Markets Share Share this article Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail Bitcoin bulls foiled again as price tumbles Markets Share Share this article Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail Bitcoin bulls foiled again as price tumbles

Bitcoin bulls foiled again as price tumbles back to $86,000, giving up CPI gains and more

Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail

Bitcoin bulls foiled again as price tumbles back to $86,000, giving up CPI gains and more

Far softer than expected inflation numbers Thursday morning had markets racing early, but some are questioning the data.

By Krisztian Sandor, Helene Braun|Edited by Stephen Alpher
Updated Dec 18, 2025, 5:50 p.m. Published Dec 18, 2025, 5:46 p.m.
Bitcoin (BTC) price on December 18 (CoinDesk)

What to know:

  • In what's now become a regular occurrence during this bear market, crypto markets swung from sizable gains to sizable losses in a very short time frame.
  • Bitcoin early in U.S. action Thursday had popped above $89,000 after a far softer than forecast CPI print initially raised hopes for easier Fed monetary policy.
  • Though well off session highs, equity markets remain nicely in the green for day, continuing their 2025 pattern of outperforming crypto.

To the dismay of the bulls, crypto markets continued with their whipsawing action again on Thursday, with large early gains being more than reversed over a very short time frame.

Happening over a period of a couple of hours as opposed to yesterday's couple of minutes, the size of today's reversal was nearly as large, with leading crypto bitcoin BTC$86,476.56 slumping from a session high of $89,300 to as low as $85,500. At press time BTC was changing hands at $86,000, lower by 0.8% over the past 24 hours. The Nasdaq was off session highs of about 2%, but still sharply ahead with a 1.7% advance.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Sign me up

The early gains came alongside a much-cooler than forecast November U.S. Consumer Price Index report, with headline inflation tumbling all the way to 2.7% from 3% previously. That data had some quickly penciling in another Federal Reserve rate cut in January, which — all things being equal — would tend to be good for risk assets, including crypto.

Skeptics, however, quickly dove into the outlier inflation numbers. "Major issue was zeroing out rent/owner's equivalent rent (OER) in October," wrote well-followed economist Omair Sharif. Unless the BLS adjusts, he continued, it will artificially lower year-over-year CPI prints until April

"This is totally inexcusable," wrote the WSJ's Nick Timiraos. "The BLS just assumed rent/OER were zero for October ... There is just no world in which this was a good idea."

At the moment, markets appear to be agreeing with the skeptics, with odds of a January rate cut not having budged from their previous slim 24% chance.

BTC rangebound, ETH hedging

Traders in the crypto options market appear to be adjusting their expectations, with bitcoin and ether ETH$2,849.09 showing diverging sentiment, according to data from Wintermute. Bitcoin options activity points to a range-bound outlook as traders continue to sell downside protection below $85,000 and cap upside exposure above $100,000.

This is "pointing to confidence in support holding and limited expectations for a sustained breakout in the near term," the market maker's OTC trading desk wrote in a note.

Ether options, by contrast, show less conviction and more hedging behavior. Support appears to be forming around the $2,700 to $2,800 range, but upside calls above $3,100 are being sold aggressively, suggesting traders are seeking protection over upside.

Market WrapBitcoin News

More For You

Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

Commissioned byGoPlus

What to know:

  • As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
  • GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
  • Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.
View Full Report

More For You

Bitcoin's 'realized cap' holds at record high over $1 trillion, casting doubt on four-year cycle

A very supportive macro backdrop is being ignored for now, said Bitwise's Andre Dragosch.

What to know:

  • Bitcoin’s so-called realized capitalization is at a record $1.125 trillion, continuing to rise through this recent 36% price correction.
  • Bitwise’s Andre Dragosch argues bitcoin is underpricing a supportive macro backdrop, with resilient growth and a more dovish Fed potentially driving further upside and undermining the four-year cycle framework.
Read full story
Latest Crypto News

ECB’s Christine Lagarde shifts focus to digital euro rollout after holding rates

Bitcoin's 'realized cap' holds at record high over $1 trillion, casting doubt on four-year cycle

