all-time low... This round is a bit cold. --- $1.9 billion liquidated. I just want to know who got margin called. --- Going with the flow and staying chill is the right approach. Don't chase after 90k. --- Is this all for ETH? Still hoping Layer 2 can save the day. --- Fear index is over 30, is a bottom signal coming? --- Will next year be better? Right now, it doesn't seem very promising.
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IntrovertMetaversevip
· 3h ago
88,000 is stuck again, it really feels like breaking 90,000 isn't that easy... ETH is indeed tough like this, just waiting for L2 to rescue the market. 1.9 billion liquidation haha, haven't seen anything like this in the industry last year... Institutions are still bottom fishing, while retail investors have all moved to gold, hilarious. Holiday liquidity is too poor, really don’t operate randomly, cash is king. Wait, everyone is trading stocks now, so why is crypto being abandoned? People have all gone to buy gold and silver, what’s going on with us, a big capital flight? The Zen mindset really works, brothers, stop using leverage, safe New Year’s crossing is the most important. 2026 institution-friendly? Then what am I now, non-friendly haha. With thin liquidity, don’t mess around, fake breakouts are the easiest way to get chopped.
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AirdropLickervip
· 3h ago
The 88,000 level is really stuck, feels like there's not much room to rise Retail investors have all exited, institutions are still accumulating, I've seen this show too many times Ethereum being stuck at 3000 is really frustrating 1.9 billion liquidation haha, last year's market players were really ruthless I'm serious about not chasing highs, the holiday market is too虚虚虚 Just stay flat and wait for 2026, anyway there are no good opportunities right now
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CoconutWaterBoyvip
· 3h ago
Breaking through 88,000 to 90,000 feels like I'll have to mess around for a while again Retail investors have all left, only institutions are still buying chips at low levels. We've seen this trick too many times Now is the time for a false breakout to trap people. It's better to stay calm and do nothing Ethereum really isn't exciting anymore. If this continues, no one will pay attention Funds have all moved to buy gold. Our crypto winter still has to be hyped up Don't mess around during the New Year. Saving your life is the most important
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MEVHuntervip
· 4h ago
The 88k level is a hotbed of false breakouts, and the mempool doesn't have any real large orders at all. It's just a weak rebound; institutions are lurking at low levels, while retail investors are still chasing highs—what a irony. The space for a sandwich attack has actually increased now; thin liquidity means a carnival for arbitrage bots. ETF outflows continue, and this signal is clear enough—money is flowing into precious metals. What to do during this end-of-year market? Wait for the macro environment to improve in 2026. Gas fees have actually dropped, but the arbitrage space has been compressed to the limit—it's not interesting anymore. The 88 to 90 range really depends on institutions to break it; retail investors simply can't move it. Public enthusiasm has hit a new low, indicating that the retail investors have been almost completely squeezed out. The arbitrage opportunities with flash loans are decreasing, a sign of an impending recession. Not chasing highs is really the right move; now leverage positions are basically gambling with lives.
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