Despite the Bitcoin price recovery above the crucial $90,000 threshold—a level that has historically served as a supportive floor for the cryptocurrency—the market is exhibiting signs that a further correction may be imminent. 

Bitcoin Price Recovery At Risk?

Market expert Rekt Fencer recently shared insights on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, suggesting that the Bitcoin price might be forming what he calls a “massive bull trap.” 

This term refers to a deceptive bullish signal in which the price briefly surpasses a resistance level, in this case, the $90,000 mark, only to reverse into a decline. Such movements can entrap investors who bought in during the peak, leading to significant losses.

Fencer pointed out a troubling pattern reminiscent of early 2022 when Bitcoin reclaimed its 50-week moving average (MA)—currently positioned above $102,300—before experiencing a severe decline of roughly 60%, plummeting below $20,000 by June of that year. 

He indicated that the recent price recovery following major drops to $84,000 should not be interpreted as a signal of near-term success, especially since the Bitcoin price is currently trading under the 50-week MA.

If historical trends repeat, this could mean that Bitcoin might see a significant drop, potentially reaching around $36,200, which could potentially represent the low point of the bearish cycle for the cryptocurrency. On the other hand, there are analysts who retain a bullish outlook. 

BTC Bottom In Sight? 

Market researcher and analyst Miles Deutscher expressed a confident sentiment, stating he believes there is a 91.5% likelihood that the Bitcoin price has hit its bottom, based on his analysis of key developments. 

He noted that recent weeks have been dominated by negative news stories, including concerns surrounding Tether (USDT) and the implications of China’s actions on crypto, which he asserts often mark local price bottoms.

Moreover, Deutscher pointed out a shift in market flows from predominantly bearish to bullish. He explained that the trading environment has recently seen a resurgence in buying momentum, with large investors, or “OG whales,” ceasing their selling. This change has been reflected in the order books, indicating a possible stabilization in market sentiment.

Additionally, the liquidity landscape appears to be shifting, with market conditions tightening in recent months. The potential appointment of a new Federal Reserve chair known for dovish policies, coupled with the official end of quantitative tightening (QT), could further influence market dynamics in favor of buyers.

Deutscher concluded by emphasizing that given the extreme levels of fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) in the market, combined with improvements in trading flows, he believes that the odds favor the notion that the Bitcoin price has indeed reached its bottom.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Recent bullish predictions for the XRP price have emerged, hinting at a potential for new all-time highs (ATHs) by March 2026 for one of the market’s leading altcoins.

XRP Price Projected To Reach New ATH By Q1 2026

According to projections from ChatGPT, XRP could reach approximately $4.40 by the first quarter of 2026, a notable increase of 120% from current levels around $2.

In contrast to the AI forecast, some analysts believe that the XRP price has the potential for a stronger rally. They suggest that structural changes could allow XRP to exceed $5 and potentially approach $6 by 2026. 

Several factors support their optimistic view. For instance, key aspects of the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) case against Ripple were resolved earlier this year, which they believe could encourage banks and payment providers to adopt XRP for cross-border transactions, fostering greater confidence in its utility.

Additionally, Ripple’s ecosystem is expanding well beyond XRP. In December 2024, the company launched a dollar-pegged stablecoin known as RLUSD, which has already achieved a market cap exceeding $1 billion. 

While RLUSD itself may not directly boost XRP’s price, it has the potential to attract more participants to Ripple’s network, thereby creating secondary demand for XRP as a bridging asset. 

Analysts posit that a steady pipeline of RLUSD adoption could enhance Ripple’s revenue growth, consequently driving the XRP price higher.

$2.60 Key For Momentum Shift

Moreover, analysts point to the upcoming Bitcoin (BTC) Halving, expected in 2028, as a potential catalyst for a broad crypto market rally. The analysts assert that the XRP price has historically benefited from such cycles.

From a technical standpoint, chart analysts see XRP setting up for a potential breakout. Price action has formed a base around the low $2 range, which could lay the groundwork for further recovery. 

According to the analysts, if bullish momentum can push the token above significant resistance levels around $2.60, it could change momentum indicators to a positive stance. Moreover, a sustained rally into the mid-$3 territory might then pave the way for XRP to reach the $4 to $5 range.

When writing, the XRP price stands at $2.14, recording a 1.6% drop in the past 24 hours. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Kazakhstan’s central bank has signaled plans to place up to $300 million into crypto and crypto-linked assets, a move that would mark one of the clearest examples yet of a sovereign institution putting reserve money into this market. Based on reports, the funds would come from the country’s gold and foreign-exchange reserves rather than its social or oil wealth funds.

