Bitcoin Slips Back Below $87,000 As Traders Weigh Their Next Move

TLDR:

• Investor sentiment remains stuck in the “extreme fear” zone despite slight rebounds.
• Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows of $457 million on Wednesday.
• S. inflation fell to 2.7%, a figure lower than expected by financial analysts.

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Thursday’s session was marked by mixed nuances in the cryptocurrency market, with volatility taking center stage. While it is true that the sector’s total capitalization rose by 2%, reaching $3.05 trillion, the most significant assets failed to strongly extend the rebound recorded mid-week.

The benchmark asset, Bitcoin, is trading near $88,200, hitting strong resistance after failing in its attempt to consolidate above the $90,000 psychological mark.

Bitcoin on the day of this storysnapshot 18 Dec 2025

Day open

$86,243

00:00 UTC

Past 7 days

−6.3%

from $92,015

Since the open

−21.5%

$67,743 · 14 Nov, 02:30 UTC

All-time high

−31.6%

$126,080 · Oct 2025

Data: Binance, CoinGeckoLive Bitcoin price →

Ethereum, for its part, showed superior performance among the top ten assets. This asset rose by 3.6%, placing it near $2,950. Nonetheless, according to a Glassnode report, the technical structure of the crypto market today remains fragile.

Regarding Bitcoin, analysts point out that it remains trapped in a range defined by support at $81,000 and constant rejection near $93,000, limited by selling pressure that stalls any significant bullish momentum.

Macroeconomic Factors and Institutional Capital Flow

On the institutional front, SoSoValue data reveals a positive reversal in the flow of exchange-traded funds. Spot Bitcoin ETFs added $457 million on December 17, offsetting two days of massive outflows. However, Ethereum ETFs continued to record net outflows, albeit more modest, totaling $22.4 million.

At the macroeconomic level, the crypto market today is reacting calmly to lower-than-expected U.S. inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for November stood at 2.7% year-over-year, surpassing cooling expectations.

Despite this encouraging data, prediction markets like Polymarket maintain a 70% probability that the Federal Reserve will not make changes to interest rates in January, keeping traders in a “wait and see” stance while total liquidations in the sector reach $376 million.