Bitcoin price news: BTC's heads to its worst year since 2018, pressuring altcoins

Bitcoin is on track for its worst year since 2018, with the fourth quarter seeing a decline of over 22%, marking one of the weakest year-end periods outside of major bear markets. Although Bitcoin briefly pushed toward $90,000, analysts view this as a technical, short-term lift rather than a meaningful recovery, as the price remains significantly below its 2025 peak and levels seen at the start of the year. Sentiment remains cautious, with the fear and greed index suggesting traders are moving from extreme pessimism but not yet embracing risk. The broader crypto market capitalization briefly surpassed $3 trillion, but gains often fade during U.S. trading hours, highlighting vulnerability to sharp reversals. Meanwhile, most major altcoins like XRP and Ether saw minor gains, though Aave (AAVE) lagged due to governance issues.

(Source：CoinDesk)