Business Sandesh Indian Newspaper | Articles | Opinion Pieces | Research Studies | Findings & News | Sandesh News
Bitcoin plunged nearly 4% to around $85,900 during Asian trading hours on December 16, 2025, extending a broader cryptocurrency sell-off as risk assets faced renewed pressure. The decline coincided with lower openings in major Asian stock indices, underscoring heightened investor caution in global markets.
After failing to sustain above $90,000 following a rejection near $100,000 earlier in the month, Bitcoin encountered heavy selling, triggering over $500 million in liquidations—mostly long positions. Ethereum and altcoins followed suit, with Layer 2 tokens leading losses and the total crypto market cap dipping below $3 trillion.
Asian equities mirrored the risk-off tone: Japan’s Nikkei fell over 1%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined, and Shanghai composites opened weaker, driven by tech and commodity sector weakness. Traders cited macroeconomic uncertainties, including potential Bank of Japan rate hike signals and lingering effects from U.S. economic data flows.
The session preceded the release of the long-delayed U.S. November jobs report (published December 16 due to prior government shutdown disruptions), which combined October-November data and omitted some metrics like October’s unemployment rate. Forecasts anticipated modest payroll gains (~50,000) and a rise to 4.5% unemployment, potentially influencing Federal Reserve policy outlook.
Analysts note Bitcoin’s growing correlation with equities in 2025, amplified by ETF flows and institutional positioning. Key support lies at $84,000–$85,000; a breach could open deeper corrections toward $80,000. Despite short-term volatility, medium-term optimism persists on improving liquidity and ETF demand.
As markets digest the jobs data, volatility is expected to remain elevated, with crypto and stocks intertwined in the final trading weeks of 2025. Investors are advised to monitor support levels closely.
