Why Is Crypto Up Today? – December 30, 2025

The cryptocurrency market is experiencing a slight upward movement today, with the total market capitalization increasing by about 0.7% over the past 24 hours, reaching approximately $3.06 trillion. Trading activity, however, remains relatively low, with the 24-hour trading volume around $95.5 billion. Price trends among major cryptocurrencies exhibit a mixed bag, showcasing modest gains at the top, while larger altcoins experience selective pullbacks.

Key Takeaways

The crypto market cap has risen by about 0.7% today, reaching approximately $3.06 trillion;
Bitcoin (BTC) is up around 1.3%, trading at $87,900, while Ethereum (ETH) has surged about 1.8% to $2,980;
Haseeb Qureshi from Dragonfly predicts Bitcoin could exceed $150,000 by the end of 2026;
Important price levels for Bitcoin include a break above $89K targeting $92K–$95K and a drop below $85K risking a fall to $82K;
Ethereum is maintaining support above $2,800 with key resistance levels at $3,060–$3,200;
Year-end trading is slow due to seasonal inactivity among traders;
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index remains in the fear territory at 29;
Bitcoin spot ETFs in the U.S. witnessed $19.3M in net outflows, while Ethereum ETFs saw $9.6M in outflows.

Crypto Winners and Losers

Bitcoin (BTC) is currently trading around $87,900, marking a rise of approximately 1.3% over the last day, contributing positively to the overall market stability.

BTC Price Chart

Ethereum (ETH) has also made gains, increasing about 1.8% to trade near $2,980. BNB (BNB) has modestly climbed around 1%, sitting at $855.

On the downside, several large cryptocurrencies are experiencing declines. XRP (XRP) is down around 1.7% to $1.86, Solana (SOL) has dipped about 0.3% to $124, while Dogecoin (DOGE) is struggling, dropping approximately 4.7% to near $0.124.

Outside the top 10 cryptocurrencies, market performance is mixed. Although many of the top 100 digital currencies are in positive territory, the gains are relatively small.

Some mid-cap coins have shown stronger performance, while others are retracing after recent surges. Losses are mostly confined to a few select cryptocurrencies, indicating that investors are taking cautious positions rather than broadly fleeing from the market.

Among notable winners, Beta Finance has surged over 423%, followed by ElizaOS, which is up nearly 150% in the last day. 0x Protocol has also made notable gains, increasing around 35%.

Looking ahead, Haseeb Qureshi anticipates that Bitcoin could rise above $150,000 by the close of 2026, although he expects a decrease in its dominance as investments move into other sectors.

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

Bitcoin has remained close to the $87,000 mark, establishing a calm atmosphere for the crypto markets amidst a backdrop of diminishing global risk assets as the year draws to a close. Asian stocks have seen slight declines after a week-long rally, while U.S. stock futures have dipped in response to losses among key tech stocks.

Precious metals have also experienced volatility after pulling back from record highs, contributing to a general sense of caution and profit-taking following the holiday season. Crypto prices have also eased amid this environment, with Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP all reflecting minor drops.

Market data indicates that seasonal factors are influencing these trends rather than significant structural changes. Nansen’s Jake Kennis noted that Bitcoin and Ethereum have largely maintained a sideways trading pattern for the past week, with volumes diminishing due to year-end inactivity.

Onchain activity has declined across most networks, with fewer active addresses, transactions, and fees recorded over the past month. Although Solana continues to dominate on-chain trading volumes, there has been a slight decrease in user engagement as the year concludes.

As we look toward 2026, opinions within the industry remain divided. Strategy CEO Phong Le contends that Bitcoin's core fundamentals have remained strong throughout 2025 despite subdued prices, while Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan expressed optimism for 2026, predicting it will be a "good year" for the asset.

Levels and Events to Watch

As of now, Bitcoin is trading near $87,880, recovering slightly after a tumultuous December. Recent price patterns suggest a consolidation phase following a significant drop earlier this month, with Bitcoin stabilizing within a tight range between around $85,000 and $89,000. The rebound from below $85,000 has alleviated short-term selling pressure, yet upward momentum appears limited due to lower trading volumes.

The critical downside level to monitor is $85,000, which has served as a near-term support level. A sustained decline below this point could expose Bitcoin to a more significant pullback toward $82,000.

Conversely, a clear break above $89,000 would bolster short-term sentiment and pave the way toward $92,000, followed by the crucial $95,000 mark. Traders should be mindful that current price tendencies suggest sideways trading rather than a definitive trend.

Ethereum is currently priced around $2,980, showing resilience after finding support above the $2,800 level. The charts indicate ETH is attempting to establish a base following a protracted downtrend since October, with buyers entering during price dips but struggling to push above resistance. Day-to-day fluctuations remain choppy, reflecting low year-end liquidity.

ETH Price Chart

The $2,780–$2,800 range is crucial support for Ethereum. If it manages to stay above this zone, ETH may attempt to reach $3,060, and potentially $3,200 if momentum picks up. However, a fall below $2,750 could redirect focus back to $2,650 and possibly $2,580.

At the same time, market sentiment remains in the fear zone, with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index published by CoinMarketCap indicating a reading of 29 as of this writing.

Crypto Fear and Greed Index

This reading has remained stable compared to the previous week, suggesting continued caution among market players as prices struggle to gain traction.

Despite this, the index has improved slightly from lower levels observed last month, still reflecting a risk-averse atmosphere characterized by uncertainty and reduced liquidity.

U.S. Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) reported $19.3 million in net outflows on Monday, as overall trading activity slowed toward the year's end. Cumulative net inflows across U.S. Bitcoin ETFs have remained steady at approximately $56.6 billion.

Daily trading volume reached around $2.27 billion, with total net assets at approximately $113.1 billion, representing nearly 6.5% of Bitcoin's market capitalization.

Flows varied among issuers, with BlackRock's IBIT experiencing the largest single-day outflow at approximately $77.9 million. Ark Invest and 21Shares' ARKB also saw outflows of about $6.7 million. In contrast, Fidelity's FBTC was a standout performer, attracting roughly $5.7 million in new capital.

ETF Outflows

Furthermore, U.S. Ether ETFs also recorded $9.63 million in net outflows on the latest trading day. Despite this, overall net inflows into U.S. ETH spot ETFs remained positive at around $12.33 billion, with daily trading volume approximating $892 million and total net assets close to $17.7 billion, accounting for around 5% of Ethereum's market cap.

Flows varied widely among ETF issuers. BlackRock's ETHA led the outflows, losing about $13.3 million in a single day. Meanwhile, Fidelity's FETH attracted approximately $3.7 million in new investment, somewhat offsetting losses from other funds.

ETH ETF Flows

As crypto derivatives trading has surged significantly in 2025, traders have increasingly favored on-chain perpetual futures, pushing monthly volumes beyond the $1 trillion mark, according to research from Coinbase analyst David Duong.

By the close of 2025, decentralized exchanges had begun to process more than $1 trillion in monthly perpetual futures volume, a level that rivals that of some centralized platforms.