Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Surges Past $90K, Triggers $102M in Short Liquidations

Bitcoin briefly pushed above $90,000 on December 29, 2025, before retreating sharply. The move followed a sharp rally of $2,600 in four hours earlier in the week, triggering over $102 million in short liquidations. Despite the pullback, market analysts remain cautiously optimistic, citing strong support levels and growing inflows in alternative crypto assets.

Bitcoin's price action has drawn attention from traders and institutional investors, who are closely watching whether the asset can break through key resistance levels. Gold and silver prices fell during the same period, raising speculation about a shift in capital from traditional safe-haven assets into Bitcoin. The total crypto market cap also rebounded, hitting $3 trillion again.

Meanwhile, futures trading activity remains robust, with perpetual contracts showing a high degree of bullish positioning.

Traders are betting on further upside potential, especially as macroeconomic concerns ease and global ETF flows show signs of stabilizing.

Market Rotation and ETF Flows

Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have struggled with heavy outflows in recent weeks, particularly as investors focused on year-end rebalancing and risk management. According to SoSoValue, Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of $497.05 million from December 12–19, while Ethereum ETFs saw even larger redemptions of $643.97 million.

However, not all crypto ETFs faced selling pressure. XRP and Solana-linked ETFs attracted substantial inflows during the same period. XRP ETFs, in particular, have maintained a perfect record without any outflows since their launch. Solana ETFs also showed resilience, drawing fresh inflows as institutional adoption and ecosystem developments gained traction.

The divergence in ETF flows highlights shifting investor sentiment, with many opting to bet on altcoins with stronger growth narratives. Ripple's recent announcements, including the acquisition of Rail and a partnership with AMINA Bank, have contributed to XRP's positive momentum. Solana, on the other hand, benefited from key developments at its Breakpoint 2025 event, including institutional partnerships and new DEX features.

Institutional Moves and Market Infrastructure

Bitcoin's volatility has prompted some traders to seek alternative opportunities in higher-beta assets. One of the most talked-about projects is Pepeto, a meme-based utility token that is gaining attention for its presale traction and trading infrastructure. Investors are watching whether Bitcoin's consolidation will lead to a rotation into meme coins with real utility and volume support.

Pepeto's ecosystem includes a zero-fee swap layer and a verified trading platform, designed to attract high-frequency meme traders. The project has drawn attention from whales and early adopters, who are accumulating during the presale phase. Analysts argue that a strong staking APY and contract audits provide credibility to a sector often plagued by hype and manipulation.

Institutional players are also making strategic moves. Bitmine Immersion announced that its Ethereum holdings now total 4.11 million tokens, with $1.2 billion staked. The company is working on a "Made in America Validator Network" to scale its staking operations in 2026.

Crypto Education and Global Expansion

As institutional adoption increases, crypto education remains a focal point. BingX, one of the largest crypto exchanges by user base, has partnered with Romania's first national crypto talk show, "Tales from the Crypto," to promote responsible trading and blockchain literacy. The weekly show, hosted by Mihai Prelipcean, brings together market experts to discuss trends, strategies, and regulatory developments.

The expansion of crypto education aligns with broader efforts to bring digital assets into the mainstream. JPMorgan is reportedly considering offering institutional-grade crypto trading services, a move that could further normalize crypto across traditional finance. Analysts believe such initiatives will benefit existing players like Coinbase and Bullish, which already serve institutional clients.

Outlook and Key Watchpoints

Bitcoin's ability to hold the $80,000 support zone will be critical for its near-term direction. Technical indicators suggest that a consolidation phase could lead to a breakout once market liquidity stabilizes. However, ETF outflows and year-end selling pressure remain risks to the bullish thesis.

Traders are also keeping a close eye on macroeconomic developments, including the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy trajectory and global geopolitical risks. The holiday period typically sees increased tax-loss selling, which could weigh on Bitcoin's price as well as related equities.

Investor sentiment appears to be shifting toward assets with more tangible use cases and infrastructure. Solana's Breakpoint 2025, XRP's growing adoption, and the rise of meme utility tokens like Pepeto all point to a market that is maturing beyond speculation.