Investing.com– Bitcoin climbed back toward the $89,000 level on Friday but remained stuck below the key $90,000 threshold, as thin year-end liquidity and continued exchange-traded fund outflows kept investors cautious.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency last traded 1.6% higher at $89,182.2 by 02:09 ET (07:09 GMT).
Bitcoin recovered 1% this week, but price action remained range-bound, reflecting subdued participation during the holiday period.
Bitcoin was set to lose nearly 5% this year after sharp gains earlier this year, which pushed the original cryptocurrency to above $126,000 levels.
Bitcoin still stuck below $90,000 levels
Bitcoin has struggled to reclaim levels above $90,000, a psychological barrier that has capped gains in recent sessions. Buyers were reluctant to chase prices amid uncertain near-term catalysts and year-end positioning.
Sentiment has also been weighed down by persistent outflows from spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. Recent data showed investors pulling money from several major ETFs, signalling some profit-taking and reduced institutional demand after Bitcoin’s strong rally earlier this year.
Broader crypto markets mirrored Bitcoin’s subdued performance, with most major tokens trading in narrow ranges. Investors remained focused on technical levels and short-term flows rather than longer-term fundamentals, as the absence of macroeconomic data and policy signals during the holiday period kept conviction low.
Fed cut bets support crypto markets
Expectations of easier U.S. monetary policy in 2026 and ongoing interest in digital assets as an alternative store of value have helped prevent deeper declines, even as ETF flows fluctuate.
Traders are also watching the impact of derivatives positioning toward the end of the year, with large options expiries potentially contributing to short-term price compression. Such dynamics often keep prices pinned within narrow ranges until contracts roll off.
Crypto price today: altcoins mixed in range-bound trading
Most altcoins edged higher on Friday, tracking today’s Bitcoin’s modest gains.
World no.2 crypto Ethereum gained 1.3% to $2,979.92.
World no. 3 crypto XRP edged up 0.2% to $1.88.
Solana edged slightly higher, while Cardano and Polygon fell 1% each.
Among meme tokens, both Dogecoin and $TRUMP were largely unchanged.
