Bitcoin (BTC) traded above $90,000 in early December, giving investors confidence it could end the year on a solid note. However, a wave of selling pressure has since hit the world’s largest crypto, with Bitcoin plunging below $86,000 due to fading risk appetite and other factors.
The sharp drop has shaken investors and dragged down major altcoins. The Crypto “Fear and Greed” Index has improved slightly since earlier this month but remains at 25, clearly in “Fear” territory. Expectations for a Santa rally are slim as Bitcoin’s break below the psychologically important $90,000 level indicates that support zones are failing to hold under pressure.
What’s clear is that as crypto’s weakness worsens, investors are allocating funds toward projects that offer real-world utility or stable returns. One such example is Digitap ($TAP), the crypto presale project behind the world’s first “omni-bank.” Digitap is emerging as a top altcoin to buy as a hedge against the downturn, offering a defensible, utility-led model amid broader weakness.
Global central bank policies are a primary culprit in Bitcoin’s weakness. First, uncertainty around the Federal Reserve’s 2026 interest rate plans means a cut may not come as expected. Rate cuts are strong catalysts for risk-on assets such as crypto, as they encourage capital to seek higher returns.
Still, the Fed’s December rate cut didn’t provide the relief many had hoped. While a cut is welcome, it must be followed by additional easing to increase the list of cryptos to buy. The U.S. central bank hinted that investors could see only one further cut in 2026, with the next one not expected until 2027.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is expected to raise interest rates on Dec. 19. Japan has been a vital source of liquidity as the “yen carry trade” offered nearly free money for years. Major investors would borrow yen at near-zero rates and deploy capital elsewhere, often into assets like Bitcoin.
With yields rising in Japan, that cheap funding source is becoming less attractive, adding another headwind to crypto markets.
Many investors recognize that Bitcoin’s price around $86,000 is at a pivotal stage. A break below may not see relief until the $75,000 area. Bitcoin has tested the $90,000 level several times in recent weeks and failed on each occasion. There is no immediate catalyst to suggest this won’t happen again.
Instead of trying to time Bitcoin, projects that can demonstrate actual product traction or cash flows are being viewed as defensive plays. Investors have a few options to choose from among crypto projects already delivering utility.
Digitap’s product is not vaporware; it is a live fintech banking app available on iOS and Android that unifies fiat and crypto in one platform. The platform facilitates nearly every financial action imaginable, including sending money abroad, foreign exchange, crypto swaps, savings, and a prepaid Visa debit card for everyday spending.
An optional no-KYC signup process opens Digitap’s app to the more than 1 billion underbanked and unbanked adults worldwide. Many of these adults live in countries where access to identification is limited or nonexistent. This means Digitap could onboard the next billion users, making it a potentially undervalued altcoin to buy ahead of major growth expansion.
Digitap’s crypto presale of its native $TAP token kicked off in late summer. As part of a scheduled tiered presale, the price of $TAP increases at the conclusion of each round, which generally lasts about a week. $TAP was first offered at $0.0125 and is now for sale at $0.0371.
Unlike most presale projects that only offer promises of future ecosystem value, Digitap is already generating fees through its app, via currency exchange spreads, card transactions, global money transfers, and more. Importantly, those revenues directly support the $TAP token’s value, as 50% of all platform profits are allocated toward buyback-and-burn initiatives and funding stakers.
In a weak, bearish market, this kind of built-in support is invaluable and acts as a hedge against selling pressure. With a fixed token supply of 2 billion and no inflation, Digitap’s model is more akin to a defensive stock prioritizing investor-friendly initiatives like buybacks.
Digitap recently passed the $2.5 million raised milestone despite selling its token during a bear market. To reward old and new investors, Digitap’s Christmas-themed promotion is running through January 2. With daily deals offered, investors can take advantage of digital presents that include bonus $TAP tokens or platform rebates. Once a time-sensitive deal expires, it’s gone for good.
Bitcoin’s plunge below $86,000 and the extended crypto weakness make it clear the era of blind speculation is fading. The new altcoin-to-buy playbook calls for projects that can withstand bear conditions and thrive during bull markets.
Digitap exemplifies this strategy. Its real-world financial use case, banking and payments services, generates actual cash flows. Despite still being a crypto presale project, its rise amid the slump underscores the market’s shift to fundamentals-first investing.
If the current macro headwinds persist, we can expect this trend to continue. Capital will seek refuge in crypto projects that resemble traditional businesses or provide services in high demand. Digitap’s fintech app fits that bill as it bridges the gap between fiat and crypto and offers users a banking utility that is useful in daily life, making it one of the more overlooked cryptos to buy for 2026 and beyond.
Discover how Digitap is unifying cash and crypto by checking out their project here:
