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Bitcoin dropped to below $86,000 after the US markets closed on Monday, December 15, 2025, falling as much as 3.98% to $85,700 before recovering slightly, while Ether declined 5% to $2,930, as traders moved out of risk assets following the Federal Reserve’s quarter-point rate cut and indications of fewer reductions next year.
Solana shed over 5% to $126, and XRP fell to $1.87. Crypto-related stocks took heavier hits. Circle (CRCL), Galaxy Digital (GLXY), and MicroStrategy (MSTR) all lost more than 8%, with Coinbase (COIN) down 6.4%. Bullish (BLSH) and eToro (ETOR) held up relatively better, falling 2.5% and 3.7%, respectively.
The crypto sell-off stands out against a relatively calm day in traditional markets, where the Nasdaq closed down 0.6% and the S&P 500 slipped 0.15%. AI-related stocks like Broadcom and Oracle remain under pressure after disappointing earnings last week.
That weakness has hit bitcoin miners hard, as many have pivoted part of their operations to AI data centers for diversification. Hut 8 (HUT), CleanSpark (CLSK), Cipher Mining (CIFR), and IREN (IREN) all posted double-digit percentage declines on Monday.
Analysts attributed the weakness to broader risk aversion. “The Fed’s pause-like language is pressuring growth-sensitive assets like crypto,” said Vincent Liu of Kronos Research. “We’re seeing rotation into bonds and gold until we get more clarity on 2026 policy.”
Crypto trading firm Wintermute described the current pullback as a digestion of macro uncertainty across risk assets, rather than the start of a prolonged risk-off period.
Bitcoin had hovered between $88,000 and $92,000 for more than two weeks before slipping below $86,000, prompting questions about deeper downside. “Without signs of forced selling or sustained liquidity erosion, any further declines are more likely to be orderly than chaotic,” Jasper De Maere, desk strategist at Wintermute, wrote in a Monday note.
The main catalyst remains last week’s Federal Reserve decision. As expected, the 25 basis point cut arrived, but the updated projections, now forecasting only one additional reduction in 2026, caught many investors off guard. Markets are still pricing in closer to three cuts next year, creating a disconnect that is fueling choppy trading.
That tension is compounded by this week’s anticipated Bank of Japan rate hike and plans to unwind over $500 billion in ETF holdings, stirring fresh worries about global liquidity and the unwind of yen carry trades.
On X, reactions have been pouring in thick and fast. Masked Investor wrote: “Wild time to be in crypto right now. Bitcoin just slipped under $86,000, wiping out $100B in market cap in a single day.”
Wild time to be in crypto right now. Bitcoin just slipped under $86,000, wiping out $100B in market cap in a single day.
Levered long liquidations in the last four hours are pushing $400M. pic.twitter.com/DJphcOZVp4
— THE MASKED INVESTOR – BSB (@masked_investor) December 15, 2025
Eth_taco wrote: “Bitcoin at $86,000. Solana at $125.The whole market feels like it’s going to zero. Nothing can even get a small run anymore.”
Bitcoin at $86,000.
Solana at $125.The whole market feels like it’s going to zero.
Nothing can even get a small run anymore.Meanwhile, $pippin…
Crazy lol… 😂Dfh5DzRgSvvCFDoYc2ciTkMrbDfRKybA4SoFbPmApump pic.twitter.com/WGbM7qH1H0
— Ghost 𝓰𝓶𝓰𝓷𝓪𝓲 💹🧲 (@eth_taco) December 16, 2025
Bitcoin traded at $86,312 on December 16, down 3.9%
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