Weekly Market Digest - Week 52
December 22 - December 28, 2025
Weekly Performance
Market Cap
-5.0%
Volume
-23.4%
BTC Dominance
-0.8%
Sentiment
Executive Summary
Week 52 closed out a turbulent year for cryptocurrency markets with a distinctly bearish tone. The largest options expiry in Deribit history, totaling $27 billion in Bitcoin and Ethereum contracts, created significant volatility as traders repositioned ahead of 2026. Holiday trading conditions amplified price swings, with thin liquidity contributing to heightened market sensitivity.
Total cryptocurrency market cap contracted approximately 5% week-over-week to $2.96 trillion, with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index registering extreme fear at 27. Bitcoin ETFs experienced $175 million in outflows on December 24 alone, while BTC dominance held steady around 59%. Despite the bearish price action, institutional conviction remained evident as Metaplanet secured shareholder approval for an ambitious 210,000 BTC accumulation plan, targeting 1% of total Bitcoin supply by 2027.
Week Highlights
$27 Billion Options Expiry Creates Year-End Volatility
The largest options expiry in Deribit history occurred on December 26, with $23.6 billion in Bitcoin options and $3.8 billion in Ethereum options expiring. Call options outnumbered puts by nearly 3-to-1, reflecting underlying bullish positioning despite bearish price action.
Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs Face Holiday Outflows
Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs saw significant outflows ahead of Christmas, with Bitcoin ETFs posting $175 million in net outflows including $91 million from BlackRock's IBIT. Ethereum ETFs shed an additional $57 million as traders reduced risk exposure.
Metaplanet Approves 210,000 Bitcoin Accumulation Target
Japanese investment firm Metaplanet received shareholder approval for an aggressive plan to acquire 210,000 Bitcoin by 2027, representing approximately 1% of total Bitcoin supply. The move signals sustained institutional confidence in Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset.
Congress Passes Historic Crypto Legislation
2025 marked a watershed moment as Congress passed the first major piece of crypto legislation in U.S. history. The regulatory shift, combined with scaled-back SEC enforcement, signals a more constructive approach to digital asset oversight heading into 2026.
Top Performers
LEO Token
LEO
+25.0%
LEO surged 25% over the week, trading near $8.45, driven by year-end exchange ecosystem strength and liquidity improvements. The token's association with a major exchange ecosystem provided consistent support during late-December volatility.
Zcash
ZEC
+15.0%
Privacy coins experienced a resurgence in late December, with ZEC rallying as institutional interest grew. Grayscale's ZCSH trust exceeded $123 million AUM while shielded pool holdings surpassed 4.9 million ZEC.
Zebec Network
ZBCN
+12.3%
ZBCN demonstrated strong momentum with the real-world assets narrative leading all crypto sectors. The Solana-based token benefited from sustained interest in tokenized assets and yield-bearing protocols.
Monero
XMR
+8.5%
Monero maintained its position as the leading privacy coin with consistent on-chain activity averaging 26,000 transactions daily. Strong community adoption supported XMR through year-end volatility.
Merlin Chain
MERL
+7.2%
Merlin maintained stable performance heading into year-end as Bitcoin L2 narrative momentum continued. Strong ecosystem development and approximately 277% Q3 gains provided a solid foundation.
Underperformers
Uniswap
UNI
-10.7%
Uniswap declined despite the protocol's major UNIfication proposal that burned 100 million tokens from treasury. The persistent weakness reflects broader altcoin bearishness, with UNI trading below key moving averages.
Polkadot
DOT
-9.1%
Polkadot broke below critical $2.00 support, forming lower highs in a confirmed downtrend. Trading volume declined significantly below monthly averages, signaling weak institutional participation.
Cardano
ADA
-8.2%
Cardano experienced significant selling pressure during late December, consolidating at new 2025 lows. Loss realization exceeded $900 million as traders exited positions amid weak technical sentiment.
Dogecoin
DOGE
-7.3%
Dogecoin declined as year-end tax loss harvesting accelerated selling across meme assets. Thin holiday liquidity constrained recovery attempts while the 200-day moving average remained in downtrend.
XRP
XRP
-3.6%
XRP underperformed the broader market, trading between $1.81 and $1.90 support levels. The token remains approximately 16% below December highs, trapped in a narrow range with technical weakness.
Week Ahead Outlook
As 2025 closes and 2026 begins, markets face a pivotal transition period. Multiple token unlocks totaling hundreds of millions of dollars are scheduled for early January, including SUI and XRP releases on January 1. The BNB Chain Fermi hard fork on January 14 will reduce block times from 750ms to 450ms, potentially boosting DeFi activity. Regulatory implementation becomes a key theme as EU DAC8 tax reporting rules take effect January 1, requiring European exchanges to report crypto transactions to tax authorities. The Basel Committee crypto asset disclosure framework also goes live, mandating formal bank reporting of crypto exposure. These compliance requirements may create short-term friction but ultimately support institutional adoption through improved transparency.
Upcoming Events
SUI Token Unlock (43.69M SUI to Community Reserve)
Increased token supply may create short-term selling pressure. Market reaction depends on community sentiment and absorption capacity.
XRP Monthly Escrow Unlock (1 Billion XRP)
Ripple typically returns 60-80% to escrow, but the unlock increases available supply. Impact depends on re-escrow decisions and market demand.
EU DAC8 and Basel Framework Implementation
Enhanced regulatory compliance may increase operational costs but improves institutional confidence through transparency.
BNB Chain Fermi Hard Fork
Block time reduction from 750ms to 450ms enhances DeFi trading efficiency and user experience on BNB Chain.
Disclaimer: News content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Market conditions can change rapidly. Always conduct your own research.