Weekly Crypto Update: Bitcoin Moves Below $90k After Rate Cuts

The week of December 8 to 14, 2025 saw crypto markets move sideways with a bearish bias, as macro uncertainty capped upside despite pockets of strength in select altcoins. Total crypto market capitalization hovered around $3.1 trillion, ending the week slightly lower near $3.08–3.15 trillion, translating to a marginal 0–2% weekly decline. After early December volatility, the market attempted to stabilize, but conviction remained weak. Weekly trading volumes averaged $132 billion, up roughly 4%, suggesting cautious participation rather than aggressive risk-taking. Investors remained selective, favoring narrative-driven trades while reducing exposure to majors ahead of macro signals. Now let us dive into key movers and highlights of this weekly crypto update.

Weekly Crypto Update : Top Gainers (7d) 📈

• $RAVE (+95%) – Surged following its TGE and multiple exchange listings, driving strong speculative interest.
• $ICNT (+76%) – Jumped after being verified as “Gold” on Hotspotty, boosting visibility and credibility.
• $FOLKS (+74%) – Continued its uptrend as Folks Points Season 2 went live, renewing user engagement.
• $LUNA (+50%) – Spiked on reaction to Do Kwon’s sentencing, triggering short-term volatility-driven flows.
• $RIVER (+35%) – Gained after the launch of Conversion 2.0, improving protocol efficiency.

Weekly Crypto Update : Top Losers (7d) 📉

• $NIGHT (–85%) – Collapsed under heavy sell pressure following its launch.
• $CLO (–38%) – Corrected sharply after a nearly 3x move earlier in the month.
• $MON (–24%) – Dropped as large holders sold roughly 8M tokens on the open market.
• $LUNC (–20%) – Faced renewed selling after a strong weekly push faded.
• $ATH (–19%) – Broke below key technical support, accelerating downside momentum.

Bitcoin and Ethereum: Caution Returns

Bitcoin (BTC) struggled to reclaim strength this week. Starting near $91,400, BTC slipped back below $90,000, closing around $88,866, marking a 3–4% weekly decline. Its market cap fell from approximately $1.82 trillion to $1.80 trillion.

Price action reflected fading risk appetite ahead of macro developments. BTC showed brief signs of bottoming but failed to sustain momentum above the $90K level, consolidating instead in the $88K–$89K range.

Ethereum (ETH) showed relative resilience. Opening near $3,113, ETH held up better than BTC, supported by steady DeFi activity and Layer 2 demand. While some reports showed mild weekly gains, overall price action remained subdued, with ETH largely flat by week’s end as broader market caution persisted.

Altcoins, Narratives, and Market Breadth

The flat headline market cap masked rotation beneath the surface. Smaller-cap tokens and narrative-driven plays outperformed, while larger alts lagged. AI-related assets drew attention following Grayscale’s launch of the Bittensor Trust (GTAO) and TAO’s halving on December 14, events that reinforced institutional interest in AI-focused crypto exposure.

Despite selective strength, sentiment remained fragile. Crypto sentiment scores dipped to around 23/100 on multiple days, reflecting low risk tolerance and thin order books. Retail participation remained defensive, while larger players appeared to accumulate selectively.

Macro and Sentiment Check

The Federal Reserve’s 25 bps rate cut on December 10, lowering rates to 3.50%–3.75%, failed to ignite a rally. Hawkish forward guidance, signaling fewer cuts in 2026, reinforced a risk-off tone across markets. Bitcoin and equities both sold off following the announcement, highlighting continued sensitivity to liquidity expectations.

Despite near-term pressure, historical patterns suggest that periods of extreme caution often precede recovery phases, especially when small-cap activity begins to reappear.

Weekly Crypto Update : Key Takeaways

• Total crypto market cap held near $3.1T, ending slightly lower.
• BTC fell 3–4%, closing around $88.8K.
• ETH showed relative strength but ended the week mostly flat.
• Fed’s 25 bps cut failed to boost risk assets.
• AI and small-cap narratives outperformed majors.
• Sentiment remained cautious, with scores near 23/100.
• Selective accumulation continues beneath the surface.

Outlook: Compression Before the Next Move?

Markets remain in a consolidation phase. BTC holding the $85K–$88K zone will be critical for short-term stability, while further downside could test investor conviction. With sentiment still muted and year-end positioning underway, volatility may persist.

That said, history shows that low sentiment and selective altcoin strength often precede broader recoveries. Macro signals, liquidity conditions, and institutional flows will remain the deciding factors into late December.

Conclusion

Crypto is pausing, not breaking. Weak hands continue to exit, while patient capital watches closely. This phase may feel uneventful, but it often lays the groundwork for the next directional move.