Bitcoin is trading just below $90,000 as markets settle into year-end positioning, with price near $90,260, up 1.65% on the day and about $28.4 bn in 24-hour volume. After weeks of controlled downside, price action has narrowed, pointing to consolidation rather than renewed selling pressure.
Bitcoin remains the market’s anchor asset, ranked #1 with a market capitalisation of roughly $1.80 tn and 19.97 mn BTC in circulation. Total crypto market value stands near $3.04 tn, signalling active participation without signs of speculative excess.
Macro Conditions Shape Bitcoin’s Base
Fundamentally, Bitcoin is benefitting from a steadier macro backdrop. Expectations for US monetary policy have stabilised, with markets largely pricing a prolonged Federal Reserve pause rather than renewed tightening. That shift has eased pressure on the US dollar and reduced volatility across risk assets.
Institutional participation remains a defining feature of this phase. While spot Bitcoin ETF inflows have cooled from earlier peaks, there has been no meaningful reversal. Holdings remain sticky, pointing to portfolio allocation rather than short-term positioning.
At the same time, miner selling has moderated as profitability conditions stabilise, removing a persistent source of supply that weighed on price earlier in the quarter.
Sentiment and Leverage Signal Caution, Not Stress
Market psychology remains guarded. The Fear and Greed Index sits at 29, firmly in fear territory, reflecting cautious positioning rather than optimism. Meanwhile, the Altcoin Season Index at 16/100 confirms capital concentration in Bitcoin, with little appetite for broad risk rotation.
Derivatives data reinforces this stabilisation narrative. Open interest across major exchanges has declined from recent highs, signalling a reset in leverage rather than disorderly liquidation. Lower leverage reduces the risk of sharp, forced selloffs and allows price to respond more directly to spot demand.
Bitcoin (BTC/USD) Technical Structure Signals Compression
From a technical perspective, Bitcoin price prediction seems bullish amid breakout of descending channel on the 4-hour chart. Price has formed higher lows since the mid-December bottom near $84,500, pointing to improving dip demand.
Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: TradingviewBitcoin is now pressing into a pivot zone between $89,500 and $90,500, where the 50-EMA near $88,400 and 100-EMA around $89,050 are converging. RSI has climbed into the mid-60s, showing strengthening momentum without excess.
Bitcoin Price Forecast and Outlook
The upper boundary of the descending channel sits near $91,500–$92,000. Acceptance above this area would open a path toward $94,200, followed by $98,000. Failure to hold $89,000 would bring $84,500 back into focus.
As Bitcoin compresses near $90,000, the market appears less concerned with immediacy and more focused on confirmation, a setup that often precedes a broader directional move.
PEPENODE: A Mine-to-Earn Meme Coin Nearing Presale Close
PEPENODE is gaining momentum as a next-generation meme coin that blends viral culture with interactive gameplay. With over $2.38 mn raised and the presale approaching its cap, interest is building fast as the countdown enters its final stretch.
What makes PEPENODE stand out is its mine-to-earn virtual ecosystem. Instead of passive holding, users can build digital server rooms using Miner Nodes and facilities, earning simulated rewards through a visual dashboard. The concept brings gamification and competition into the meme coin space, giving holders something to do before launch.
The project also offers presale staking, allowing early participants to earn boosted rewards ahead of the token generation event. Leaderboards and bonus incentives are planned post-launch to keep engagement high.
With 1 $PEPENODE priced at $0.0012064 and limited allocation remaining, the presale is entering its final opportunity window for early buyers.
Click Here to Participate in the PresaleThe post Bitcoin Price Prediction: As the BTC Price Inches Towards $90,000 on Dec. 22, Is A Christmas Miracle Possible for Investors? appeared first on Cryptonews.