Central Bank Moves Cautiously

According to central bank briefings and market reporting, the investment will not be made all at once. Initial tranches could be modest — figures discussed publicly include amounts like $50 million and $100 million as possible early steps, with larger allocations of $250 million also on the table if conditions allow. The plan appears to be phased, with the bank watching price swings and market signals before committing major sums.

The assets under consideration may include direct holdings of crypto tokens or instruments linked to the crypto sector, such as exchange-traded products and equity stakes in companies that serve the industry. Based on reports, the central bank’s alternative investments arm, which already holds high-tech and financial assets, would manage the placement.

Investment Targets And Broader Plans

Reports have disclosed that this move sits alongside a wider push to create a national digital-asset reserve fund. Officials and informed sources have mentioned target sizes in the range of $500 million to $1 billion for that reserve. That proposed fund would focus more on ETFs and corporate equity than on simply holding tokens in wallets.

An existing state initiative, the Alem Crypto Fund, has already taken public steps into the market. In September 2025 the fund made an investment in the cryptocurrency BNB, signaling that parts of the state apparatus are experimenting with exposure to digital assets. That action is being watched closely by both domestic policymakers and foreign observers.

The central bank has stressed caution. Large price swings in major tokens have been noted as a reason to phase investments slowly. The proposed $300 million allocation, according to briefings, would be drawn from non-essential reserves — explicitly kept separate from Kazakhstan’s National Fund that pays for public programs — which is meant to protect social spending from market losses.

Some of the purchases, reports suggest, could be executed through regulated financial products rather than raw token buys, lowering custody and liquidity risks. The decision to structure the program in stages is intended to reduce the chance of a sudden, large loss if markets move against the holdings.

Featured image from kursiv.media, chart from TradingView

The monthly XRP chart has entered one of its most decisive phases in years, and one of the asset’s most vocal analysts is laying out a blunt roadmap. Egrag Crypto, known for his long-standing bullish stance on XRP, released a new technical update that breaks down the future outlook for the cryptocurrency into three straightforward outcomes. 

The chart accompanying his analysis shows XRP trading around the $2.20 region, sitting just above an important Fib support level but still wrestling with momentum, with the monthly candle about to close.

XRP Must Close Above $2.60 To Keep Bullish Momentum Intact

Egrag’s first decisive level is at $2.60, which matches with the 0.5 Fibonacci retracement level on the monthly chart. The analyst described a close above this region as bullish but the asset would not yet be fully clear of danger. The chart shows XRP repeatedly testing this price level in the first half of the year before breaking above it in July. However, the most recent breakdown in Q2 2025 has now put the price level in focus again.

The analysis becomes more aggressive once price action breaks above $3.40. EGRAG identified this as the 0.888 Fibonacci level, one of the final retracement zones.

According to him, a close above this level confirms a super-bullish macro breakout, which he summarized with the phrase “we are so back.” The chart reinforces this idea by showing a tight compression beneath this upper 0.888 Fib cluster, and that a decisive breakout could lead to a rapid move into new all-time high prices if there’s enough buying pressure.

XRP Price Chart. Source: @egragcrypto On X 

A Close Below 21 EMA Would Break Bullish Structure

The downside scenario in Egrag’s breakdown is equally straightforward. He warned that a close below the 21-month EMA would mean a severe failure of the bullish trend structure. His wording was intentionally harsh, noting that such a breakdown would mean “we are f**ked, no sugar-coating it.”

The chart shows the 21 EMA currently sitting around the $1.83-$1.90 price zone, forming the final major support on the monthly timeframe. Losing this level would drag XRP back into a deeper corrective zone and finally undo most of the price advancement made this year.

A significant development showed up towards the end of the week that aligns with the bullish continuation Egrag outlined. 21Shares confirmed that its US Spot XRP ETF, which is listed under the ticker TOXR, has received SEC approval and will officially launch on Monday.

The upcoming launch adds a perspective that institutional participation in XRP is only beginning. If inflows follow the early strength seen from other issuers, the ETFs could reinforce the bullish case Egrag mapped on the chart, especially if the XRP price is able to cross above $2.60 in December.

Featured image from Pixabay, chart from TradingView

Conversations around XRP have grown louder in recent weeks as the cryptocurrency continues to trade around the $2.2 region while new Spot XRP ETFs continue to attract inflows across multiple issuers. 

One voice in the community has attempted to explain why the market is unusually calm despite rising institutional demand. An XRP enthusiast known as Pumpius shared a detailed thread on X that breaks down the mechanics behind the new ETFs and why the real impact may still be ahead. His argument is that the current XRP price action does not yet reflect what is going on behind the scenes.

