Bitcoin is trading in a compression phase below major resistance, with price caught between a descending trendline and support near the $82K–$84K zone. On lower timeframes, repeated failures around the $89K–$90K region and a declining taker buy–sell ratio point to persistent sell-side pressure. Unless BTC can close above its main trendline or reclaim $90K, the structure leans toward continued consolidation or further downside.

According to the analysis, after a corrective pullback, Bitcoin has spent recent weeks trading just below the $90,000–$92,000 band near a dense derivatives liquidity pocket. A firm move above $90,000 could trigger stop runs and short liquidations, leaving limited technical resistance toward $100,000, with positioning and momentum gauges reset from overheated levels.

In December 2025, Peter Schiff said Bitcoin faces four difficult years and argued the "digital gold" idea has failed. He cited BTC near $87,000 yet 46% lower versus gold from its November 2021 peak. Bloomberg's Mike McGlone described Bitcoin as "dead money," pointing to high risk without additional return over five years.

On December 23, 2025, Bitcoin traded below $90,000 into the U.S. session and was down about 1% on the day. Traders flagged resistance at the 4H 200-period SMA/EMA and a whale opened $166,822,000 in BTC shorts alongside $54,856,000 in ETH and $18,790,000 in SOL. At the same time, gold approached $4,500 per ounce and bullish divergences appeared on Bitcoin's three-day and BTC/XAU charts.

Around $23.6 billion in Bitcoin options are scheduled to expire on Friday, December 26, representing the largest BTC options expiry to date. CoinGlass data as of December 23 shows heavy call positioning between $100,000 and $120,000 and notable put interest near $85,000, with max pain around $96,000. Bitcoin trades near $87,800 and could see heightened volatility as contracts lapse during a typically low-liquidity holiday week.

VanEck's mid-December on-chain study indicates long-term Bitcoin holders are transferring coins to newer participants. On Dec. 23, Daan Crypto Trades noted BTC traded near $87,545 while its 4H 200 EMA was around $91,102 and the 4H 200 MA near $89,201, keeping price below both gauges.

In December 2025, gold and silver extended gains while Bitcoin traded sideways, underscoring a split between haven demand and risk exposure. On-chain and activity metrics indicate softer participation, and Bitcoin is tracking its weakest fourth quarter since 2018, down nearly 22%, with prices near the 85,000–90,000 dollar range and fair value estimates around 88,000 dollars.

According to CyrilXBT in an X post this Monday, Bitcoin is nearing a key inflection, with $84,000–$88,000 acting as short‑term support and $100,000 marked as the decisive level. The analyst expects a gradual move toward $92,000–$95,000 if support holds, while a break below $84,000 could expose $76,000–$72,000; BTC was last above $87,000.