ICP extends recovery to rise above $3; trading volume increases without spiking

Flood of new crypto ETPs expected in 2026, says Bitwise

BONK drops 6.2% as elevated volume marks shift at key technical levels

U.S. SEC aids brokers on crypto custody, looks more closely at ATS activity

Top Stories

U.S. SEC aids brokers on crypto custody, looks more closely at ATS activity

Coinbase shares rise as ‘ambitious expansion’ wins analyst praise

Gold, silver shine in debasement trade as bitcoin is left behind

U.S. inflation data surprises, with CPI higher by just 2.7% in November

U.S. SEC aids brokers on crypto custody, looks more closely at ATS activity

Trump Media stock surges 25% on merger agreement with nuclear fusion firm TAE Technologies

Market Opportunity
BULLS Logo
BULLS Price(BULLS)
$309.35
$309.35$309.35
-0.77%
USD
BULLS (BULLS) Live Price Chart
Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.

You May Also Like

Bitcoin Has Taken Gold’s Role In Today’s World, Eric Trump Says

Bitcoin Has Taken Gold’s Role In Today’s World, Eric Trump Says

Eric Trump on Tuesday described Bitcoin as a “modern-day gold,” calling it a liquid store of value that can act as a hedge to real estate and other assets. Related Reading: XRP’s Biggest Rally Yet? Analyst Projects $20+ In October 2025 According to reports, the remark came during a TV appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box, tied to the launch of American Bitcoin, the mining and treasury firm he helped start. Company Holdings And Strategy Based on public filings and company summaries, American Bitcoin has accumulated 2,443 BTC on its balance sheet. That stash has been valued in the low hundreds of millions of dollars at recent spot prices. The firm mixes large-scale mining with the goal of holding Bitcoin as a strategic reserve, which it says will help it grow both production and asset holdings over time. Eric Trump’s comments were direct. He told viewers that institutions are treating Bitcoin more like a store of value than a fringe idea, and he warned firms that resist blockchain adoption. The tone was strong at times, and the line about Bitcoin being a modern equivalent of gold was used to frame American Bitcoin’s role as both miner and holder.   Eric Trump has said: bitcoin is modern-day gold — unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) September 16, 2025 How The Company Went Public American Bitcoin moved toward a public listing via an all-stock merger with Gryphon Digital Mining earlier this year, a deal that kept most of the original shareholders in control and positioned the new entity for a Nasdaq debut. Reports show that mining partner Hut 8 holds a large ownership stake, leaving the Trump family and other backers with a minority share. The listing brought fresh attention and capital to the firm as it began trading under the ticker ABTC. Market watchers say the firm’s public debut highlights two trends: mining companies are trying to grow by both producing and holding Bitcoin, and political ties are bringing more headlines to crypto firms. Some analysts point out that holding large amounts of Bitcoin on the balance sheet exposes a company to price swings, while supporters argue it aligns incentives between miners and investors. Related Reading: Ethereum Bulls Target $8,500 With Big Money Backing The Move – Details Reaction And Possible Risks Based on coverage of the launch, investors have reacted with both enthusiasm and caution. Supporters praise the prospect of a US-based miner that aims to be transparent and aggressive about building a reserve. Critics point to governance questions, possible conflicts tied to high-profile backers, and the usual risks of a volatile asset being held on corporate balance sheets. Eric Trump’s remark that Bitcoin has taken gold’s role in today’s world reflects both his belief in its value and American Bitcoin’s strategy of mining and holding. Whether that view sticks will depend on how investors and institutions respond in the months ahead. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
Share
NewsBTC2025/09/18 06:00
Tether CEO: AI Bubble Poses Biggest Risk to Bitcoin in 2026

Tether CEO: AI Bubble Poses Biggest Risk to Bitcoin in 2026

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has identified a potential AI-driven bubble as Bitcoin's biggest risk heading into 2026. However, he does not anticipate the same sharp corrections seen in previous market cycles, citing growing institutional adoption as a stabilizing force.
Share
MEXC NEWS2025/12/19 16:05
Bearish Sentiment Spikes as Bitcoin Drops to $84.8K, Creating Potential Contrarian Signal

Bearish Sentiment Spikes as Bitcoin Drops to $84.8K, Creating Potential Contrarian Signal

Bearish sentiment is surging across social media platforms following Bitcoin's pullback to $84,800, according to blockchain analytics firm Santiment. Retail investors are pushing fearful narratives harder than bullish outlooks, creating a notable shift in market mood.
Share
MEXC NEWS2025/12/19 15:56