Why ETF Rules Create A Special Market Dynamic

Pumpius explained that the foundation of the entire setup is in one legal detail with fund managers. ETF fund managers are restricted from purchasing XRP directly from Ripple or from the escrow accounts that hold large reserves of the token. Every ETF must source XRP through open-market purchases, without private deals or wholesale arrangements.

The absence of direct acquisition forces institutional buyers into the same liquidity pool as retail and whales. With the new launch of XRP ETFs, and as demand continues to rise, the circulating supply is now the battleground, and this mechanical pressure is already visible in recent weeks as XRP trading volumes climbed while exchange supply began trending downward. 

According to market trackers, XRP supply on major exchanges has declined steadily since the approval of the first Spot XRP ETFs, showing that the stress on available liquidity is not theoretical but active. Particularly, data from CryptoQuant shows that Binance’s XRP reserves are now at their lowest point in months, having dropped to 2.7 billion tokens this week.

Incoming Supply Squeeze For XRP

Another part of the explanation focuses on Ripple’s behavior regarding escrow releases. Although one billion XRP is unlocked each month, Ripple has repeatedly returned about 700 million to 800 million of these unlocked  tokens back into escrow. 

Ripple releases only what it considers necessary to maintain healthy liquidity in the ecosystem, and the company has avoided significant selling pressure since the ETF approvals.

According to Pumpius, this means the ecosystem is operating in a controlled balance where ETF issuers are absorbing a growing share of the circulating float, while Ripple keeps escrow output extremely conservative. 

The result is a slow tightening of supply that’s happening behind the scenes and may not yet be visible in price action but can eventually cause what he called a structural supply shock. When this happens, XRP will not move slowly, but it will break price levels with impact.

Still speaking of what is happening behind the scenes, Ripple has been advancing several developments that could strengthen XRP’s long-term position. A recent example is Abu Dhabi’s financial regulator formally recognizing RLUSD as a fiat-referenced token.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit, is currently under scrutiny by regulators following a significant hack that led to the unauthorized withdrawal of approximately $36.9 million in assets on the Solana (SOL) network. The breach impacted over 20 different tokens and has prompted Upbit to freeze assets on its platform while an investigation unfolds.

Lazarus Group Tied To Upbit Hack

Authorities are now investigating the possibility of North Korean involvement in the cyber attack. Reports suggest that a group affiliated with North Korea’s intelligence agency, the notorious Lazarus Group, may have orchestrated the hack, which Upbit has described as an “abnormal withdrawal.” 

This group has been consistently linked to several high-profile crypto heists in recent years, and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified North Korean cyber operations as one of the most sophisticated and persistent threats.

The recent attack coincidentally occurred just days before the sixth anniversary of a previous major breach, in which Upbit lost 342,000 Ethereum (ETH) to North Korean hackers. 

According to an unnamed government official, this latest hack bears similarities to a 2019 incident in which approximately 58 billion won in cryptocurrencies was stolen, also attributed to the Lazarus Group.

In response to the attack, the South Korean National Police Agency has launched an investigation into the matter, although officials have not provided further comments on the case. Upbit’s operator, Dunamu, confirmed that an in-depth investigation into the cause and extent of the asset outflow is currently underway.

Crypto Exchange Moves Funds To Cold Storage

The cryptocurrency exchange’s CEO Oh Kyung-seok stated that as soon as abnormal withdrawal activity was detected, Upbit promptly suspended all deposit and withdrawal services. 

“We are conducting a comprehensive inspection, prioritizing the protection of member assets,” he said in a notice to users. Following the discovery of the unauthorized transactions, Upbit has taken steps to freeze the affected funds wherever possible.

To prevent any further unauthorized transfers, the exchange has shifted all remaining assets to cold storage, ensuring “a secure environment for funds.” 

Upbit is also said to be working with relevant project teams to freeze assets on-chain, having already blocked a portion of the stolen funds related to the cryptocurrency Solayer (LAYER). The exchange has indicated that deposits and withdrawals will only resume once full security checks are completed.

Dunamu has vowed to reimburse customers for any losses with business funds as part of its commitment to its users. It remains to be seen what additional information the country’s authorities will release in the coming days, as well as potential refund deadlines for affected individuals.  

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

The Bitcoin price has recently stabilized above the $90,000 mark, sparking renewed optimism among bullish investors. Analysts at BTIG have suggested that this rebound could propel Bitcoin towards its ambitious target of $100,000. 

