BTC, XRP, ETH News: as

In the ever-volatile world of cryptocurrency, today’s brings a sobering update. Bitcoin, the market leader, saw its price reverse early gains from the Asian session, dipping below $88,000 after briefly touching $90,000. This pullback has rippled through major altcoins, signaling caution among traders as traditional markets show weakness.

Bitcoin’s Sharp Reversal Drags Altcoins Down

Bitcoin (BTC) traded at around $87,242 earlier today, a notable retreat from its intraday high. What started as a promising recovery in Asia quickly fizzled out, with BTC failing to hold above the key $88,000 level. Data from leading market trackers confirms this downturn, highlighting how fragile momentum can be in crypto.

Major altcoins followed suit, erasing their nascent rallies:

• XRP: Slipped to $1.85 from higher levels, testing buyer support.
• Ethereum (ETH): Dropped to $2,937, reflecting broader risk-off sentiment.
• Solana (SOL): Fell back to $123, amid high network activity but waning price action.
• Dogecoin (DOGE): Traded at $0.123, mirroring the meme coin volatility.

The CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20), a benchmark for top cryptocurrencies, mirrored this slide, retreating to 2,726 after peaking at 2,789. This reversal underscores the interconnected nature of the crypto market, where Bitcoin’s moves often dictate the direction for altcoins.

Nasdaq Futures Signal Broader Market Weakness

The crypto downturn aligns closely with traditional financial markets. Nasdaq 100 futures, heavily weighted toward tech stocks, were down 0.5% at the time of writing, foreshadowing a tentative open on Wall Street. This isn’t coincidental—Bitcoin and the Nasdaq share a strong positive correlation, which intensifies during equity downtrends.

Market makers like Wintermute have noted this relationship, explaining how risk assets like BTC amplify Nasdaq weakness. As tech stocks face headwinds from economic data or profit-taking, crypto traders adopt a defensive stance, leading to rapid sell-offs.

Traders Reduce Leverage Amid Uncertainty

The price action prompted a modest unwind in leveraged positions. Global futures open interest for Bitcoin fell from a high of 540,000 BTC to around 533,000 BTC, per data from analytics platforms. Earlier, it had climbed from 524,000 BTC as prices pushed toward $90,000, showing how optimism quickly turns to caution.

This deleveraging reduces short-term upside potential but also limits downside risk from forced liquidations. Traders are playing it safe, waiting for clearer signals from U.S. markets.

Why Crypto Underperforms During U.S. Hours

A notable pattern has emerged: cryptocurrencies, particularly BTC and ETH, consistently lag during U.S. trading hours. Analysts attribute this to year-end tax-related selling pressure. With crypto underperforming global assets in 2025, investors are harvesting losses to offset gains elsewhere—a classic tax strategy.

“An interesting trend to take note of has been the distinct underperformance during the US timezone (both BTC, ETH down 3%+ over US hours last week, offset by strength during Asian hours) driven most likely by selling pressure coming from the year-end tax harvesting flow,” noted experts in a recent analysis.

This timezone divergence highlights how institutional flows and regulatory considerations shape daily price action, with Asian hours providing temporary relief.

Expert Insights: Sideways Action Before the Bull Run?

Despite the pullback, not all signals are bearish. John Glover, Chief Investment Officer at a leading crypto lender and Elliott Wave specialist, remains optimistic. Analyzing the charts, he sees promise for higher prices but expects choppiness near-term.

“The Bitcoin price chart looks very promising for higher prices in the future, but less certainty in the near term. I continue to look for the market to trade sideways to slightly lower in the coming weeks/months, and look to add to longs between $71k and $84k,” Glover shared.

Elliott Wave theory suggests Bitcoin is consolidating within a larger bullish structure, with dips offering prime accumulation zones. Support levels around $84,000 could attract buyers if U.S. markets stabilize.

2025 Blockchain Review: Progress Amid Price Stagnation

Zooming out, 2025 painted a picture of divergence in the blockchain space. Layer-1 (L1) tokens broadly underperformed despite regulatory tailwinds and institutional adoption. Total Value Locked (TVL) rose across major networks, yet most large-cap L1s ended the year flat or negative.

Key trends included:

1. Structural Growth vs. Token Prices: Networks saw surging usage, but tokens decoupled due to macro pressures.
2. Institutional Mechanics: ETF inflows and custody solutions boosted TVL, yet retail sentiment lagged.
3. Ecosystem Narratives: DeFi, RWAs, and AI integrations drove protocol revenues, outpacing application fees in some chains.

Looking to 2026, watch for tighter correlation between on-chain metrics and prices, plus emerging trends in modular blockchains and restaking.

Aptos (APT) in Focus: Volume Dip Signals Caution

Amid the broader market slide, Aptos (APT) declined on below-average volume. The token hovers near support at $1.69, with resistance at $1.80. Low volume suggests limited conviction in the downside, potentially setting up for a rebound if BTC stabilizes.

What to Watch Next in BTC, XRP, ETH News

As , key levels to monitor include BTC’s $84,000 support and $90,000 resistance. U.S. economic data, Fed signals, and Nasdaq performance will dictate the next move. For altcoins like XRP and ETH, Bitcoin dominance remains crucial— a BTC rebound could spark altseason.

Stay tuned for more crypto news updates. In this market, patience and strategic positioning during consolidations often yield the best results. Whether you’re HODLing BTC or trading XRP swings, data-driven decisions are key.

Prices and market data as of the latest session. Crypto markets move fast—always DYOR.