Welcome to the US crypto news morning update – your essential overview of the most important developments in crypto for the coming day.
Grab a cup of coffee, because after weeks of consolidation, the largest crypto has reached $90,000 again. Technical breakouts, upcoming options expirations, and ETF positions together create a potentially volatile but bullish year-end rally for the Bitcoin price.
Crypto news of the day: Bitcoin breaks through $90,000 on technical momentum and year-end market dynamics
Bitcoin has risen above $90,000 again, generating bullish momentum in the crypto market due to technical breakouts, derivatives positions, and ETF-related incentives during low liquidity at year-end.
This movement brings Bitcoin to an important crossroads, with analysts divided over expectations of short-term volatility and a broader rise towards six-figure prices.
From a technical perspective, momentum appears to be clearly turning bullish, with the Bitcoin price showing an important chart movement on the daily timeframe. On the daily chart, Bitcoin is moving out of a descending triangle, which is turning into a descending wedge pattern. This is happening now as momentum strengthens above the level of $90,000.
In technical analysis, breakouts from a descending triangle at the top are often seen as continuation signals—indicating a possible recovery for Bitcoin.
On-chain valuation metrics also show that there is room for further increase, as the realized price of Bitcoin—an indicator that shows the average price at which BTC was last traded—lies well below the current market level.
Historically, Bitcoin often faces resistance at the mid-band and around the peaks of the cycle near the upper band. This means that while BTC is trading above its real value, it is still far from the levels that are normally associated with a cycle high.
However, the risks of volatility in the short term are increasing, as a significant derivatives event is approaching. On Friday, 50% of the open positions on Deribit will expire, amounting to about $24 billion in Bitcoin options and other contracts.
According to Nic Pucrin, CEO and co-founder of Coin Bureau, options traders could try to keep the price around the 'max pain' level of Bitcoin at $96,000. This would maximize the loss for option holders. Such dynamics could cause extra price fluctuations during the quiet Christmas trading with low liquidity.
Institutional positions via spot Bitcoin ETFs also influence market sentiment. Glassnode data shows that ETF inflows provide strong incentives for a year-end rally, with the average purchase price of ETF buyers around $83,000.
In this light, analyst Ran Neuner states that Bitcoin could end the year very close to or even above $100,000.
At the same time, liquidity data points to an important battleground around the level of $90,800, where more Bitcoin liquidity is accumulating. According to analyst Lennaert Snyder, a rejection of this zone could provide short opportunities unless Bitcoin manages to reclaim resistance around $94,000.
Looking further ahead, analyst Michael van de Poppe sees this movement as part of a larger cyclical shift.
"Bitcoin remained above an important support level of $86,500 and continues to rise," he said, stating that the chance of a test of $100,000 is becoming increasingly stronger and that the market may be at the beginning of a broader bull market.
Whether altcoins can surpass Bitcoin afterwards, he added, could determine how this rally develops in the coming weeks.
Chart of the day
Here you will find a summary of more US crypto news to follow today:
Ethereum took a heavier hit than Bitcoin as $952 million flowed out of crypto funds—this is why.
What happens to Bitcoin in 2026? These old economic models may provide the answer.
Why analysts think that altcoins are in the final phase of the bear market.
Galaxy Digital gives Bitcoin price forecast for 2027, while the outlook for 2026 remains unclear.
AAVE price drops 10% as a DAO governance discussion triggers a wave of selling.
Hyperliquid denies allegations of insider trading, as the vote on $1 billion HYPE burn approaches.
The Fed injects $6.8 billion into the markets with the first repo since 2020—this is why crypto is paying attention.
Crypto stocks pre-market overview
CompanyClose December 19Pre-market overviewStrategy (MSTR)$164.82$168.60 (+2.29%)Coinbase (COIN)$245.12$250.00 (+1.99%)Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY)$24.00$24.79 (+3.29%)MARA Holdings (MARA)$10.18$10.41 (+2.26%)Riot Platforms (RIOT)$14.50$14.77 (+1.86%)Core Scientific (CORZ)$15.60$15.90 (+1.92%)
Crypto stocks market opening: Google Finance
