Bitcoin opened the week with renewed weakness, falling more than 4% in recent sessions and edging closer to the lows recorded in November. Selling pressure has intensified as both retail and institutional participants appear hesitant ahead of the year-end season. Capital outflows, particularly from BTC futures ETFs, reflect a decline in confidence, with net flows reaching –162 million dollars as of December 11. This trend underscores that major investors are either pausing their exposure or actively reducing it, signaling caution in the crypto ecosystem.
The broader macroeconomic landscape has failed to provide a meaningful boost to Bitcoin demand. Despite a recent Federal Reserve rate cut, market participants have largely directed newfound optimism toward equities rather than crypto assets. The Fed’s cautious projections for early 2026, coupled with the market awaiting this week’s U.S. Non-Farm Payroll report and the upcoming European Central Bank decision, have kept BTC buyers on the sidelines. Retail activity mirrors this sentiment, with the number of active Bitcoin addresses dropping from over 900,000 on December 12 to just 683,000, pointing to a noticeable decline in network participation.
Sentiment indicators continue to highlight uncertainty. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index remains at 24 points, firmly in the fear zone and close to extreme levels, suggesting that pessimism dominates the short-term outlook. Without a catalyst to revive confidence, Bitcoin may remain under pressure, and any attempts at a recovery could be short-lived. Technical analysis further reinforces the bearish narrative. The recent attempt to surpass $90,000 was met with renewed selling, keeping the price close to November lows and validating the long-term downtrend from previous all-time highs. The RSI has turned negative again, staying below the neutral 50 level, while the MACD histogram declines beneath zero, both indicating sustained selling momentum. Key resistance sits around $100,000, with nearby support at $91,181 and final support near $85,262. A breach below these levels could cement the dominant bearish trend into early 2026.
From a market perspective, the lack of institutional and retail appetite, combined with subdued network activity and persistent macroeconomic uncertainty, suggests that Bitcoin may continue to experience downward pressure. Investors and traders should remain cautious, monitoring capital flows, active addresses, and broader economic signals as year-end approaches. While occasional recoveries are possible, the overall environment points to a cautious period for BTC, where patience and careful risk management remain essential.
