Why Is Crypto Down Today? – December 18, 2025
After a day of a very minor rise, the crypto market is down today. The cryptocurrency market capitalization decreased by 1.5% and now stands at $3.01 trillion. Also, 95 of the top 100 coins have gone down over the past 24 hours. At the same time, the total crypto trading volume is at $129 billion.
Crypto Market Overview
At the time of writing, all top 10 coins per market capitalization have seen their prices decrease over the past 24 hours. Bitcoin (BTC) is down by just 0.3% since this time yesterday, currently trading at $86,722. This is the category’s smallest drop. Ethereum (ETH) is down by 3.9%, now changing hands at $2,834. The highest drop is Dogecoin (DOGE)’s 5% to the price of $0.1245. XRP follows with a change of 4.6%, now standing at $1.84.
Among the top 100 coins, 95 coins saw decreases. Of these, three are double-digit. LEO Token (LEO) is at the top of the red list, having dropped 27.1% to the price of $6.58. Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Pump.fun (PUMP) follow, with falls of 12% and 11.8%, currently changing hands at $23.94 and $0.002021. On the green side, Canton (CC) appreciated the most: 5.6% to $0.07517. Midnight (NIGHT) is next with a 3.9% rise, now trading at $0.06385.
Bitcoin’s volatility has become more restrained, decreasing below the volatility of Nvidia shares in 2025, reflecting a maturing and more diversified investor base. Meanwhile, Anatoly Aksakov, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on Financial Markets, affirmed a strict ban on payments using crypto in the country.
BTC Hitting $140,000 in 180 Days
Fadi Aboualfa, Head of Research at Cooper, commented that Bitcoin has shown the same repeatable pattern in 2024 and 2025. Price hits all-time highs, corrects sharply, and “then finds support almost perfectly at its ETF investor cost basis before beginning the next expansion.” Institutions are focusing on risk-adjusted contribution to a portfolio, with a modest 2% BTC moving to 6.2% in less than 180 days during these cycles. With BTC now trading near its $84,000 cost basis, that pattern points to a move north of $140,000 in the next 180 days.
Nick Forster, Founder at onchain options platform Derive.xyz, noted that markets continue to slide as we head into the New Year, with BTC positioning remaining decisively bearish. Traders are pricing continued downside risk through Q1 and Q2 as ongoing sell pressure from previously inactive wallets weighs on spot prices.
There’s a 45% chance that ETH reclaims $3,000 by the end of Q1 next year. Also, there’s a 25% chance it surpasses $4,000 over the same period. Overall, Forster says volatility remains elevated and positioning is defensive, but upside tails have not been fully abandoned as markets brace for a volatile start to the year.
Levels & Events to Watch Next
At the time of writing on Thursday morning, BTC stood at $86,722, beginning the day at $87,011. Bitcoin could further decrease towards $84,000, followed by the $82,300-83,200 range. A rise may see BTC reclaim $90,000. Ethereum is currently changing hands at $2,834, with potential fluctuations in the $2,700 level, followed by $2,630, or an uptick upwards to regain $3,000.
Meanwhile, the crypto market sentiment continues decreasing within the fear territory. The crypto fear and greed index stands at 22 today, moving towards the extreme fear zone. This fear and uncertainty is increasing as the market continues trending downward.
ETFs Sees a Mixed Wednesday
The US BTC spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) broke the outflow streak on Wednesday, with $457.29 million in inflows. Two of the twelve BTC ETFs saw outflows and two saw inflows. On the red side, Ark&21Shares let go of $36.96 million. Meanwhile, the US ETH ETFs posted a fifth day of negative flows, with $22.43 million in outflows on 17 December.
Coinbase announced the launch of several new products, expanding into stocks, advanced trading, and built-in prediction markets, allowing users to trade stocks on the platform and place bets on various events.
The crypto market saw a decrease over the past 24 hours, and the US stock market closed its Wednesday session lower, marking a fourth successive decline for major indices as AI bubble worries increase. Analysts argue that the latest decrease was expected and might continue in the short term.
This article has been published in [cryptonews.com](https://www.cryptonews.com) via Yahoo News.
