What to Know
Weekly crypto volume fell 32% below average, with Bitcoin and Ethereum activity hitting multi-month lows.
BTC was rejected at $92K again; losing the $87K support could push prices toward $82K.
Low fees, thin liquidity, liquidations, and China FUD hint at rising bearish sentiment despite $3.1T market cap.
Crypto markets are entering a strange phase. Prices are holding up, and the total market cap has even climbed to $3.1 trillion, up 4% from last week. But beneath the surface, activity has slowed dramatically. According to a recent report, overall crypto trading volumes have dropped to their lowest levels since July, raising questions about what comes next for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the broader market.
The report notes that weekly crypto volume averaged $127 billion, which is 32% below normal levels. Bitcoin’s weekly volume fell to $59.9 billion, down 31%, while Ethereum’s weekly volume came in at $21.1 billion, a steep 43% drop. Ethereum network fees also dropped to 0.05 Gwei, placing them in the 5th percentile, a clear sign of low usage on the chain.
Bitcoin Rejected Again at $92,000
According to a 10x report, Bitcoin once again failed to break above $92,000, a key resistance level that has now rejected the price multiple times. What makes this more unusual is that the rejection came during a week when expectations of interest-rate cuts grew stronger, a combination not often seen in past cycles.
Volatility also collapsed, just as analysts predicted, but what traders are pricing in now is more surprising: extremely low activity, cautious sentiment, and very little appetite for risk.
Cryptocurrency futures markets reflect this caution. Bitcoin futures open interest fell by $1.1 billion, dropping to $29.7 billion. Funding rates rose slightly but remain in the 20th percentile of the past year, showing weak conviction. In contrast, Ethereum’s funding rates jumped into the 83rd percentile, and its futures open interest grew to $16.2 billion, showing a rise in leveraged traders even though spot volumes remain low.
Traders Warn of a “No-Trade Zone”
Blockchain Baller, a trader and KOL Manager, shared his personal view, saying the current Bitcoin structure shows hesitation, not strength. According to him, Bitcoin pushed into the $91,500 – $92,000 zone and got rejected immediately. The most important support now lies at $87,000 – $86,500. Losing this support could open the door to $82,500. Upside strength will only appear if BTC can reclaim $92,000 with real volume.
He added that Bitcoin is still forming lower highs, sellers remain active, and the market sits between strong support and resistance. His conclusion: “This is not a clean long. This is not a safe short. Patience is the best strategy right now.” The bottom line is that the trend is still bearish, and this current zone is a no-trade zone.
Bitcoin 24h Price Action
In the last 24 hours, Bitcoin fell 5.18% to $86,284. Firstly, about $185M worth of long positions were liquidated within 24 hours. Funding rates were elevated before the crash, showing traders were overly leveraged, and thin liquidity in December amplified the move. China’s central bank repeated its crypto ban, calling all crypto activity illegal. Even though such statements are not new, they rattled an already weak market.
Bitcoin broke below its $90,918 pivot and lost key Fibonacci levels. RSI shows the market is not oversold yet, meaning more downside is possible. The next level to watch is $85,694; a close below this could trigger targets near $80,600. At the time of writing, BTC is trading at $86,545.
Final Thoughts
Based on all indicators like falling volumes, high fear, weak momentum, and constant rejections at resistance, many analysts believe the market may be entering the early phase of a 2 – 3 year correction pattern that often follows after major bull runs.
According to me, this period looks like a classic post-peak “profit-taking phase.” Institutions, funds, and large traders appear to be securing gains after the strong 2025 all-time highs seen across many cryptocurrencies. Every cycle has a calm, low-volume period that comes after excitement, and this may be the start of that phase.
For now, the market remains fragile. Until Bitcoin either reclaims $92,000 or breaks below $85,000, the smartest move for traders may simply be to watch and wait.
Also Read: Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Turns Positive for the First Time in a Month
