The crypto market is kicking off December on a shaky note, with Bitcoin dipping below $90,000 amid broader risk-off sentiment and lingering effects from November’s selloff. Total market cap sits around $3.01 trillion, down about 5% in the last 24 hours, and the Fear & Greed Index is at 24 (Extreme Fear). Here’s a roundup of the top stories:
1. Market Selloff Continues: BTC, ETH, and XRP Slide as December Starts Weak
- Major coins are down: Bitcoin ($86,000, -2%), Ethereum ($2,900, -3%), and XRP (~$2.00, -1.5%). This follows a brutal November where BTC posted its worst monthly performance in six years, erasing gains from its October peak above $126,000.
- Triggers include a DeFi “incident” at Yearn Finance’s yETH pool, doubts over a Fed rate cut this month, and heavy tax-related selling. Analysts warn of further downside if BTC breaks $80,000 support, but some see a rebound if inflation data softens Fed rhetoric.
- Outlook: November’s close could decide if 2025 ends green for BTC—current momentum favors caution, but a dovish FOMC meeting on Dec. 18 might spark buying.
2. XRP Price Targets Diverge: AI Says $2.02, Analysts Eye $2.85 by Month-End
- ChatGPT’s conservative forecast cites weak momentum and market uncertainty, projecting XRP at $2.02 by December 31. In contrast, crypto analysts are bullish, targeting $2.70–$2.85 on ETF inflows, Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin expansion (including a Q1 2026 Japan launch), and European regulatory wins.
- XRP has held key support around $1.90, potentially signaling a “Wave-5” breakout if it clears $2.20. Broader catalysts like favorable inflation data could lift it higher.
3. Ethereum Gears Up for Fusaka Upgrade—Second Major Update of 2025
- Developers are prepping “Fusaka,” aimed at boosting layer-1 scalability to handle surging layer-2 traffic. This follows earlier upgrades and could reduce fees while improving throughput for DeFi and NFTs.
- ETH is trading at ~$2,914 (up 102,833% since 2015), but it’s sensitive to BTC’s moves. Staked ETH (stETH) remains popular for passive yields, though centralization risks from Lido persist.
4. Regulatory and Security Headlines
- Upbit Hack Aftermath: South Korea’s largest exchange (Upbit) sets Dec. 1 restart after a $37M breach; regulators are probing, highlighting ongoing exchange vulnerabilities.
- Global Moves: Turkmenistan enacts laws regulating mining and exchanges. Switzerland delays crypto tax data-sharing until 2027, despite adopting CARF in 2025. Japan/UK explore bank-like safeguards for stablecoins.
- North Korea Ties: Reports claim the regime is using banned Nvidia GPUs to ramp up crypto theft via hacks.
- Stablecoins Surge: They drove 90% of Brazil’s crypto volume in recent data; a new DeCripto system launches July 2025 for tracking.
5. Other Buzz: Conferences, Whales, and Risks
- Events: Bitcoin MENA (Dec. 2025, 12K attendees) and Cosmoverse 2025 spotlight Web3 growth in MENA and Europe. Balkans Crypto 2025 wrapped in Albania.
- Whale Watch: A major player flipped a $91M BTC short to longs—could signal bottom-fishing if price follows.
- Risk Alerts: Arthur Hayes warns Tether’s Fed bet is “risky,” with one slip potentially tanking USDT. Upcoming unlocks (e.g., 190M for Pi Network) may pressure prices.
Quick Top 10 Crypto Snapshot (as of Nov. 26 data; prices volatile)
| Rank | Coin | Price (USD) | 24h Change | YTD Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bitcoin (BTC) | ~86,728 | -2% | +140M% since 2010 |
| 2 | Ethereum (ETH) | ~2,915 | -3% | +103K% since 2015 |
| 3 | Tether (USDT) | 1.00 | 0% | Stable |
| 4 | BNB | ~580 | -1.5% | N/A |
| 5 | Solana (SOL) | ~180 | -4% | High volatility |
| 6 | XRP | ~2.00 | -1.5% | Rally potential |
| 7 | USDC | 1.00 | 0% | Stable |
| 8 | Dogecoin (DOGE) | ~0.32 | -5% | Meme-driven |
| 9 | Cardano (ADA) | ~0.65 | -3% | Upgrade focus |
| 10 | TRON (TRX) | ~0.22 | -2% | DeFi utility |
2025 Year-End Vibes: Expect volatility from Fed decisions, tax season, and unlocks. Bullish case: Easier policy into 2026 lifts all boats. Bearish: Prolonged risk-off erodes $1T in cap. DYOR—crypto waits for no one. What’s your take on December?
Also Check: Global Crypto Spot-Trading Volume Slumps Sharply in November — CEX & DEX Both Hit Lows
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