Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, has fallen below the $86,000 threshold for the first time in two weeks, according to a report, which attributes this decline to weak investor sentiment. Akshat Siddhant, shared that “The crypto market is consolidating, with Bitcoin near $86,000 and Ethereum around $2,950.” The recent pullback has been fueled by short-term whale profit-taking amounting to nearly $2.78 billion, alongside increasing expectations of a Bank of Japan rate hike, putting pressure on risk assets. “Weak macro signals from China, slowing domestic industrial output, have reinforced concerns around global growth, pressuring commodities, equities, and now crypto,” stated Nischal Shetty. Oil prices serve as a crucial indicator of how geopolitical events will influence investor behavior in the crypto market, he added.
As we delve further into bear territory, the token was trading at $85,654.93 apiece at 9 am on 16 December, reflecting a decline of 4.07% over the past 24 hours. The market cap has also seen a decrease of 4.13%, now sitting at $1.7 trillion, while trading volumes have dropped by 8.76% to $43.69 billion, according to data. According to an analysis, Bitcoin lagged behind the wider crypto market as more than $394 million in liquidations, primarily from long positions, activated stop-losses. Bears exerted pressure on the markets following the United States Senate’s decision to postpone the crypto market structure bill until 2026. “While retail and mid-sized wallets actively bought the dip, absorbing nearly $474 million in buy-side flow, this demand was shaken up by $2.78 billion in whale selling,” according to Shetty.
Bitcoin has notably decreased approximately 30% from its peak of over $1,26,000 reached in October 2025. The token keeps observers on edge as it lingers near its 2025 low of approximately $74,400, a figure noted in April. Crypto markets today show a decline, with Ether, Dogecoin, and XRP each down by 5%. The report highlighted that other cryptocurrencies, including Dogecoin, Ether, and XRP, experienced a decline of 5% each. It reported that crypto company stocks experienced a significant decline, with Strategy plummeting over 9%, and Coinbase Global Inc. falling approximately 7%. Analysts observed that Bitcoin continues to exhibit a bearish trend, with altcoins also experiencing the repercussions of the upward pressure. As of the latest update, reports indicates that Ethereum, the second largest cryptocurrency globally, is trading at $2,933.91, reflecting a 5.75% decline in the last 24 hours. The market cap experienced a decline of 5.79%, settling at $354.1 billion, while the 24-hour trading volumes surged to $27 billion, reflecting an increase of 45.05%. XRP has dropped to $1.86, Solana is now at $125, Cardano has fallen below $3.9, and BNB is hovering around $853, according to reports.
Audiera takes the lead as the top gainer of the day, skyrocketing by 27.82%. Following closely is Pippin, which saw a remarkable increase of 24.56%, while MYX Finance rounds out the list with a solid gain of 10.32%. In addition, Aster saw a decline of 12.40%, with Ondo trailing at 10.18% and Midnight falling by 9.86%. Nischal Shetty, stated that the global markets “remain firmly in risk-off mode, and Bitcoin and Ethereum are reflecting that shift rather than resisting it.” Siddhant believes that even with the recent price decline, the overall perspective continues to be positive. “Institutional confidence is evident as Strategy added 10,645 BTC to its treasury, signaling continued accumulation.” He stated that buyers need to protect the $84,000 support level to avoid additional declines, while a consistent move above $92,700 would signal a trend reversal and set Bitcoin on a bullish trajectory. A source noted that “market sentiment continues to remain under fear, not slipping to extreme fear, indicating the traders expect a reversal soon.”