Bitcoin heads for its worst year since 2018 as traders see further fatigue

Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Bitcoin heads for its worst year since 2018 as traders see further fatigue Data from CoinGlass shows bitcoin is down more than 22% so far in the fourth quarter, making 2025 one of the weakest year-end periods outside of major bear markets. By Shaurya Malwa Updated Dec 23, 2025, 5:06 a.m. Published Dec 23, 2025, 5:06 a.m. What to know : Bitcoin's price is nearing $90,000, offering a short-term boost to the crypto market, but analysts remain cautious about a significant recovery. The total crypto market capitalization has surpassed $3 trillion, yet analysts warn that the rebound may be driven by exhaustion rather than renewed confidence. Bitcoin remains about 30% below its 2025 peak, with the market still vulnerable to sharp reversals, particularly during U.S. trading hours. Bitcoin’s push back toward near the $90,000 mark is giving the crypto market a short-term lift, but few analysts see it as a meaningful turning point after one of the weakest second halves in recent years. Major tokens remained range-bound in the past 24 hours, with xrp, ether, Solana’s SOL, Cardano’s ada and DOGE $ 0.1320 rising as much as 2%. A decline in Aave’s AAVE continued as its governance tussle rages on , leaving it as the worst performing token with a 7% drop. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Don't miss another story. Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today . See all newsletters Sign me up By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . Total crypto market capitalization has once again moved above $3 trillion, a psychologically important level that has acted as a key zone between buyers and sellers throughout the past month. While prices are higher on the day, analysts caution that the rebound reflects exhaustion rather than renewed conviction. Alex Kuptsikevich, chief market analyst at FxPro, said the market’s recent strength is largely technical and driven by a low base after weeks of selling. “The crypto market is making a new attempt at growth, but this is not yet a recovery,” Kuptsikevich said, noting that sentiment has improved only modestly. The market’s fear and greed index has climbed to 25, suggesting traders may be stepping away from extreme pessimism, but not embracing risk. Bitcoin was trading near $88,000 in Asian morning hours Tuesday, pressing against the upper end of a range that has held since early last week. Kuptsikevich warned that short-term momentum could prove misleading, especially given the broader context. Bitcoin remains roughly 30% below its 2025 peak and is trading below levels seen at the start of the year. “Attempts to bring year-to-date performance back to zero are little consolation,” he said in an email, adding that disappointment has replaced the optimism that dominated markets earlier this year. Seasonal patterns reinforce that caution. Data from CoinGlass shows bitcoin is down more than 22% so far in the fourth quarter, making 2025 one of the weakest year-end periods outside of major bear markets. While the fourth quarter has historically produced some of bitcoin’s strongest rallies, it has also delivered sharp drawdowns during years marked by tightening liquidity and macro uncertainty. (CoinGlass) The market remains vulnerable to sharp reversals, particularly during U.S. trading hours. Recent sessions have repeatedly seen price gains from Asian and Europe sessions fade as North American markets open. More For You State of the Blockchain 2025 By CoinDesk Research Dec 19, 2025 Commissioned by Input Output Group L1 tokens broadly underperformed in 2025 despite a backdrop of regulatory and institutional wins. Explore the key trends defining ten major blockchains below. What to know : 2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns. This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026. View Full Report More For You Dogecoin breaks short-term support, eyes lower demand zone By Shaurya Malwa , CD Analytics 29 minutes ago Trading volume surged to 721 million tokens, indicating active repositioning rather than thin price movement. What to know : Dogecoin fell 1.8% as sellers regained control, with price drifting toward the lower end of its recent range. Trading volume surged to 721 million tokens, indicating active repositioning rather than thin price movement. DOGE lost support near $0.1320, confirming a bearish short-term bias as it failed to sustain gains above $0.135. Read full story Latest Crypto News Dogecoin breaks short-term support, eyes lower demand zone 29 minutes ago XRP struggles near $1.90 as mixed technical signals emerge 33 minutes ago Bitcoin slips below $88,000 as traders brace for $28.5 billion Deribit options expiry 8 hours ago Crypto prices again muted as gold surges to new record, U.S. stocks advance 11 hours ago BNB at $860 lags broader market as scrutiny of Binance grows 11 hours ago Coinbase agrees to buy The Clearing Company to deepen prediction markets push 12 hours ago Top Stories Bitcoin slips below $88,000 as traders brace for $28.5 billion Deribit options expiry 8 hours ago Coinbase agrees to buy The Clearing Company to deepen prediction markets push 12 hours ago BitMine buys $300 million in ether, crossing 4 million ETH treasury milestone 14 hours ago Crypto prices again muted as gold surges to new record, U.S. stocks advance 11 hours ago U.S. bipartisan lawmakers draw up tax bill with stablecoin and staking relief 12 hours ago Strategy pauses bitcoin buys, boosting cash reserve by $748 million last week 15 hours ago In this article DOGE DOGE $ 0.1320 ◢ 0.46 %