Why Is Crypto Up Today? – December 30, 2025

The crypto market is slightly higher today, with total market capitalisation rising by about 0.7% over the past 24 hours to roughly $3.06 trillion. Trading activity remains more subdued, with 24-hour volume standing near $95.5 billion. Price action across major assets is mixed, showing modest gains at the top alongside selective pullbacks among large-cap altcoins.

Crypto winners & losers

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $87,900, up roughly 1.3% over the past day, helping anchor the broader market.

Ethereum (ETH) has also edged higher, gaining about 1.8% to trade close to $2,980. BNB (BNB) is modestly higher as well, rising around 1% to $855.

In contrast, several large-cap assets are under pressure. XRP (XRP) is down about 1.7% to $1.86, Solana (SOL) has slipped roughly 0.3% to $124, and Dogecoin (DOGE) is among the weaker performers in the top 10, falling around 4.7% to near $0.124.

Beyond the top 10, market breadth remains mixed. A majority of the top 100 cryptocurrencies are trading in positive territory, though gains are generally modest.

Some mid-cap tokens have posted stronger moves, while others continue to retrace after recent rallies. On the downside, losses are concentrated in a handful of names rather than broad-based selling, suggesting cautious positioning rather than a risk-off shift.

Among the strongest performers, Beta Finance leads the market with a sharp surge of more than 423%, followed by ElizaOS, which has climbed nearly 150% over the past day. 0x Protocol is also among the top gainers, rising around 35%.

Meanwhile, Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at Dragonfly, forecasts that Bitcoin will trade above $150,000 by the end of 2026, although he expects its dominance to decline as capital shifts into other sectors.

Bitcoin Steadies Near $87K as Year-End Trading Slows Across Markets

Bitcoin hovered near the $87,000 level on Tuesday, setting a calm tone for crypto markets as global risk assets softened into year-end. Asian equities edged lower after a week-long rally, while US stock futures slipped following declines in major tech names.

Precious metals also turned volatile after pulling back from record highs, adding to a broader sense of thinner liquidity and profit-taking after the holidays. Crypto prices moved lower alongside this backdrop, with Bitcoin, Ether and XRP all posting modest declines.

Market data and analysts point to seasonal factors rather than a structural shift. Nansen’s Jake Kennis said Bitcoin and Ether have largely traded sideways over the past week as volumes faded, reflecting year-end inactivity.

Onchain activity has cooled across most networks, with fewer active addresses, transactions and fees over the past month. While Solana continues to lead onchain trading volumes despite a slight dip in user activity, overall market participation has become more selective as 2025 draws to a close.

Looking ahead to 2026, the industry remains divided. Strategy CEO Phong Le has argued that Bitcoin’s underlying fundamentals held up throughout 2025 despite weaker prices, while Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan said earlier this year that he expects 2026 to be an “up year” for the asset.

Levels & events to watch next

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading near $87,880, showing a modest recovery after a volatile December. Recent price action suggests consolidation following a sharp mid-month drop, with BTC holding within a relatively tight range between roughly $85,000 and $89,000. The bounce from sub-$85,000 levels has eased short-term selling pressure, but upside momentum remains limited as volumes stay muted.

The key level to watch on the downside is $85,000, which has acted as near-term support in recent sessions. A sustained move below this zone could expose BTC to a deeper pullback toward $82,000.

On the upside, a clean break above $89,000 would improve short-term sentiment and open the door toward $92,000, followed by the psychological $95,000 area. For now, price structure points to range-bound trading rather than a decisive trend.

Ethereum is changing hands around $2,980, rebounding after stabilizing above the $2,800 level. The chart shows ETH attempting to base after a prolonged downtrend from October highs, with buyers stepping in on dips but failing to push price convincingly above resistance. Intraday swings remain choppy, reflecting thin year-end liquidity.

The $2,780–$2,800 zone is the key support area to monitor. Holding above it could allow ETH to retest $3,060, followed by $3,200 if momentum improves. A breakdown below $2,750, however, would likely shift focus back to $2,650 and potentially $2,580.

Meanwhile, crypto market sentiment remains firmly in the fear zone, with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index published by CoinMarketCap standing at 29 at the time of writing.

The reading is broadly unchanged from the past week, underscoring persistent caution among market participants as prices struggle to regain momentum.

While the index has edged up from last month’s lower levels, it still reflects a risk-averse environment marked by uncertainty and thinning liquidity.

US Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw net outflows on Monday, with products shedding a combined $19.29 million. The pullback came as trading activity cooled toward year-end, even as cumulative net inflows across US BTC ETFs held steady at around $56.6 billion.

Total daily trading volume reached roughly $2.27 billion, while total net assets stood at about $113.1 billion, equivalent to nearly 6.5% of Bitcoin’s market capitalization.

Flows were mixed across issuers. BlackRock’s IBIT recorded the largest outflow on the day, losing around $77.9 million. Ark Invest and 21Shares’ ARKB also saw net outflows of about $6.7 million. In contrast, Fidelity’s FBTC was the main bright spot, attracting roughly $5.7 million in fresh capital.

US Ether ETFs also recorded net outflows of $9.63 million on the latest trading day. Cumulative net inflows into US ETH spot ETFs remained positive at around $12.33 billion. Total daily trading volume reached approximately $892 million, while total net assets stood near $17.7 billion, equal to about 5% of Ethereum’s market capitalization.

Flows were uneven across issuers. BlackRock’s ETHA led the outflows, shedding roughly $13.3 million on the day. In contrast, Fidelity’s FETH attracted about $3.7 million in fresh inflows, partially offsetting losses elsewhere.

Meanwhile, crypto derivatives trading accelerated sharply in 2025 as traders increasingly turned to onchain perpetual futures, pushing monthly volumes past the $1 trillion mark, according to analysis from Coinbase researcher David Duong.

By late 2025, decentralized exchanges were processing more than $1 trillion in monthly perpetual futures volume, a level that rivals activity on some centralized venues.