Bitcoin Price Positioned For ‘Reflex Rally’

Jonathan Krinsky, an analyst at BTIG, expressed confidence that the Bitcoin price is positioned for a continued “reflex rally,” potentially reaching $100,000 in the short-term. 

Historical data indicates that Bitcoin typically reaches a bottom around November 26, gaining momentum as the year comes to a close. This seasonal pattern further bolsters the prospects for the cryptocurrency in the coming weeks.

Another focal point for BTIG is Strategy (previously MicroStrategy), which the analyst views as a candidate for a mean reversion trade. The firm maintains a buy rating on MicroStrategy with a price target set at $630.

The analyst also highlighted that the week of Thanksgiving often aligns with momentum resets for digital assets, reinforcing expectations for a tactical upward movement into December.

Reversion Ahead To $50,000

Adding to the optimistic outlook, market analyst Rekt Capital recently mentioned that if the Bitcoin price can reclaim its position above the $94,180 mark, it would flip the 2025 yearly candle into a green one, substantiating theories of a potential rally for the leading cryptocurrency in the waning days of the year. 

However, Bitcoin must navigate certain hurdles to sustain this momentum. Rekt noted that for Bitcoin to build on its current prospects and approach the Macro downtrend line, it would require a weekly close above approximately $93,500, turning that level into support, similar to patterns observed in previous green cycles.

At the same time, Mike McGlone, an analyst at Bloomberg, has voiced concerns on social media regarding the Bitcoin price trajectory for the coming days. 

He suggested that a typical reversion to around $50,000 might be in the books now, emphasizing Bitcoin’s close correlation with the S&P 500. McGlone pointed out that the S&P 500’s 120-day volatility was at its lowest year-end level since 2017, indicating potential headwinds for Bitcoin.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

As the Bitcoin price exhibits signs of recovery, climbing back above $90,000, the cryptocurrency community finds itself sharply divided. Some analysts believe this movement is merely a relief rally preceding another downturn, while others maintain that a bull market is still in play despite a recent 30% correction.

Current Data Suggests No Cycle Top

Market analyst OxChain went on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), focusing on on-chain data to shed light on the current market dynamics and what investors might expect in the near future. He argues that the recent downturn does not exhibit characteristics typical of a cycle top. 

In October, Bitcoin reached the mid-$120,000 range before experiencing a subsequent decline of approximately 35%. Notably, this drop transpired without the hype, fervor, or speculation that usually accompany a market peak.

The loss of nearly $1 trillion in market value underscores the underlying challenges. As Ethereum (ETH) and mid-cap cryptocurrencies simultaneously declined, there wasn’t an evident frenzy of speculation driving the downturn. Instead, OxChain attributes the decline primarily to a drop in demand. 

A slowdown in stablecoin creation and diminished inflows from exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have led to reduced buying activity. Derivatives traders have also stepped back, with funding conditions softening and open interest unwinding.

With market expectations recently leaning toward a potential interest rate cut in December, many buyers have opted to remain on the sidelines, preferring not to chase riskier assets. This hesitancy has led to a “fragile liquidity environment,” the analyst asserted. 

OxChain notes that even medium-sized orders can cause price changes of several percentage points due to the scarcity of resting bids. An examination of order book snapshots reveals that market depth has been waning during active trading periods, leading to a scenario where the market appears to be “running on fumes.”

Bitcoin Market Struggles Without Conviction

The situation in the derivatives market further supports this cautious outlook. Volatility has risen, with traders now leaning toward protective measures rather than building long positions. 

Interestingly, interest in futures contracts has decreased even amid small relief rallies, indicating that many traders are hesitant to take on larger positions.

OxChain highlights a crucial trend: without leveraged conviction, market trends often struggle to gain momentum. On-chain data shows a more cautious sentiment among investors rather than outright fear. 

While the coin days destroyed (CDD) metric has risen due to older coins moving, much of the long-held Bitcoin remains with patient holders who are not in a rush to sell.

Furthermore, the adjusted spent output profit ratio (aSOPR), hovering near 1, signals that there is neither extensive profit-taking nor widespread panic selling taking place. 

The analyst identified that the majority of selling activity has come from mid-term holders, contributing to a muted and indecisive market flow. 

Additionally, institutional investors remained relatively inactive throughout November. Significant outflows were reported in both Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, which further contributed to the current state of the market. OxChain concluded his analysis by saying:

The broader bullish narrative isn’t gone, but the near-term setup is fragile. Until a strong catalyst appears, expect a wandering market that drifts, chops, and tests lower levels.

When writing, the leading cryptocurrency was trading just above the $91,550 level, recording a 4% price recovery in the 24-hour time frame. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com