Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin ETFs See $188M Outflows as BTC Grapples With $90K Resistance

Bitcoin (BTC) remains below $90,000 amid a bearish market environment, with institutional demand for spot ETFs declining and traders locking in profits ahead of the Christmas holidays. The U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs recorded a fourth consecutive day of outflows, totaling $188.6 million on Tuesday alone. Ethereum (ETH) also saw outflows of nearly $97 million, compounding broader concerns about crypto market sentiment.

Despite the outflows, Bitcoin has seen brief rebounds toward the $90,000 level, supported by technical indicators like a rising RSI and a bullish MACD divergence. However, moving averages remain in downward trends, suggesting further weakness may emerge if the price falls below key support levels. XRP continues to see inflows into ETFs, with $13 million in inflows on Friday, providing a rare bright spot in a generally bearish market.

Crypto market activity has also slowed, with declining active addresses, shrinking futures volumes, and reduced buying pressure on major exchanges like Binance. These trends echo those seen during late 2021, raising concerns about a potential bear market phase. Analysts note that weakening on-chain metrics and shrinking liquidity flows suggest the market is entering a period of consolidation or further decline.

Market Conditions Weigh on Bitcoin's Momentum

Bitcoin's struggle to break above $90,000 is being amplified by a combination of ETF outflows and thinning liquidity as traders reduce exposure before year-end. BlackRock's IBIT led outflows among spot ETFs, with $157.3 million in net outflows recorded on Tuesday. Analysts attribute the outflows to portfolio rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting, and seasonal liquidity pressures, rather than a fundamental shift in investor sentiment.

Ethereum has fared no better, with cumulative outflows across ETFs exceeding $12.52 billion. While short-term indicators like the RSI show tentative signs of stabilization, the MACD remains in bearish territory, limiting the chances of a sustained recovery. The price of ETH has broken below key support levels, raising the risk of further declines toward $2,600.

Institutional Interest and Cross-Chain Activity Offer Mixed Signals

XRP continues to defy the broader trend, with inflows into U.S. spot ETFs remaining steady. The token has consolidated above $1.90 but remains capped below $2.00, with moving averages still sloping downward. The RSI is stable near 41, and the MACD shows a slight bullish edge, suggesting a potential breakout attempt.

Meanwhile, cross-chain activity and liquidity shifts are reshaping crypto trading dynamics. For example, Jump Trading recently transferred $100 million in USD1 from BitGo to Binance, boosting the USD1 supply to $2.87 billion. This move has drawn attention as a potential catalyst for increased liquidity in the USD1 instrument. Additionally, Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) has seen significant movements, with a major holder withdrawing 99.9 WBTC from Binance, unlocking $4.23 million in unrealized gains.

Analysts Watch for Post-Holiday Market Clarity

Market observers are waiting for liquidity to return and clearer price signals following the Christmas holiday shutdown. Vincent Liu of Kronos Research emphasized that the real signal will emerge post-holiday, with key indicators like U.S. jobless claims and liquidity trends providing insight into early 2026 market direction.

Bitcoin's RSI has edged higher to 42, but further gains above the 50 midline are needed to confirm a shift in momentum. The 50-day EMA at $93,608 and the 100-day EMA at $99,239 remain key resistance levels, while a close below $90,000 could trigger renewed sell-offs. Ethereum faces similar hurdles, with the 50-day EMA at $3,195 acting as a crucial psychological threshold.

Risks to the Outlook

The broader bearish environment is being reinforced by regulatory uncertainty and macroeconomic concerns. Ghana recently passed a law regulating cryptocurrencies, a move that could boost long-term adoption but does little to ease near-term market pressures. Meanwhile, thinning liquidity in derivatives markets and declining active addresses highlight broader waning market participation.

Bitcoin Munari's upcoming launch on December 28 also represents a new variable, as the project transitions from a fixed-price presale to open market trading. The token, issued as a Solana SPL token, will compete for attention in a market already facing reduced inflows and investor caution.