Major alternative cryptocurrencies fell on Tuesday as trading volumes remained light, while Bitcoin Traders continue to focus on range-bound moves in the leading cryptocurrency.
Bitcoin is hovering near $87,300, down around 3% in 24 hours, while Ethereum has fallen to around $2,950. XRP, trading around $1.86, also fell on the day as most large-cap stocks moved lower with no major catalysts and limited participation from U.S. counters.
“Bitcoin’s outlook for the first quarter of 2026 leans more towards a stabilization and renewed accumulation scenario rather than the strong growth phase at the beginning of the year,” Linh Tran, senior market analyst at XS, said in an email. “Price volatility is likely to remain in the range of approximately $80,000 to $100,000.”
“Monetary policy is not accommodative enough, ETF flows remain selective, and the regulatory environment is still consolidating, all of which limits the market’s ability to quickly enter a new bull cycle,” Tran added.
For now, price action continues to reflect the market’s efforts to attract new risks, while many participants remain in conservation mode. With lower volatility and uneven liquidity, even a mild sell-off plan could push prices above intraday support, especially during the U.S. session when tax and book-cleaning flows tend to be more concentrated.
The near-term signal is simple: Traders are watching to see if Bitcoin can hold on to levels around $80,000 in the new year, or if another small holiday dip could force a deeper reset before liquidity and confidence return.
Asian shares cooled after seven straight days of gains, with several regional markets closing on Tuesday. MSCI’s Asia Pacific index fell 0.1% after Monday’s gains capped its longest advance since September. The S&P 500 fell 0.3% overnight, the Nasdaq 100 fell 0.5%, and U.S. futures were little changed.
Global stock market indexes also fell for the first time in eight sessions, but were still on track for their best year since 2019. Gold and silver stabilized after retreating from all-time highs.
Copper prices extended December’s gains, rising 2.2% to $12,493 a ton, and were on track for a tenth consecutive gain, the longest rise since 2017. A weaker dollar and fresh supply concerns helped keep sentiment firm.
Copper futures are up more than 40% this year, putting the red metal on track for its biggest annual gain since 2009.
