Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Dips Amid Thin Liquidity, Traders Eye $80,000 Support as Year-End Selling Lingers

Bitcoin and major cryptocurrencies dipped on December 30, 2025, amid thin year-end trading and continued profit-taking. Bitcoin hovered around $87,300, down about 3% from the previous day, while ether fell near $2,950. XRP and other large-cap tokens also drifted lower with no major catalysts.

Traders remain cautious as year-end selling pressures linger, with many participants focusing on capital gains optimization. U.S. trading desks showed limited participation, contributing to weak liquidity and uneven price action. The near-term focus is on whether Bitcoin can hold the mid $80,000s into the new year or face further downward pressure.

Asian stocks cooled after a seven-day winning streak, while global equities dipped for the first time in eight sessions. Meanwhile, copper extended its December surge, marking its longest winning streak since 2017, driven by a weaker dollar and renewed supply concerns.

Market Volatility and Year-End Liquidity

Bitcoin's price action reflects a market struggling to attract new risk-taking, with many participants still in preservation mode. Low volatility and uneven liquidity mean that even modest sell programs can push prices through intraday support, particularly during U.S. trading hours when tax and book cleanup flows are concentrated.

Linh Tran, a Senior Market Analyst at XS, noted that Bitcoin's outlook for Q1 2026 leans toward stability and renewed accumulation rather than aggressive growth. Price fluctuations are expected to remain within a range of approximately $80,000 to $100,000.

Monetary policy remains accommodative, ETF flows are selective, and the regulatory environment is in a consolidation phase, all of which limit the market's ability to rapidly enter a new bullish cycle. These factors continue to weigh on sentiment and market momentum.

Institutional Investors and Staking Strategy

Bitmine Immersion Technologies, a major player in the crypto space, continues to expand its Ethereum holdings. The company now holds 4.11 million ETH, representing 3.41% of the total supply, and maintains a $13.2 billion portfolio of crypto and cash. The company is also developing its proprietary staking solution, the Made in America Validator Network (MAVAN), set to launch in Q1 2026.

At the current staking rate of 2.81%, Bitmine could generate approximately $374 million in annual staking fees once fully operational. The company has already staked 408,627 ETH, valued at around $1.2 billion, through existing partners. MAVAN is expected to enhance security and efficiency for staking operations, positioning Bitmine as a key player in the Ethereum ecosystem.

Crypto Market Consolidation and Altcoin Weakness

Major altcoins such as Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA) have seen their trading volumes drop to some of the lowest levels of 2025 as year-end liquidity constraints persist. The reduced activity has been exacerbated by stablecoin outflows from exchanges, with over $2.68 billion in USDC leaving Binance between late November and December.

XRP, BNB, SOL, and ADA all recorded their weakest trading volumes of the year in December, with Binance remaining the primary hub for most of the activity. This consolidation reflects cautious investor sentiment and a lack of clear directional momentum in the market. Traders are waiting for more clarity from Bitcoin before committing to larger positions.

Analysts Cautious on Crypto Market Direction

Market analysts are closely watching Bitcoin's ability to maintain support in the $80,000 to $100,000 range as the new year approaches. Alex Kuptsikevich of FxPro noted that the market shows signs of seller control, with repeated rebounds failing to carry through. He added that large players are increasingly behaving as if the market is shifting into a bear phase, preferring measured selling over aggressive retail-driven moves as reported by FxPro.

The broader risk backdrop also suggests investors are reassessing risk appetite. Despite a strong rally in gold and other precious metals, Bitcoin failed to sustain its push above $90,000. This divergence raises concerns about the potential spread of risk aversion to other asset classes, particularly equities and emerging market currencies as reported by FxPro.

What This Means for Investors

Investors are advised to remain cautious as thin liquidity and year-end selling pressures continue to impact price action. The market is in a consolidation phase, and any sharp move-up or down-could come suddenly once liquidity returns in January.

For Bitcoin, the key levels to watch are the mid $80,000s for near-term support and $90,000 as a potential resistance. A breakdown below $80,000 could open the door for a deeper correction before a potential rebound. For Ethereum, traders are monitoring key support and resistance levels as whale activity and reduced long-term selling help stabilize the price according to BeInCrypto.

With regulatory clarity and macroeconomic developments expected in the coming months, the market remains in a delicate balance between consolidation and the potential for a new bullish cycle.