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Gold edged higher in the morning Asian session amid geopolitical risks.

Is Netflix still a powerhouse in the streaming industry? Join us as we break down the company's strengths and weaknesses in this insightful analysis.

Explore the exciting world of Netflix (NFLX +0.15%) with our contributing expert analysts in this Motley Fool Scoreboard episode. Check out the video below to gain valuable insights into market trends and potential investment opportunities!
*Stock prices used were the prices of Nov. 19, 2025. The video was published on Dec. 25, 2025.

Anand Chokkavelu has positions in Netflix. Jason Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Travis Hoium has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Oil edged higher in the morning Asian session amid geopolitical tensions.

NEW YORK, Dec. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading international securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in CarMax, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

Investors have until January 2, 2026, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in CarMax securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland and is captioned Jason Cap v. CarMax, Inc., et al., No. 1:25-cv-03602.

Why is CarMax Being Sued For Securities Fraud?

CarMax sells used cars. During the relevant period, the Company touted the strong and sustainable demand for its cars, driven by factors such as a seamless customer experience.

As alleged, in truth, it appears that the announcement of U.S. tariffs imposed on cars provided a short-term boost to demand, as customers purchased cars prior to the tariffs taking effect.

BFA Law is also investigating the unexpected departure of CEO Bill Nash on November 6, 2025, and whether CarMax properly assessed or reserved for its portfolio of car loans.

Why did CarMax’s Stock Drop?

On September 25, 2025, the Company reported disappointing financial results for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2026. Specifically, CarMax announced sales declines across the board, including a 5.4% decline in retail used unit sales, a 6.3% decline in comparable store used unit sales, and a 2.2% decline in wholesale units. The Company also posted a disappointing second quarter net income of about $95.4 million, down from $132.8 million over the prior year. A main reason for the declines, according to CarMax, was a “pull forward” in demand into the first fiscal quarter due to the announcement of tariffs.

On this news, the price of CarMax stock dropped $11.45 per share, or roughly 20%, from $57.05 per share on September 24, 2025, to $45.60 per share on September 25, 2025.

Then, on November 6, 2025, CarMax announced the unexpected departure of CEO Bill Nash and a weak preliminary Q3 2025 outlook. On this news, the price of CarMax stock dropped over 24%.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in CarMax you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Or contact:
Ross Shikowitz
[email protected]
212.789.3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisETF Analysis

SummaryThe third quarter of 2025 was marked by shifts in macroeconomic, geopolitical, fundamental, and supply and demand dynamics.The Fund (Class I) returned 2.59% in the third quarter versus the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index return of 2.03%.Investment Grade (IG) Corporates Selection: Issue selection versus the benchmark was positive for the period.Allocation to RMBS over agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and selection within RMBS had a negative impact on performance.The Fund maintained a preference for U.S. dollar assets and Em Hy over Em Ig. Lemon_tm/iStock via Getty Images

Fixed Income Market Review The third quarter of 2025 was marked by shifts in macroeconomic, geopolitical, fundamental, and supply and demand dynamics. Markets rebounded from the lows following the “Liberation Day” announcements as immediate economic impacts remained subdued. The final outcomes for

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in META over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

An anonymous poster on 4chan, who correctly flagged Bitcoin’s cycle top on October 6, 2025, nearly two years in advance, has returned with a far more aggressive call. The trader predicts Bitcoin to reach $250,000 in 2026. 

The prediction has resurfaced across crypto circles precisely as many on-chain and technical indicators turn bearish.

Sponsored

A Proven Call, Not a Price TargetBack in December 2023, the anonymous poster outlined a time-based cycle model rather than a price forecast. The thesis relied on historical symmetry. Roughly 1,064 days from bear-market lows to cycle highs, followed by nearly 364 days of decline. 

That structure projected the next all-time high to land on October 6, 2025, almost exactly when Bitcoin topped near its peak before crashing 4 days later.

Anon 4chan Users Bitcoin PredictionThat accuracy has given the new forecast weight, even among skeptics.

In the latest post, the anon argues that the broader structure has not broken. 

Instead, the current drawdown represents a reset phase before another expansion leg, with 2026 penciled in as the next price climax.

Sponsored

Most Bitcoin Charts Look Bearish Right NowShort-term data tells a very different story.

The Bitcoin Combined Market Index (BCMI) has rolled over from elevated levels, historically associated with late-cycle conditions. 

Momentum indicators have weakened, and price has struggled to reclaim key psychological zones after the October peak.

Bitcoin Combined Market Index. Source: CryptoQuantSponsored

Meanwhile, apparent demand growth, measured by net new buyer activity, has slowed sharply from early-2025 highs. Similar demand slowdowns preceded major corrections in past cycles, including 2021 and 2017.

From a traditional analytical lens, these signals point to caution.

We have been writing about Bitcoin entering into a bear market since early November.

And yes, we are in a bear market mostly amid demand exhaustion.

View are latest report here:https://t.co/wz6tiQnxjP

— Julio Moreno (@jjcmoreno) December 23, 2025
Sponsored

Why the Bull Case Hasn’t DisappearedThe anonymous forecast challenges the idea that local bearish signals define the full cycle. Previous bull markets also saw multi-month corrections and demand resets before making their final parabolic moves.

Structural tailwinds remain intact. Bitcoin supply growth continues to compress post-halving. Institutional infrastructure, from ETFs to payment rails, remains embedded, even as speculative interest cools. 

Historically, the strongest upside phases have followed periods of skepticism, not optimism.

The anon’s $250,000 target for 2026 is not framed as sentiment or opinion, but as a continuation of prior cycle mechanics.

Whether the call proves right or wrong, the episode highlights a familiar pattern in Bitcoin markets. Short-term indicators often turn bearish well before long-term cycles conclude.

For now, Bitcoin price sits in an uncomfortable middle ground. 

Leading cryptocurrencies stagnated on Christmas Day amid thin liquidity, while stock futures inched higher.

CryptocurrencyGains +/-Price (Recorded at 8:35 p.m. ET)Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC)-0.43%$87,267.64Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH)
               -0.91%$2,916.07XRP (CRYPTO: XRP)                         -1.15%$1.83Solana (CRYPTO: SOL)                         -1.51%$120.58Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE)                         -3.25%$0.1240Crypto Market Lags On XmasBitcoin pushed toward $88,500 early on Christmas Day but failed to sustain a decisive rally, slipping back below $87,000 by evening. Trading volume remained thin, falling 14% over the last 24 hours.

Ethereum failed to cross $3,000, retreating to the early $2,900 region overnight. XRP and Dogecoin fell 1.15% and 1.51%, respectively.

Over $138 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, according to Coinglass, with the majority of it coming from long liquidations.

Bitcoin's open interest fell 0.94% in the last 24 hours as short positions for the leading cryptocurrency exceeded longs, according to the Long/Short ratio.

The "Extreme Fear" sentiment persisted in the market, according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index.

Top Gainers (24 Hours) 

Cryptocurrency (Market Cap>$100 M)Gains +/-Price (Recorded at 8:35 p.m. ET)0G (0G )   +37.20%    $1.19Quantum Resistant Ledger (QRL )                 +16.47%      $3.26Stable (STABLE )          +15.38%      $0.01084The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.94 trillion, following a drop of 0.85% in the last 24 hours.

Will Santa Rally Continue?Stock futures ticked higher Thursday evening. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures rose 15 points, or 0.03%, as of 8:20 p.m. EDT.  Futures tied to the S&P 500 gained 0.07%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures added 0.11%.

The market witnessed a Santa rally on Christmas Eve as the S&P 500 closed at a new record high on Wednesday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite also closed higher.

The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Exchange were closed Thursday for Christmas and will resume regular trading on Friday.

What’s Next For Bitcoin?Michaël van de Poppe, a widely followed cryptocurrency commentator, expected Bitcoin to revisit $90,000 or higher during the weekend or next week.

"I think commodities are overdue and liquidity will move elsewhere + loosening conditions on the [macroeconomic] side of this world," the analyst added.

Ted Pillows, an angel investor and cryptocurrency market observer, said that Bitcoin's daily close above the $89,500 level will drive the asset toward the $100,000 level.

Conversely, a daily close below $85,000 risks pulling Bitcoin below $80,000, the analyst projected.

Read Next:    

Christmas Stocking Stuffers? Don’t Ignore These Bitcoin Mining Stocks That Gave Impressive Returns In 2025
Photo Courtesy: KateStock on Shutterstock.com

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© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

In early 2025, Solana’s cryptocurrency witnessed substantial market activity, largely propelled by the introduction of a Trump-themed meme coin and achieving a new all-time high valuation. This development garnered attention from Wall Street investors and market analysts, underscoring the increasing relevance of Solana in the broader crypto economy. As reported by various financial institutions, Solana’s growing market presence is seen as indicative of shifting trends within the digital currency landscape.

Throughout the year, Solana experienced fluctuations that reflect the inherent volatility of the cryptocurrency market. The initial surge in value, attributed mainly to the viral appeal of the Trump meme coin, was a focal point of discussion among traders and investors. Analysts at major financial firms remarked that this phenomenon demonstrated the potent mix of cultural phenomena and digital assets, which can create swift market impacts.

Solana’s blockchain technology has been praised for its high transaction speeds and lower costs, features that have made it a preferred platform for developers and decentralized applications. As a result, Solana has seen increased adoption across various sectors, including finance, gaming, and the arts. The network’s technical attributes have been particularly highlighted in reports by industry experts who note that these characteristics could enhance its competitiveness against other blockchain platforms like Ethereum.

However, alongside these positive developments, Solana faced challenges that are common in the cryptocurrency sector. Regulatory scrutiny has intensified globally, with governments seeking to establish clearer frameworks to govern digital currencies. In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continued to scrutinize various aspects of crypto operations, although Solana has not been directly targeted in the same manner as some other platforms. Nonetheless, this regulatory environment creates a backdrop of uncertainty that affects investor confidence.

In the latter part of 2025, the market showed signs of a correction, as the initial enthusiasm from the Trump meme coin began to wane. Market analysts suggested this was a natural part of the cyclical market behavior, wherein initial hype-driven surges are often followed by periods of stabilization. Solana’s price adjustments mirrored broader market corrections that were observed across the cryptocurrency industry during this period.

The involvement of Wall Street firms with Solana has been a noteworthy development, as it signals a deeper institutional interest in the blockchain sector. Investment banks and hedge funds have begun exploring Solana as part of their crypto portfolios, recognizing the platform’s potential for future growth. This trend was highlighted in financial reports which noted an increase in institutional capital flows into Solana-based projects.

Despite the challenges, the Solana ecosystem continues to expand. The network’s development community has remained active, introducing a range of new applications and fostering innovation across the platform. This ongoing development is seen as crucial for sustaining long-term growth and maintaining Solana’s position in the competitive blockchain landscape.

As the year concluded, stakeholders in the cryptocurrency space looked toward 2026 with cautious optimism. The lessons from 2025, particularly regarding the interplay between cultural elements and digital finance, are expected to inform strategies and investment decisions in the coming year. For Solana, the experiences of 2025 have set the stage for continued evolution, as the network seeks to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing industry.

While the immediate future remains uncertain due to regulatory factors and market dynamics, Solana’s performance in 2025 has underscored its role as a significant player in the crypto sector. The ongoing development and adoption of its technology will be crucial as the digital currency market continues to mature. Looking ahead, Solana’s ability to adapt and innovate will determine its trajectory in the evolving landscape of blockchain technology.

As the industry enters a new year, regulatory developments are likely to remain a focal point, with potential implications for all digital currencies, including Solana. Stakeholders will be monitoring any legislative changes closely, as these will shape the operational environment for blockchain platforms moving forward. The outcomes of these regulatory processes will likely play a significant role in defining the cryptocurrency market’s path in 2026 and beyond.

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The current state of the Bitcoin market is raising concerns that extend beyond short-term price movements. While Bitcoin has managed to stabilize after a recent decline and even show a slight upward bias, trading volume tells a more cautious story. In healthy market conditions, price and volume typically move together, especially near trend reversals. However, the ongoing divergence between Bitcoin price stability and declining volume suggests weakening market conviction.

Lower trading volume during periods of stabilization often indicates that buyers are hesitant. Although there is some buying interest, it appears gradual and cautious rather than aggressive. This lack of strong participation makes it difficult for Bitcoin to build the momentum needed for a sustainable bullish trend. As a result, the market structure becomes fragile, capable of holding price levels temporarily but vulnerable to sharp moves if selling pressure returns.

From a technical perspective, Bitcoin is consolidating within a relatively narrow range near recent local lows following a steep sell-off. Normally, such consolidation accompanied by rising volume would hint at accumulation. Instead, volume continues to contract, signaling reduced participation rather than renewed confidence. This quiet market environment increases the risk of sudden price fluctuations, as even modest sell orders could have an outsized impact.

That said, broader context is essential when analyzing Bitcoin trading volume. The current contraction coincides with the Christmas and year-end holiday period, a time when liquidity traditionally declines across global financial markets. Institutional desks slow operations, large investors delay capital deployment, and retail trading activity drops. This seasonal slowdown may partially explain the lack of volume rather than signaling outright bearish sentiment.

At present, Bitcoin remains in a holding pattern. Price stability alone does not confirm strength, and declining volume offers little reassurance. Traders and investors should be cautious about interpreting consolidation as a bullish signal. The next significant move in Bitcoin’s price will likely depend on whether trading volume and market participation return once normal liquidity conditions resume.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

Journalist

Posted: December 26, 2025

Bitcoin’s muted price action, paired with renewed whale activity, unsettled market sentiment on the 25th of December.

On that day, a long-dormant Bitcoin whale and asset manager BlackRock transferred large BTC amounts to exchanges, according to Onchain Lens.

Onchain Lens reported that BlackRock deposited 2,292 Bitcoin [BTC], worth $199.8 million, into Coinbase.

Separately, a whale wallet dormant for eight years deposited 400 BTC, valued at $34.92 million, into OKX.

Large holders often shape short-term sentiment, as traders monitor such transfers for potential sell-side pressure. That dynamic left market participants cautious, even without immediate confirmation of spot selling.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs record consecutive outflows
On top of that, U.S. Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds extended their losing streak. SoSoValue data showed Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded five consecutive days of net outflows.

Source: SoSoValue

That pattern suggested institutional demand remained fragile despite Bitcoin holding above key technical support. Together, ETF outflows and exchange deposits reinforced a defensive market tone.

Leverage thinned as price stalled
At press time, Bitcoin traded near $87,700, down roughly 0.35% on the day. During the same period, Open Interest fell 0.99% to $57.42 billion, reflecting reduced leverage exposure.

That decline signaled traders unwound risk rather than positioning aggressively for a breakout. Even so, intraday positioning hinted at localized bullish conviction.

Source: CoinGlass

According to CoinGlass’ Liquidation Map, major leverage clusters sat near $85,966 below price and $88,636 above.

At these levels, intraday traders have built $646.17 million worth of long-leveraged positions and $422.42 million worth of short-leveraged positions. This suggests that traders were tilted toward the bullish side and strongly believe that BTC’s price will not fall below the $85,966 level.

Bitcoin price action and key levels to watch 
AMBCrypto’s technical analysis on the weekly chart revealed that BTC has been in a tight consolidation zone between the $86,000 and $93,500 levels since the 17th of November.

Historically, consolidation breakouts or breakdowns lead to major rallies or declines, and as BTC’s price approaches the lower boundary, it has sparked fear of a potential breakdown below this range.

Source: TradingView

Based on the price action, if sentiment remains unchanged and BTC breaks below the key support at $86,000 with a daily candle close beneath it, it could open the door to a massive downside move.

However, the bearish outlook would only be invalidated if BTC breaks out above the upper boundary at the $93,500 level.

Final Thoughts

Whale transfers and ETF outflows highlighted growing hesitation beneath Bitcoin’s surface stability.
With leverage thinning and price stuck in a tight range, the next directional break may depend on whether conviction returns or fades further.

Vivaan Acharya is a Crypto-Economist and Journalist at AMBCrypto who brings a rare depth of financial and economic expertise to the world of digital assets. He holds a Master’s in Economics from the prestigious University of Delhi and has over five years of experience analyzing technology and financial markets.
His foray into the blockchain space began in 2018, marked by his prescient Master's thesis, "Payments and Stablecoin Integration in Banking," which showcased his early understanding of crypto's potential to disrupt traditional finance. Before specializing in crypto, Vivaan honed his skills in rigorous data and technical chart analysis at a major national financial daily, where he covered corporate earnings and market trends.
At AMBCrypto, Vivaan applies this powerful blend of classical economic training and seasoned financial journalism to his work. He is an expert in:
1. Bitcoin and Altcoin Market Analysis
2. Stablecoin Ecosystem Development, and
3 Emerging Crypto Regulations.
Known for his clear, no-nonsense approach, Vivaan translates robust research into straightforward, actionable insights. He is dedicated to demystifying the complexities of blockchain finance, empowering readers to confidently navigate the rapidly evolving digital economy.

TLDR:

Glamsterdam fork introduces Block Access Lists enabling perfect parallel transaction processing capability.
Gas limit expansion from 60 million to 200 million will accelerate Ethereum’s path toward 10,000 TPS target.
Approximately 10% of validators will transition to zero-knowledge proof verification after upgrade implementation.
Heze-Bogota fork implements Fork-Choice Inclusion Lists to strengthen network censorship resistance mechanisms.

Ethereum developers are preparing two major network upgrades for 2026 that will reshape the blockchain’s processing capabilities and decentralization features. 

The Glamsterdam fork, scheduled for mid-2026, will introduce parallel processing technology and expand the gas limit from 60 million to potentially 200 million. This upgrade represents a critical step toward scaling Ethereum’s layer 1 to handle 10,000 transactions per second.

The upcoming changes will shift validator operations from transaction re-execution to zero-knowledge proof verification. 

Additionally, the Heze-Bogota fork will arrive later in the year with a focus on privacy enhancements and censorship resistance mechanisms.

Glamsterdam Fork Brings Parallel Processing and Gas Limit Expansion
The Glamsterdam hard fork centers on two key Ethereum Improvement Proposals that will fundamentally alter network operations. 

Block Access Lists, designated as EIP-7928, enables perfect parallel block processing across multiple CPU cores simultaneously. This technology replaces Ethereum’s current single-lane transaction processing with a multi-lane highway approach.

Ethereum will undergo key upgrades in 2026, with the Glamsterdam fork enabling parallel processing and increasing the gas limit to 200 million, up from 60 million. Validators will shift to validating ZK proofs, paving the way for Ethereum L1 to achieve 10,000 transactions per…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 25, 2025

Block producers will create detailed maps showing transaction interactions and state changes for each block. These maps allow network clients to process multiple transactions concurrently without conflicts or delays. 

According to Gabriel Trintinalia, senior blockchain engineer at Consensys, the upgrade provides all state changes from transaction to transaction within the block. He explained the system eliminates what he called the biggest bottleneck by preloading necessary data into memory rather than sequentially reading from disk.

The second major component, Enshrined Proposer Builder Separation, integrates block builder and proposer functions directly into Ethereum’s consensus layer. 

This change moves beyond MEV Boost’s centralized relay system, which currently handles approximately 90% of blocks. The separation provides additional time for zero-knowledge proof generation and validation across the network. 

Ethereum researcher Ladislaus von Daniels noted the system decouples block validation from block execution, making opt-in zkAttesting more incentive compatible for validators. 

Justin Drake from the Ethereum Foundation estimates roughly 10% of validators will adopt ZK proof verification after implementation.

Gas Limits and Censorship Resistance Take Center Stage
Network gas limits will see substantial increases throughout 2026 as the upgrades take effect. Gary Schulte, senior staff blockchain protocol engineer on the Besu client, anticipates the limit reaching 100 million fairly soon. 

He added that delayed execution could enable even higher gas limits. Tomasz Stańczak, co-director of the Ethereum Foundation, projects the limit will double to 200 million following the proposer-builder separation implementation.

Layer 2 scaling solutions will benefit from expanded data blob capacity, potentially reaching 72 or more per block. 

This expansion enables layer 2 networks to process hundreds of thousands of transactions per second. ZKsync’s Atlas upgrade demonstrates the practical application by allowing mainnet funds to trade within fast execution environments.

The Heze-Bogota fork will address censorship resistance through Fork-Choice Inclusion Lists. This mechanism empowers multiple validators to mandate specific transaction inclusions in each block. 

Trintinalia described it as a censorship resistance mechanism ensuring transaction inclusion if at least part of the network remains honest. The planned Ethereum Interoperability Layer will facilitate seamless cross-chain operations among layer 2 solutions, completing the year’s upgrade cycle.

BNB Chain has emerged as the most active blockchain network in 2025, recording the highest average number of daily active wallets among major Layer-1 ecosystems. Data shared by CryptoRank and TokenTerminal shows that BNB Chain averaged approximately 4.32 million active wallets per day this year, surpassing key competitors such as Ethereum, Solana, and NEAR Protocol. This milestone highlights BNB Chain’s growing dominance in terms of real user engagement, a metric often viewed as more meaningful than token price performance alone.

According to the data, Solana followed with an average of 3.23 million daily active wallets, while NEAR Protocol ranked third at around 3.15 million. The widening gap between BNB Chain and other networks underscores increasing adoption and sustained usage across decentralized applications built on the chain. Market observers note that this trend reflects strong organic demand rather than short-term speculative activity, signaling long-term ecosystem strength.

The announcement quickly gained traction within the crypto community, with many describing BNB Chain as the clear leader in user activity for 2025. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, responded positively on X, encouraging developers and stating that 2026 could be even stronger for the network. His reaction reinforced confidence in BNB Chain’s future growth and builder momentum.

Institutional adoption has also played a role in this expansion. The launch of BlackRock’s BUIDL product on BNB Chain has boosted credibility and highlighted the network’s appeal beyond retail users. Additionally, Kalshi recently enabled BNB and USDT deposits and withdrawals, giving users faster and more cost-efficient access to one of the world’s most popular prediction markets through the BNB Chain infrastructure.

Regulatory progress has further supported adoption, with Binance securing a global license in Abu Dhabi. This development enhances real-world utility and positions BNB Chain as an increasingly attractive option for platforms seeking scalable, low-cost blockchain solutions. Together, rising institutional interest, regulatory clarity, and consistently high wallet activity continue to drive BNB Chain’s expansion and solidify its leadership position in the broader crypto ecosystem.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

A widening divergence between silver and Bitcoin is highlighting an important macroeconomic theme: during periods of physical scarcity and rising geopolitical tension, capital is increasingly flowing into hard assets rather than digital alternatives. This shift has become more pronounced toward the end of 2025, as silver prices surged while Bitcoin struggled to attract defensive inflows.

The latest rally in silver began in China, where domestic prices reached record highs on December 25 amid signs of a physical supply shortage. Chinese spot and futures markets have consistently traded at premiums to London and COMEX benchmarks, and in some instances briefly slipped into backwardation, a classic signal of immediate supply stress. Given that China accounts for more than half of global industrial silver demand, local tightness has quickly translated into global price pressure.

Globally, spot silver has hovered near all-time highs around $72 per ounce, extending a rally that has lifted prices more than 120% in 2025. Gold has also benefited from similar dynamics, rising roughly 60% over the year as investors sought tangible stores of value. In contrast, Bitcoin ended December lower after peaking above $120,000 in October, reinforcing the perception that it has behaved more like a high-beta liquidity asset than a crisis hedge.

Industrial demand remains a major driver behind silver’s strength. Solar panel manufacturing continues to consume large volumes of the metal, while electric vehicle production is accelerating. Each EV requires significantly more silver than a traditional car, especially in power electronics, battery management systems, and charging infrastructure. Ongoing grid expansion and electronics manufacturing have further supported demand.

Geopolitical risks have added another layer of support. Rising defense spending linked to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East has increased silver consumption in military electronics and munitions. Unlike investment demand, much of this silver is permanently removed from circulation, tightening supply further.

As markets approach 2026, the contrast between silver and Bitcoin underscores a broader lesson. Digital scarcity alone has not consistently attracted capital during supply-driven shocks, while physical scarcity tied to energy, defense, and industrial policy continues to play a decisive role in shaping asset performance.

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Ethereum price action remains under pressure, but a closer look at ETF flows and on-chain metrics suggests conditions may be forming for a potential rebound. While short-term sentiment around ETH has weakened, historical price behavior and long-term holder data indicate that the current pullback could be more cyclical than structural, keeping the broader recovery narrative intact.

Over the past two weeks, Ethereum ETFs have experienced consistent net outflows, with only one trading session recording net inflows driven primarily by Grayscale-related activity. This trend highlights caution among traditional finance investors, as capital continues to exit ETH-focused exchange-traded funds. Despite this, the persistent ETF selling does not necessarily signal a long-term loss of confidence in Ethereum. Similar phases of ETF weakness in the past have often preceded periods of stabilization, particularly when price approaches key technical support levels.

From a technical perspective, Ethereum has been trading near the $2,978 level, struggling to decisively reclaim the psychological $3,000 mark. This consolidation has raised concerns that ETH could remain capped below $3,000 heading into 2025. However, a potential retest of the $2,798 support zone could serve as a healthy reset. Historically, this area has attracted buyers, and a successful bounce could shift market expectations and restore upward momentum.

On-chain data strengthens this cautiously optimistic outlook. The Ethereum HODler Net Position Change metric, which tracks long-term holder behavior, has surged to levels not seen in roughly five months. This suggests that long-term holders are reducing selling pressure and gradually regaining confidence in Ethereum’s recovery potential. If this indicator moves above the zero line, it would confirm net accumulation by long-term investors, a signal that has historically supported price stabilization and trend reversals.

If Ethereum manages to reclaim $3,000 as support, the next upside target sits near $3,131, with further gains possible if momentum builds. However, downside risks remain. A breakdown below $2,798 could weaken the bullish structure and open the door for a move toward $2,681, reinforcing near-term bearish pressure. For now, Ethereum’s price outlook hinges on how it reacts around these critical levels, as ETF dynamics and on-chain signals continue to evolve.

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Although volatility has always been elevated, this digital asset has soared in the past.

Over the past five years, Dogecoin's (DOGE 4.00%) price is up a jaw-dropping 3,380% (as of Dec. 22). If you'd invested $29,000 in this digital asset at the end of December 2020, you'd have $1 million now. That wonderful outcome has happened in the face of extreme volatility. The most bullish investors are hoping for a hot streak over the next year.

Can this meme token make you a millionaire in 2026?

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Betting on hype and excitement is an easy way to lose money
Despite Dogecoin's price skyrocketing in the past, it has been far from a smooth ride for investors. The crypto currently sits 82% below its peak. And it has tanked 58% this year. That doesn't provide much of a reason to be optimistic. The market is clearly showing less enthusiasm for this once high-flying token.

There were short periods in 2021, 2022, and 2024 when Dogecoin's price shot up quickly. In the months following these peaks, the price dropped. Dogecoin's gains aren't sticky, which demonstrates its lack of durable fundamental strength. The only way to make money with it, it seems, is to correctly predict when a hype cycle is about to happen and buy right before. That's impossible.

Speaking of fundamentals, Dogecoin falls behind in this department. Only 22 full-time developers are working on the blockchain network. And that means 82 different cryptocurrencies have drawn the attention of computer scientists and software engineers more than Dogecoin has. That doesn't help to stack the odds in Dogecoin's favor, at least when it comes to launching interesting use cases that can increase adoption.

Adding to the fundamental weakness is the fact that Dogecoin has an unlimited supply, so it doesn't even qualify as a store-of-value asset like gold or Bitcoin. The first mover in crypto, Bitcoin has a hard supply cap, it's making progress integrating into the traditional financial services industry, and bigger pools of capital have slowly allocated more money to it.

Dogecoin still has a place in the cryptocurrency market, though. With a $22 billion market cap, it's the ninth-most-valuable blockchain. That definitely means something. The community stands out in this regard. Dogecoin has its supporters that can help maintain a floor on its value. Based on the downward price action in recent years, however, that community might be shrinking.

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Dogecoin is not a millionaire-maker investment opportunity
Based on my view that Dogecoin isn't a smart investment opportunity, it's no surprise that I believe this token is not a millionaire maker within the next 12 months.

Let's assume you have a significant amount of money, like $100,000, that you can invest today. For you to join the seven-figure club, that investment would need to rise 10-fold, or 900%, by the end of 2026. A smaller sum would require an even larger return. Those kinds of quick gains simply aren't realistic. Dogecoin won't make you a millionaire, not in 2026 and probably not ever.

Certain cryptocurrencies can have monster performances at any time. And this has happened to Dogecoin. All it requires is a little bit of excitement. But a favorable environment with much lower interest rates, aggressive quantitative easing from the Federal Reserve, adoption as a payment methodology by major corporations and even governments, and excessive risk-on market sentiment would not be enough to propel Dogecoin that much.

Buying this coin with the hopes of getting rich isn't how investors should allocate their hard-earned savings. That's more like gambling than proper investment. Dogecoin isn't your ticket to millionaire status.

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A crypto analyst has raised concerns about XRP’s underperformance, citing the cryptocurrency’s prolonged consolidation at lower price levels and its failure to reclaim former highs. Despite these struggles, the analyst notes that the altcoin is still positioned around its best potential recovery level since 2022. He suggests that the cryptocurrency could be on the verge of a price rally, potentially paving the way for a recovery to new levels. 

XRP Approaches Strongest Recovery Zone Since 2022
Skipper, a crypto market expert on X, has released a new XRP update outlining the cryptocurrency’s potential recovery. He stated that the token has struggled in recent weeks, remaining stuck in a prolonged slump, marked by low trading activity and minimal price movement. Despite this sluggish performance, the analyst highlighted that the altcoin is now near its best potential recovery level since 2022.

Skipper explained that the most significant factor supporting this recovery potential is the decline in bubble risk. According to his chart analysis, XRP’s bubble risk is now at one of its lowest points in years, indicating that excessive speculation and risky bets have largely been removed from the market. He stated that this cleanup makes a sudden price crash far less likely and establishes a more stable foundation for a recovery. 

Source: Chart from Skipper on X
The analyst made it clear that a low bubble risk does not guarantee an immediate price rally for XRP. Instead, he explained that this low-risk environment often creates the ideal conditions for a market bottom to form.

Skipper also commented on its current dynamics, highlighting that conditions currently favor buyers waiting on the sidelines, as sellers are not aggressively driving prices lower. The analyst referenced historical performance, noting that the altcoin has often delivered stronger returns following extended periods of quiet price action. 

Another key point highlighted by the analyst is that when fewer traders are actively committed to XRP, price action becomes more responsive to positive developments. Under such conditions, factors such as improved liquidity or heightened network usage can exert a stronger influence on XRP, increasing its potential for a recovery. 

The analyst further stressed that a low bubble risk should not be confused with a promise of short-term gains. He stated that a surge should not be expected tomorrow or next week. However, he highlighted that the cryptocurrency is no longer sitting in a danger zone. 

Analyst Sets XRP Next Upside Target At $2.58
In another XRP update, market analyst Crypto King has stated that the cryptocurrency is holding firm above a critical support area around $1.85. He emphasized that a strong bounce at this support and a reclaim of the $1.98 level would signal a momentum shift for XRP. 

If the cryptocurrency breaks above this level, Crypto King predicts its next upside target is $2.58, which aligns with the Resistance 1 level on the price chart. Should bullish momentum persist, the analyst believes this could open the door to a powerful rally toward $3.18 at Resistance 2, followed by $3.66 at Resistance 3. 

XRP trading at $1.87 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com

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The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is ending the year with major technological developments after a year that saw it gain significant adoption and milestones.

On Dec. 24, Denis Angell, a lead software engineer at XRPL Labs, announced the integration of “post-quantum” cryptography and native smart contracts into AlphaNet, the project’s public developer network.

The ‘Q-Day' inevitabilityMost blockchain networks, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, secure user funds using Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC).

This math works because current computers find it impossibly difficult to reverse the calculation and derive a private key from a public one. However, this security model relies on the limitations of classical physics.

Quantum computers operate differently. They utilize qubits to perform calculations in multiple states simultaneously. Experts predict that a sufficiently powerful quantum machine running Shor’s algorithm will eventually solve ECC problems in seconds. Security agencies refer to this moment as “Q-Day.”

The AlphaNet update directly targets this vulnerability. Angell confirmed that the network now runs on CRYSTALS-Dilithium.

Notably, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently standardized this algorithm, now known as ML-DSA, as the primary shield against quantum attacks.

By weaving Dilithium into the testnet's fabric, XRPL Labs effectively vaccinated the ledger against future hardware breakthroughs.

Deconstructing the upgradeAccording to Angell, the integration touches every vital organ of the XRPL anatomy. He described a comprehensive overhaul that introduces Quantum Accounts, Quantum Transactions, and Quantum Consensus.

Quantum Accounts change how users establish identity. On the legacy network, the relationship between a private and public key rests on elliptic curves.

On the upgraded AlphaNet, this relationship rests on lattice-based mathematics. A user generates a Dilithium key pair. This structure creates a mathematical maze that frustrates both classical and quantum solvers.

So, even if an attacker possesses functional quantum hardware, they cannot find the path back to the private key.

Meanwhile, Quantum Transactions secures the movement of funds. Every time a user sends XRP or another token, they sign it with a digital signature. This signature acts as the seal on the message.

The new protocol mandates that these signatures utilize Dilithium. This ensures that no machine can forge a user’s approval.

Quantum Consensus protects the network’s truth. Validators, which are the servers that agree on transaction ordering, must also speak this new language.

If validators continued to use weak cryptography, a quantum attacker could impersonate them, hijack their votes, and rewrite the ledger’s recent history.

Essentially, the update forces the entire validator set to communicate via quantum-secure channels.

Engineering trade-offsHowever, this shift to quantum resistance imposes distinct operational costs.

Dilithium signatures require significantly more storage space than standard ECDSA signatures. An ECDSA signature occupies 64 bytes; a Dilithium signature requires approximately 2,420 bytes.

This increase impacts network performance. Validators must propagate larger data blocks, which consumes more bandwidth and increases latency. The ledger history grows rapidly, increasing storage costs for node operators.

The AlphaNet pilot is designed to generate data on these trade-offs. So, the network engineers will determine whether the blockchain can maintain its transaction throughput under the increased data load.

If the ledger bloats, it raises the barrier to entry for independent validators, potentially centralizing the network topology.

Closing the programmability gapBeyond security, the new update also addresses a critical competitive failure within the blockchain network.

Smart contracts fill the programmability gap that has held back the XRPL for years. The network handled payments efficiently but could not host the applications that pulled developers and liquidity toward Ethereum and Solana.

Those ecosystems grew because they allowed markets, lending protocols, and automated trading to operate directly on-chain. As a result, they have become the two most dominant platforms for DeFi activity in the industry, with over $100 billion in value locked.

However, XRPL lacked that capability, so activity stayed limited to transfers.

The native smart contract on AlphaNet changes that dynamic. It introduces smart contract tools that let developers build directly on the base chain without sidechains or external frameworks.

These contracts tap into XRPL's existing features, such as the automated market makers, decentralized exchange, and escrow systems, giving builders room to create DeFi services that go beyond simple payments.

That opens XRPL to new frontiers and lowers the barrier for teams familiar with existing smart contract languages. At the same time, it gives the network a way to compete for on-chain volume without relying only on payment flows.

Mentioned in this article

As 2026 approaches, Fundstrat’s internal forecasts reveal a stark contrast to co-founder Tom Lee’s public optimism.

While Lee maintains a bullish perspective on Bitcoin reaching all-time highs, the firm’s “quiet” bear case anticipates a meaningful drawdown in the first half of 2026.

Fundstrat projects Bitcoin correcting by 35% to between $60,000 and $65,000, Ethereum to $1,800 to $2,000, and Solana to $50 to $75.

Sean Farrell, Fundstrat’s head of digital asset strategy, describes this as a base case scenario that would present attractive opportunities for year-end accumulation. Farrel advises investors to play defense and await confirmation of strength if the view proves incorrect.

In previous cycles, such as the 2020-2021 correction, Bitcoin rebounded to $20,000 amid Federal Reserve liquidity and DeFi innovation. However, the upcoming dip is shaped by ETF inflows and broader adoption.

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Contrarian investors stand to benefit by leveraging historical patterns. The 2017 bull run followed Bitcoin’s rebound from $200 to $670, while 2024’s rally surged past $60,000 after U.S. Bitcoin ETF approvals and halving events.

The March 2020 crash, with a 50% drop to $4,000, rewarded those who bought in, highlighting asymmetric returns post-dips. Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s risk-adjusted metrics bolster this case: a 2025 Sharpe Ratio of 2.42, Sortino Ratio of 3.2, and Omega Ratio of 1.29, outperforming large-cap tech and rivaling gold.

That said, Morningstar’s 2026 Global Investment Outlook urges diversification into value stocks, small caps, and dividend-payers to avoid overconcentration in crypto or AI.

