Crypto Market Takes a Tumble: Is the Sky Falling or Just a Bad Hair Day?

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On a particularly uninspiring Tuesday, the crypto market decided to take a nosedive, plummeting by 2% as if it had just stepped on a rubber duck in the dark and realized it’s not alone in the room. Bitcoin (BTC), the granddaddy of all cryptos, managed to erase most of its previous day’s progress like a bad memory, sliding below the $88,000 mark. Naturally, this prompted its merry band of altcoins-ETH, XRP, and Solana-to follow suit, tumbling down like a row of very expensive dominoes.

ETH, XRP, SOL Join the Bitcoin “Falling with Style” Club

As Bitcoin spiraled into the depths of despair, Ethereum, that second-largest wannabe, dropped about 2.3%, now flirting with the $2,973 price tag. XRP and Solana, meanwhile, took a similar plunge, declining by 2% to 3%. It seems the entire market has adopted a rather melancholic “risk-off” attitude, not unlike a cat that just realized it’s been taken to the vet.

Even other hefty altcoins like BNB, Cardano, and Avalanche joined the pity party, demonstrating that today’s market mood is less about individual tokens and more about a universal sense of dread.

What’s Weighing Down the Crypto Caper?

So, what’s got this market in a tizzy? Well, for starters, year-end trading is thinner than a pancake at a diet convention, meaning even the tiniest sell orders are causing seismic price movements. Yesterday, Bitcoin shot up to over $90,000 only to come crashing back down below $87,000 faster than you can say “bubble burst.”

Adding to the melodrama, institutional demand appears to be having an existential crisis. Spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced outflows on roughly 70% of trading days this December, while Ethereum also faced a steady stream of investors heading for the exits. On the flip side, XRP and Solana ETFs are still seeing some inflows, like a lone lifeboat in a sea of panic.

As if that wasn’t enough, investors are hanging on every word from today’s FOMC meeting, hoping for nuggets of wisdom regarding inflation and the possibility of rate cuts in early 2026. Because nothing says “happy New Year” like a bit of uncertainty!

Precious Metals Steal the Show

While crypto was busy floundering, precious metals decided to strut their stuff with impressive gains. Silver shot up to an astonishing $83 per ounce, all thanks to supply shortages in far-flung places like China, Dubai, and Australia. Its market value now stands at a staggering $4.3 trillion, making it the belle of the ball.

Gold also made headlines, briefly touching a shiny new high of $4,552 before doing a graceful twirl back down by nearly 5%, as if it remembered it was supposed to be humble.

Meanwhile, copper, that underappreciated darling, extended its December rally, rising by an impressive 8.4% this month, trading near $5.6, buoyed by robust industrial demand expectations. Go copper! 🥳

Copper still smashing records into year-end

Pushing fresh highs around $5.70-5.80/lb today on relentless supply crunch + AI/EV/grid demand.

Bullish above $5.50 support, $6.00 calling in 2026.

Aussie miners (BHP/RIO) eating good

Who’s holding the red metal into NYE? …

– Damo Aussie FX (@DamoAussieFX) December 30, 2025

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2025-12-30 14:04