Bitcoin on Track for a ‘Boring’ 2025: Key Moments Ahead for BTC

Bitcoin (BTC) has been struggling to break above the $90,000 mark, remaining stuck in a local range without a clear direction. Analysts believe that the cryptocurrency might continue to trade sideways until early 2026, when its real test will occur. This article explores Bitcoin's current position, market sentiment, and potential future scenarios.

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin is currently trading between $86,000 and $87,000.
Analysts expect BTC to remain rangebound until early 2026.
Speculations indicate two possible scenarios for Bitcoin’s future: a bear market or a multi-month breakout.
Current trading levels show a slight decrease, with Bitcoin priced at $87,350.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin's Current Status: A Holiday Slowdown

As the holiday season approaches, Bitcoin's price movement has been quite stable, fluctuating between $86,000 and $87,000 on Christmas Eve. Since a correction in late November, the cryptocurrency has been caught in a range between $80,000 and $94,000, failing to establish a strong breakout.

With Bitcoin hovering around the mid-range of $84,000 to $90,000 for almost two weeks, analyst Ted Pillows commented that Bitcoin remains "in no trading zone." He stressed that without reclaiming the crucial $90,000 resistance level, Bitcoin might face a revisit to the $84,000 support level.

If these support and resistance levels remain intact, Bitcoin is likely to continue trading within its current range until broader market momentum returns. Daan Crypto Trades pointed out that December has been notably uneventful for the crypto market, with minimal major news or price movements. He emphasized that while Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies like Ethereum are stabilizing, this year has not been particularly fruitful for traders.

However, Daan observed a positive aspect: during such stagnant periods, there's an ongoing process of distributing coins from long-term holders to a wider user base, which can benefit the market in the longer term.

Will Bitcoin Breakout or Breakdown in 2026?

Analyst Daan believes that the first quarter of 2026 will be pivotal for Bitcoin, when its performance will be closely scrutinized to determine the future of the cryptocurrency cycle. Speculators have made two predictions regarding Bitcoin's trajectory in early 2026.

Ted Pillows noted that Bitcoin may be following a similar pattern to its performance from 2021 to 2022, suggesting the start of a bear market. Historical data indicates that after peaking in late 2021, Bitcoin underwent a significant decline, followed by a brief recovery before continuing on a downward path.

He forecasts that Bitcoin might rally towards $100,000 early in 2026, but then could reach lows of $60,000 to $70,000. Conversely, analyst Eljaboom believes Bitcoin's current performance might mimic its earlier trends, specifically pointing out a multi-month falling wedge pattern that could lead to upward movement by Q2 2026 if it breaks out.

At present, Bitcoin is valued at $87,350, reflecting a slight daily decline of 0.5%.

Bitcoin Performance Chart
Bitcoin’s performance in the one-week chart. Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView