Bitcoin's growing roadblock: The trendline from $126,000 limits gains

Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Bitcoin's growing roadblock: The trendline from $126,000 limits gains Trendline from record highs capped BTC's recovery attempt Monday. By Omkar Godbole , AI Boost Updated Dec 23, 2025, 11:53 a.m. Published Dec 23, 2025, 11:53 a.m. BTC's gains capped by trendline from record highs. What to know : BTC's recovery attempts on Monday ran into a glass ceiling - trendline from record highs. A potential breakout would confirm a bearish-to-bullish trend change. This is a technical analysis post by CoinDesk analyst and Chartered Market Technician Omkar Godbole. Bitcoin's BTC $ 87,797.29 late-year attempt to regain poise ran into a glass ceiling Monday, forcing prices back below $88,000. 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 . That ceiling is defined by a descending trendline drawn from October’s record high above $126,000, connecting the peaks of subsequent shallow recoveries—most notably the $116,400 high. This trendline swatted back attempts to establish a foothold above $90,000 on Monday, reinforcing the "staircase-down" pattern that has plagued the largest cryptocurrency throughout the fourth quarter. By failing to clear this hurdle, BTC has printed another "lower high," signaling a resurgence of sellers near the resistance line and stalling the momentum needed to challenge the six-figure mark. Consequently, the immediate outlook remains bearish as long as prices hold below the trendline. The latest rejection shifts focus toward the $84,000–$84,500 support zone, followed by the November low near $80,000. To revive the bullish outlook, BTC must overcome the trendline resistance. Such a breakout, especially against the backdrop of a sliding dollar index, could accelerate gains toward the $100,000 mark. BTC's daily chart in candlestick format. (TradingView) Bitcoin News Technical Analysis Markets AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards . For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy . 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 Crypto Markets Today: Cardano-based NIGHT crashes, ZEC, XMR also drop By Omkar Godbole , Francisco Rodrigues | Edited by Sheldon Reback 24 minutes ago Most tokens that debuted this year are trading below their initial valuations. What to know : Cardano-based Midnight Network's token NIGHT plummeted 22%, the steepest decline among the top 100 tokens. Bitcoin fell below $88,000 after failing to maintain gains above $90,000, with potential volatility expected following the U.S. GDP release. A year-end analysis reveals that only 15% of crypto tokens launched in 2025 are trading above their initial valuations, with infrastructure and AI-linked tokens underperforming. Read full story Latest Crypto News Crypto Markets Today: Cardano-based NIGHT crashes, ZEC, XMR also drop 24 minutes ago Strategy's increased dollar buffer covers more than 2 years of dividend obligations 59 minutes ago Miner capitulation is a contrarian signal, indicates renewed bitcoin momentum, VanEck says 1 hour ago Bitcoin trails polar opposites, gold and copper, as 'fear and AI' trade lifts tangible assets 3 hours ago Aave falls 18% over week as dispute pulls down token deeper than major crypto tokens 5 hours ago Bitcoin heads for its worst Q4 since 2018 as traders predict further declines 6 hours ago Top Stories Bitcoin heads for its worst Q4 since 2018 as traders predict further declines 6 hours ago Crypto Markets Today: Cardano-based NIGHT crashes, ZEC, XMR also drop 24 minutes ago Aave falls 18% over week as dispute pulls down token deeper than major crypto tokens 5 hours ago Bitcoin trails polar opposites, gold and copper, as 'fear and AI' trade lifts tangible assets 3 hours ago Miner capitulation is a contrarian signal, indicates renewed bitcoin momentum, VanEck says 1 hour ago Coinbase agrees to buy The Clearing Company to deepen prediction markets push 18 hours ago