Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (December 29) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin and Ether price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$87,107.03, down by 0.4 percent over 24 hours.
Bitcoin price performance, December 29, 2025.
Chart via TradingView.
BTC’s spot market shows mild selling pressure with a slight price decline, neutral momentum from the RSI at 45.40 and a low positive funding rate of 0.008 percent, suggesting limited bullish aggression in derivatives.
Mostly long liquidations totaling US$1.67 million over four hours leading up to the end of the trading day, alongside a 0.35 percent drop in open interest to US$57.54 billion, point to deleveraging among overextended buyers, while thin holiday trading volumes amplify small moves.
The data signals continued consolidation, holding the key support around US$86,000, despite a weekly dip. Overall, traders appear sidelined with bearish short-term momentum.
Linh Tran, a senior market Analyst at XS.com, suggests that BTC is entering a phase of stability and renewed accumulation in Q1 2026, rather than a strong growth phase at the beginning of the year.
“However, recent data also indicate that ETF flows are no longer consistently strongly net positive as in the early phase of the cycle, but have become more volatile, with some weeks even recording net outflows amid portfolio rebalancing and holiday-related liquidity conditions.
In my view, this does not imply that Bitcoin’s long-term trend has turned bearish, but rather suggests that institutional demand in Q1 2026 is likely to be more selective and cautious, instead of acting as a catalyst for a sharp breakout in Bitcoin prices.”
Regulatory progress, BTC’s correlation as a risk asset to the US equity market, and geopolitical risks will also act as catalysts.
“Bitcoin’s underlying structure is significantly more solid than in previous cycles, thanks to institutional participation and broader acceptance within the financial system. If institutional flows return, the regulatory and geopolitical environment becomes more supportive, and the Fed’s policy stance begins to signal that rate cuts are approaching earlier in the year, this combination could create an ideal environment for Bitcoin to recover and reclaim the US$100,000 level.”
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$$2,928.18, down by 0.1 percent over the last 24 hours.
Altcoin price update
XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.85, down by 0.7 percent over 24 hours.
Solana (SOL) was trading at US$122.97, down by 0.3 percent over 24 hours.
Today’s crypto news to know
Strategy announces latest BTC purchase
Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) announced its latest BTC purchase of 2025, adding 1,229 BTC between December 22-28 for a purchase price of US$108.8 million, according to a Form 8-K filed on Monday.
The purchase brings Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings to 672,497 BTC.
Chinese banks to pay interest on digital yuan wallets from January 2026
China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), is updating its digital yuan (e-CNY) rules effective January 1, 2026, to let commercial banks pay interest on users’ wallet balances, according to a PBOC-affiliated China Financial Times article published on Monday. This shifts the e-CNY from just a digital cash replacement to something more like a bank deposit, aiming to boost everyday use after years of slow adoption.
PBOC deputy governor Lu Lei explained the changes in the article: ‘Looking ahead, the choice of business and technology models for the digital yuan will adhere to the fundamental principle of meeting the needs of the real economy. It will adopt a principle of inclusiveness and prudent selection regarding the development of account-based and value-based digital currencies, and promote the digital yuan to meet the needs of different scenarios and different business entities.’
ALT5 Sigma’s auditor switch draws regulatory heat
Nasdaq-listed crypto firm ALT5 Sigma (NASDAQ:ALTS) is under renewed scrutiny after it emerged that its newly appointed auditor is currently barred from conducting audits due to an inactive firm license.
According to the Financial Times, the issue surfaced after the company missed its third-quarter filing deadline and hastily replaced its previous auditor earlier this month.
The new firm, Victor Mokuolu CPA PLLC, does not hold an active Texas firm license, effectively preventing it from issuing any audit opinions under state rules.
While the firm’s founder renewed his personal CPA license in late August, state records show the firm itself remains unlicensed as of late December. ALT5 Sigma told the Financial Times that no reviews or audits will be issued until the licensing issue is resolved, with a mandatory peer review now underway and expected to conclude by the end of January.
Russia floats Bitcoin mining at occupied Ukrainian nuclear plant
Officials at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant say they are prepared to supply electricity to Bitcoin miners, but only if a broader peace deal involving Ukraine is reached.
The plant, seized by Russian forces in March 2022 and now operated by state-owned Rosenergoatom, could power crypto mining farms alongside civilian infrastructure, representatives told Russian media.
The comments followed remarks by President Vladimir Putin that US-Russia discussions have expanded beyond security to include economic proposals tied to the facility’s output. Putin said American counterparts had expressed interest in using the plant’s electricity both for cryptocurrency mining and for supplying power to Ukraine.
XRP and Solana defy crypto fund outflows, Bitcoin and Ether slide
Crypto investment products bled US$446 million in net outflows last week, extending the sector’s post-October slump and pushing cumulative withdrawals since the sharp market downturn to US$3.2 billion.
According to the recent Digital Asset Fund Flows Weekly report by CoinShares, Bitcoin and Ethereum bore the brunt of the selling. In contrast, XRP and Solana stood out as rare bright spots, pulling in US$70.2 million and US$7.5 million in weekly inflows, respectively.
By late December, XRP ETFs had logged more than US$1 billion in cumulative inflows, while Solana ETFs had surpassed US$750 million.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