Moving on, recent developments reinforce mixed sentiment. Presto Research forecasts Bitcoin at $160,000 with $490 billion in tokenization by 2026, fueled by institutional adoption and quantum risk hedging. Moreover, BlackRock’s IBIT ETF ranked sixth in 2025 in terms of flows, with $25 billion in inflows despite negative returns.

Bitcoin climbed 0.22% at press time and 3% on December 19, 2025, defying bearish predictions after Japan’s rate hike. As it stands, investors are eyeing the $85,000 support level this week and monitoring whether ETF flows reverse their seven-day downtrend of negative $635 million.

Ethereum price has struggled to regain momentum, hovering near the $3,000 level over recent sessions. This prolonged consolidation has weighed on sentiment and weakened short-term confidence among ETH holders. 

Still, shifting on-chain signals and historical price behavior suggest conditions may be forming for a potential rebound.

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Ethereum ETFs Continue To Lose MoneyEthereum ETFs have faced sustained pressure over the past two weeks. During this period, only one trading day recorded net inflows, largely driven by Grayscale activity. Outside that session, investors consistently pulled capital from ETH ETFs, signaling caution across traditional finance channels.

This pullback appears cyclical rather than structural. If Ethereum retests the $2,798 support level, buyers could reenter. A successful bounce and reclamation of that zone may reset market expectations and restore the upward price trajectory.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

Ethereum ETF Netflows. Source: SoSoValueCrucial Holders Are Showing StrengthOn-chain data points to improving macro momentum beneath the surface. Ethereum’s HODler Net Position Change, which tracks long-term holder behavior, has surged sharply. The indicator now sits near its largest outflow levels seen in the past five months.

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This shift suggests older holders are reducing selling pressure and regaining confidence in Ethereum’s recovery potential. If the metric crosses above the zero line, it would confirm net inflows from long-term holders. Such behavior historically supports price stabilization and trend reversals.

ETH Price Could Bounce Back Ethereum traded near $2,978 at the time of writing, remaining capped below the psychological $3,000 barrier. This consolidation has raised concerns about whether ETH could close 2025 under that level. Persistent hesitation has kept volatility elevated and sentiment fragile.

However, ETF dynamics and long-term holder behavior point to a possible shift. A controlled pullback toward $2,798 could provide the base for a rebound. If Ethereum reclaims $3,000 as support, price action may extend toward $3,131 and beyond.

ETH Price Analysis. Source: TradingViewDownside risks remain if bullish momentum fails to develop. A breakdown below $2,798 would weaken the technical structure. In that case, Ethereum price could slide toward $2,681, invalidating the bullish outlook and reinforcing near-term bearish pressure.

Altcoins

Cardano

Deepseek

Solana

XRP

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Ahmed Balaha

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Ahmed Balaha is a journalist and copywriter based in Georgia with a growing focus on blockchain technology, DeFi, AI, privacy, digital assets, and fintech innovation.

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Last updated: 

December 25, 2025

Chinese AI model DeepSeek, often called a serious rival to ChatGPT, just dropped a fresh set of price predictions for XRP, Cardano, and Solana as 2025 heads into its final week.

According to the model, all three coins are entering a high-volatility window, with the potential for sharp moves in either direction before the year wraps up. The outlook is based on a mix of macro conditions, fundamentals, and technical signals.

Below is a breakdown of DeepSeek AI two possible scenarios, showing both the bullish and bearish price paths it sees for each asset through the end of December.

Ripple (XRP): DeepSeek AI Predicts A Run Toward $6 Going Into The New YearDeepSeek AI’s bull case for Ripple’s XRP going into 2026 targets $4.50 to $6.00.

The bullish case assumes a few big things go right: clear regulation after the SEC case, wider adoption of Ripple’s ODL for cross-border payments, and deeper involvement in CBDC projects. If all that lines up, DeepSeek thinks XRP could jump more than 80% and push into the $3 to $5 range.

On the flip side, the bearish scenario is pretty rough. DeepSeek warns that if selling pressure ramps up and sentiment turns ugly, XRP could slide hard from around $1.86 down toward $1.00. That would be a massive drop and shows just how volatile things could get if the market flips negative.

Source: TradingViewTo fully reverse its downtrend, XRP needs to climb above the $2.2 level. This would break the token’s bearish price structure. This could set the stage for a strong recovery to $3 at least.

The recent launch of five spot XRP ETFs in the U.S. could bring in a new wave of institutional money, even during the slower holiday period. We have seen this playbook before with Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, where demand built quietly before bigger moves followed.

With more ETF approvals likely in the coming months, the odds are rising that 2026 turns into a breakout year for XRP. For investors accumulating at current levels, the risk-reward could end up looking very attractive.

Solana (SOL): DeepSeek Expects Solana Is Ready For 300% JumpDeepSeek AI’s bull case for Solana SOL going into 2026 targets $275 to $350.

Solana remains the coin of the cycle. DeepSeek AI predicts Solana could supercharge and lead scalable consumer applications, with ecosystem growth and rising institutional adoption potentially driving a 300% breakout by early 2026.

If that fails, the bear case is not much worse than current conditions, with DeepSeek projecting a drop toward the $80-$95 support zone.

Source: JamesEaston There are several scenarios that could play out here, but overall the bullish structure remains intact.

Analyst James Easton believes that as long as price stays above this wedge, the setup still supports a rally. What really stands out is the weekly RSI, which is actually lower now than it was at the bottom of the bear market, a condition that has historically lined up with strong upside moves.

Cardano (ADA): Deepseek Says Its Finally Going Back Above The Dollar Mark?DeepSeek AI’s bull case for Cardano ADA going into 2026 targets $0.85 to $1.20.

This hinges on Cardano actually delivering. A smooth rollout of the Chang hard fork would unlock on-chain governance and the community treasury, while real-world utility projects would finally prove the peer-reviewed approach works at scale.

But if those pieces stall or disappoint, sentiment could flip fast and send the price back toward the $0.25–$0.28 bear case zone.

Source: ADSUSD / TradingView To confirm a bullish rebound, ADA needs to break and hold above the $0.36 level in the short term. If it does, the next clear resistance sits at $0.38, where price has already failed twice over the past week.

A move down toward the $0.30 zone is still possible if this level fails to break. The RSI is around 40 and not yet oversold, which leaves room for that scenario to play out.

As long as the previous low near $0.27 is not broken, the bullish setup remains possible heading into the new year.

Deepseek Best Choice Could Quietly Be Maxi DogeWhile DeepSeek is laying out extreme bull and bear cases for XRP, Solana, and Cardano, some traders are skipping the predictions altogether and focusing on where momentum is already quietly building. That is exactly where Maxi Doge comes in.

Maxi Doge is positioning itself as a pure high-beta memecoin play for the next cycle, built for the kind of volatility DeepSeek is warning about. When majors chop and sentiment stays divided, capital often rotates into aggressive meme narratives that do not need perfect macro conditions to move.

The project has already raised over $4.28M, which is a strong signal considering how cautious the market has been lately. On top of that, staking rewards are sitting at a massive 71% APY, giving early holders a real incentive to lock in and wait rather than chase short-term price swings.

While AI models argue whether SOL goes to $300 or XRP drops to $1, Maxi Doge is doing what early memecoin winners usually do, building quietly, attracting committed capital, and setting the stage before the broader market wakes up.

If 2026 really does turn into the high-volatility year many expect, the tokens with strong communities, simple narratives, and aggressive tokenomics tend to outperform everything else. Maxi Doge is shaping up to be one of those plays.

Stay updated through Maxi Doge’s official X and Telegram pages.

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Bitcoin's four-year halving cycle no longer drives prices the way it used to, because institutional buyers and ETFs have changed the game. Strategy, Tesla, and 10 other companies have each converted at least $1 billion into Bitcoin on their balance sheets.

Journalist

Posted: December 26, 2025

Bitcoin has traded between the $85k-$92k range throughout December. The options expiry on Friday, the 26th of December, will likely shake things up.

QCP Capital noted in their latest US Colour market update that liquidity was thinning as traders closed out their positions ahead of the holidays.

This caused a drop in Open Interest for Bitcoin and Ethereum [ETH]. A 5%-7% price swing towards the end of the year is expected due to the options expiries towards the year-end.

Friday’s record expiry measured $23.7 billion, with roughly 300k BTC options contracts and 446k IBIT option contracts.

The Max Pain Point was at $95,000, with a sizeable concentration of strikes at $100k and $85k as well. How will this affect the Bitcoin [BTC] price action?

Analysts agree that Bitcoin is likely to bounce soon
In a post on X, Founder and CEO of Alphractal Joao Wedson highlighted the points of interest around Bitcoin right now. The Put/Call ratio is just 0.38, and the Max Pain Point created a strong short-term price gravity that would pull the price to $95k.

In another post, Wedson used the liquidation levels to highlight his expectations.

The leveraged positions around $84k and $95k were clear on the heatmap and were the short-term price targets. BTC would likely dip toward $82k-$84k before rallying to $95k and possibly higher.

Another user, David, highlighted similar expectations. The analyst observed that the $90k level was a false ceiling, and the $100k level was a structural magnet. Of particular interest were the levels mentioned for the initial flush, at $80k-$82k.

A move to $90k would be the breakout trigger.

QCP Capital noted that this rally might not be sustainable.

“…holiday-driven moves have historically tended to mean-revert. Much like low-liquidity weekend spikes that often retrace once markets reopen, Christmas week price action typically fades as liquidity returns in January.”

The holiday price action might be extra volatile as thin books encounter tax-loss harvesting from crypto investors ahead of the 31st of December deadline. These conditions can amplify short-term volatility instead of suppressing it.

Final Thoughts

The options expiry on Friday is the largest of the year (quarterly + annual), equivalent to $23.7 billion.
Analysts suggest that a BTC dip to $82k-$84k could be followed by a rally toward the max pain point at $95k upon options expiry.

Akashnath S is a Senior Journalist and Technical Analysis expert at AMBCrypto. He specializes in dissecting price action, identifying key market trends through advanced chart patterns, and forecasting both short-term and long-term asset trajectories.
His distinct analytical method is grounded in his academic training as a Chemical Engineer. This background provides him with a systematic, process-oriented approach to market data, enabling him to analyze the complex dynamics of financial markets with precision and objectivity.
Having actively covered the cryptocurrency space since the landmark 2017 market cycle, Akashnath possesses years of experience navigating both bull and bear markets. This seasoned perspective is critical to his insightful reporting on market volatility and evolution.
As an active market participant, Akashnath enhances his analysis with crucial, hands-on experience. This practical application of his technical skills ensures his insights are not merely theoretical, but are also relevant and actionable for an audience looking to understand and navigate trading opportunities. He is dedicated to educating readers on the nuances of technical analysis, empowering them with the knowledge to make more informed financial decisions.

Silver left the $50 range in late November and went parabolic into year-end, registering consecutive all-time highs and hitting $72 an ounce on Dec. 24. Gold made a similar run throughout 2025, reaching $4,524.30 the same day.

Bitcoin, however, traded at $87,498.12 as of press time, down roughly 8% for the year and 30% from its October peak of $126,000.

For anyone who spent 2024 calling Bitcoin “digital gold” and expecting it to ride the same hard asset wave as precious metals, 2025 delivered an uncomfortable lesson: the macro currents that lift gold and silver don't automatically carry crypto along for the ride.

The silver spike matters for Bitcoin investors, but not as a direct trading trigger or a signal to rotate capital. It matters as a macro barometer, a sort of weather report showing which way the wind is blowing and who's capturing the safe-haven bid.

What it reveals is a market willing to pay up for scarce, non-yielding assets when the narrative is trusted, but choosing tangible hedges over digital ones when geopolitical stress and rate cut expectations converge.

That combination isn't inherently bearish for Bitcoin. It just means Bitcoin's moment hasn't arrived yet, and understanding why requires unpacking what's driving metals, what's holding Bitcoin back, and whether the two trades will eventually converge.

Hard asset regime leaves Bitcoin behindSilver's 143% rally in 2025 marked its strongest run on record, and gold's roughly 70% gain brought it to repeated all-time highs.

Both moves came alongside a weaker dollar, expectations of Fed rate cuts in 2026, and rising geopolitical risk, the exact macro setup that Bitcoin advocates have long argued should send BTC higher.

Instead, Bitcoin spent most of the year consolidating or selling off, failing to sustain momentum despite record spot ETF inflows and a friendlier US regulatory environment under the Trump administration.

The divergence suggests the market is in a hard asset regime, just not one favoring crypto.

Precious metals absorbed the safe-haven bid that many expected would flow to “digital gold,” including JPMorgan, which included Bitcoin in its debasement trade report in early October.

Central banks added to gold reserves throughout the year. Retail flows shifted toward physical metals after Bitcoin's sharp drawdowns earlier in 2025. That relative preference explains why a macro backdrop that should be friendly, with lower real yields, a weaker dollar, and geopolitical stress, isn't translating into outsized Bitcoin gains.

The market is treating gold and silver as legitimate crisis hedges and treating Bitcoin as something else: a high-beta risk asset that benefits from liquidity and narrative momentum but doesn't automatically rally when fear dominates sentiment.

Research and price action both reinforce this distinction.

Multiple studies published in 2025 found that gold and broader commodity baskets exhibit more consistent safe-haven behavior across different types of macro shocks, while Bitcoin remains, at best, a conditional hedge, often positively correlated with equities.

That's exactly what 2025 looked like: metals ripping on rate-cut bets and geopolitical anxiety, while Bitcoin failed to sustain its run despite tailwinds. The “digital gold” thesis didn't break; it just hasn't been tested under the right conditions yet.

Despite the recent wave of institutional adoption and initial regulatory clarity, when institutions and retail allocate for safety, they still default to the assets with centuries of track record.

Bitcoin traded volatily throughout 2025 while the S&P 500 and gold maintained steady upward trajectories, with Bitcoin currently around $87,982. (Source: Bitcoin Counterflow)The structural driver that Bitcoin lacksSilver's rally wasn't purely a fear trade, as a significant piece of the move reflects industrial demand and structural tightness.

A Saxo article published in November flagged a year of tight supply for silver and other metals, driven by record photovoltaic and electronics usage, and a limited ability to substitute for silver in key supply chains.

That means a large portion of silver's run is a bet on green technology, grid expansion, and electric vehicles, not just a general scramble for stores of value.

Bitcoin doesn't share that industrial driver. While both assets benefit from lower rates and a weaker dollar, silver has an additional secular bid tied to physical consumption in manufacturing and energy infrastructure.

That helps explain the performance gap without implying any direct negative signal about Bitcoin. Silver's parabolic move is partly about macro, the same forces that could eventually lift Bitcoin, and partly about structural demand that has nothing to do with crypto.

Disentangling those two components is critical for Bitcoin investors trying to read the signal correctly.
The industrial narrative also makes silver's rally more durable in certain scenarios. If Fed cuts materialize in 2026 and the dollar weakens further, both silver and Bitcoin should benefit.

But if rate cuts stall or reverse and risk appetite collapses, silver has a floor provided by industrial offtake that Bitcoin lacks. That asymmetry matters for positioning: silver can fall, but it's unlikely to crater the way Bitcoin has in past bear markets, because a baseline level of physical demand persists regardless of macro sentiment.

Bitcoin, by contrast, has no such buffer. Although ETF flows help absorb selling pressure, their absorption capacity fades when flows revert to negative, as has been happening.

DriverGold & SilverBitcoinReal yields & Fed cutsLower real yields and expected cuts are a primary tailwind; metals respond strongly as classic “no-yield” stores of value.Help indirectly via easier financial conditions, but BTC’s response is weaker and more episodic than metals.US dollarA weaker dollar has been a key support for the metals rally.Also tends to benefit from a weaker dollar, but the link is less clean and often dominated by crypto-specific flows.Geopolitical / safe-haven demandCentral to gold, secondary but important for silver: war and policy stress have pushed money into precious metals as traditional havens.Mostly trades like a risk asset; only occasionally behaves as a haven and didn’t lead the 2025 “safety trade.”Industrial / green-tech demandCrucial for silver: multi-year deficits, record solar/PV and electronics usage, and limited substitution are big parts of the move.No industrial use; demand is almost entirely financial/speculative, plus some settlement/payment use on-chain.Institutional & central bank behaviorCentral banks and some institutions are actively adding metals, reinforcing the safe-asset status.Institutions are active via ETFs and funds, but no central-bank reserve role; flows are more pro-cyclical and risk-on.Correlation with equities/risk appetiteMetals have behaved like classic hedges: rallying in a year of geopolitical stress even as risk assets wobble.Post-ETF, BTC has traded more like high-beta tech/equity exposure, lagging in a year when safety trades outperformed.ETF / derivatives flows & positioningGold/silver ETP flows and futures positioning amplify the macro/safe-haven bid.Spot ETF flows, perps and options positioning drive a lot of short-term action; leverage washouts and crypto-specific overhangs can swamp macro tailwinds.What Bitcoin investors should actually do with thisThe silver melt-up is a macro barometer, not a trading signal. It's strong confirmation that markets are pricing lower real rates and a weaker dollar, willing to pay up for scarce, non-yielding assets when they trust the narrative, and reallocating toward “tangible” hedges they expect to behave in a crisis.

That combination isn't inherently bearish for Bitcoin, as it suggests that there's room for Bitcoin to re-rate back into the broader hard-asset trade.

The question is timing and catalyst. Silver's run suggests the macro setup is favorable for non-yielding, scarce assets, but it doesn't indicate when or why Bitcoin will start capturing that bid.

For that to happen, one or more of the following needs to occur: institutional allocation shifts back toward crypto as regulatory clarity improves, retail sentiment recovers from the 2025 drawdown, or a macro shock creates conditions where Bitcoin's specific properties of censorship resistance, portability, and programmability become more valued than gold's history or silver's industrial utility.
None of those are guaranteed, and all depend on factors unrelated to what's happening in metals markets.

The risk is that silver's run is now crowded and fragile. A sharp reversal driven by a surprise hawkish Fed turn, a dollar squeeze, or an unwind of speculative positioning would likely spill over into cross-asset volatility and could hit Bitcoin as part of broader de-risking.

But even that would be about funding and positioning, not about any mechanical silver-to-Bitcoin linkage.

The two assets don't trade as substitutes; they trade as different expressions of the same macro thesis, and when that thesis unwinds, the unwinding happens through whichever asset class is most levered, most liquid, or most vulnerable to redemptions and margin calls.

Currents and winds Bitcoin is sailing inIn other words, consecutive silver peaks matter to Bitcoin holders the way a weather report matters to a sailor.

They don't tell exactly where the boat will go next, but they do tell a lot about the currents and winds the boat is navigating.

The current is lower real rates, a weaker dollar, and elevated geopolitical risk. The wind is a preference for tangible, trusted hedges over speculative, volatile ones.

Bitcoin is far from broken, but it's sailing against that wind right now, which means progress will be slow until sentiment shifts or a catalyst emerges that makes crypto's specific properties more attractive than the alternatives.

What 2025's silver rally ultimately proves is that “hard asset” doesn't automatically mean “Bitcoin included.” Markets distinguish between assets with industrial demand, institutional credibility, and narrative momentum. Silver has the first two. Gold has the second and third. Bitcoin has the third when conditions align, but it's still fighting for the second and will never have the first.

That doesn't make Bitcoin a bad investment, it just means its time to outperform depends on conditions that silver and gold don't need.

When those conditions arrive, Bitcoin's upside will likely dwarf what metals can deliver.

Until then, watching silver hit new highs is a reminder that macro tailwinds don't guarantee crypto participation, and that the hard asset trade is bigger than any single asset class.

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It’s the holiday season, and Bitcoin (BTC) is trading downwards after plunging toward the $87,000 region. Although the cryptocurrency has struggled for months, failing to reclaim key resistance levels, a crypto analyst believes Bitcoin could still stage a major Christmas rally. As the analyst outlines a potential roadmap for this projected upswing, he cautions that a further price crash to $80,000, or even lower, remains a strong possibility. 

Crypto analyst RBswingtrader shared a Bitcoin market outlook on X the day before Christmas, outlining multiple scenarios that could determine whether the cryptocurrency resumes an upward trend or faces further downside. The analyst noted that smart money is currently buying Bitcoin in a new zone and also cautioned that a final price crash, potentially driven by market manipulation, could occur before a trend reversal. 

According to his analysis, Bitcoin could still decline to a fresh local low around $80,000 before strong buyers enter the market. The analyst stressed the importance of patience, viewing this potential dip as part of a broader accumulation strategy. 

He shared a chart highlighting BTC trading under a declining orange Moving Average (MA) after a sharp selloff from the $108,519 resistance zone.  The analyst noted that the cryptocurrency’s price had previously failed at the upper range and rolled over into a strong downtrend that has persisted for weeks. 

Source: X
RBswingtrader further pinpointed a clear Elliott Wave structure on the BTC chart, with waves labeled from one through five, followed by an ABC corrective pattern. Wave 3 accelerated Bitcoin’s selloff, while Wave 5 appears to be developing, with downside targets still open. Multiple key support levels were also highlighted, including $87,106, $86,169, and $83,986. 

The analyst warned that a deeper breakdown from these support levels could open the door to a potential crash toward $80,427, with an extended lower target near $74,185 if Bitcoin’s selling pressure intensifies. He also plotted multiple Fibonacci retracement levels that align with the lower support zones for the BTC price.  

Notably, the volume data at the bottom of the chart indicates a large accumulation trend through December. Increased trading activity supports the view that large players are taking advantage of dips and building positions despite Bitcoin’s weak price action. 

Is A Christmas Rally Still Possible For BTC?
In RBswingtrader’s chart, a potential Christmas rally for Bitcoin was illustrated with an upward projection targeting the $108,519 region if the price recovers from its current lows. The chart indicated that growing accumulation volume this December and the Bullish Divergence in the Relative Strength Index (RSI) could support upward momentum. 

RBswingtrader also noted that reclaiming key technical levels, including the 0.5 Fibonacci Retracement near $96,690-$96,836, could support Bitcoin’s potential upward move. At the time of writing, the leading cryptocurrency is trading around $87,669. 

BTC fails to hold $89,000 | Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview.com
Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

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