Bitcoin Price Today (26.12.2025): BTC Slips Near $86.7K at 10:14 a.m. EST as ETF Outflows and Record Options Expiry Keep Markets Choppy

Bitcoin’s price action turned noticeably softer late Friday morning, with BTC trading near $86,700 around 10:14 a.m. EST (pricing captured minutes later at 10:17 a.m. EST). That put the world’s largest cryptocurrency down about 1.17% versus the prior close and sitting near the session low, after earlier trading closer to the upper end of the day’s range.

The intraday story so far: Bitcoin has swung between roughly $86,700 and $89,400, a reminder that thin year-end liquidity can magnify otherwise routine flows—especially with a major derivatives “reset” landing on the calendar. ^[1]

Bitcoin price today at 10:14 a.m. EST

As of roughly 10:14 a.m. EST on 26.12.2025, Bitcoin traded near:

Price: ~$86,700
Day range: ~$86,700 (low) to ~$89,400 (high)
Daily move: about -1.17% vs. the prior close

Earlier coverage captured Bitcoin closer to $89,182 in early U.S. hours, underscoring the day’s “two-speed” feel: steadier overnight trade followed by sharper late-morning moves as positioning shifts. ^[2]

Why is Bitcoin moving today?

Today’s Bitcoin narrative is less about one headline and more about market structure:

1) Thin year-end liquidity is amplifying moves

Multiple market updates today pointed to subdued holiday participation and “rangebound” conditions—an environment where relatively modest buying or selling can create outsized price swings. ^[3]

2) Spot Bitcoin ETF flows have turned into a near-term headwind

A key pressure point: persistent outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs. Market commentary today framed these outflows as part of year-end rebalancing and de-risking—especially as traders manage exposure into the final stretch of the year. ^[4]

3) A record crypto options expiry is landing today

Several analyst notes and market reports highlighted the scale of options expiry expected on December 26, with some desks warning it can “pin” price inside a tight band until contracts roll off—then allow a sharper move once hedges unwind. ^[5]

Spot Bitcoin ETF flows: the numbers traders are watching

One of the most concrete “flow” signals in today’s coverage is the latest read on U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs.

Data from Farside Investors shows that on 24 Dec 2025, total net flow across major spot Bitcoin ETFs was -175.3 million USD, with notable outflows including IBIT (-91.4m), FBTC (-17.2m) and GBTC (-24.6m) (among others). ^[6]

In plain English: when large ETF vehicles see net redemptions (especially across multiple sessions), it can remove an important source of “steady bid” that had previously helped stabilize dips—making Bitcoin more vulnerable to air pockets in liquidity. Commentary today also emphasized that, at year-end, flows may be driven by tactical rebalancing and tax/positioning rather than a fundamental shift in long-term demand. ^[7]

Record options expiry: why traders keep talking about “pinning” and “max pain”

A major theme across today’s analysis: options expiry mechanics.

A market roundup of expert commentary noted that around $28B in crypto options (including roughly $23.7B in Bitcoin) were set to expire, and suggested that hedging by market makers can keep BTC moving “sideways in a volatile range” into expiry—then potentially release that pressure after settlement. ^[8]

In the same discussion, a key concept surfaced repeatedly: large expiries can be neutral-to-bullish after settlement, but can also produce quick stop-loss “flushes” in thin conditions. ^[9]

Separately, broader macro-market reporting today also cited Bitcoin’s moves alongside currency markets, reinforcing the idea that crypto is trading like a high-beta liquidity asset into year-end. ^[10]

Today’s headlines and analysis notes (26.12.2025)

Here are the major same-day items shaping the “Bitcoin price today” conversation:

Rangebound trade below $90K: One widely circulated update described Bitcoin pushing back toward $89K but struggling to reclaim the psychological $90,000 level, citing thin liquidity and ETF outflows. ^[11]
Expert views on the day’s range: Market commentary collected from several crypto desks emphasized that liquidity is the primary driver right now, with attention on ETF flows, stablecoin supply, and futures positioning more than big narratives. ^[12]
Macro cross-currents: A global markets report noted Bitcoin’s modest gain at one point during thin trading, placing BTC alongside FX and rate-cut expectations—another signal that traders are watching broader liquidity conditions. ^[13]
Technical outlook framing: A prominent analysis note flagged $85,000 as a key support area and $91,000 as initial resistance, with a higher resistance zone near $94,700—levels that are now central to many short-term roadmaps. ^[14]
Forecast-style trade map: A technical forecast argued that a break above ~$94,000 could open the door toward $100,000, while a break below $80,000 would materially weaken the structure (with deeper downside levels discussed). ^[15]

Key technical levels: support and resistance traders are using today

Across today’s research notes, a few levels keep repeating because they align with both psychology and recent market structure:

Resistance zones

$90,000: The psychological ceiling that has capped multiple rebound attempts in recent sessions. ^[16]
~$91,000: Cited as a first technical resistance zone in one widely shared outlook. ^[17]
~$94,700 to $94,000: A higher resistance area highlighted across forecasts; some views frame a break above here as a more meaningful shift. ^[18]

Support zones

~$87,000–$85,000: A frequently cited support band; one technical note called $85K the key short-term support level and warned that closes below it could increase selling pressure. ^[19]
$80,000: Flagged in a separate forecast as a “red line” that, if lost, could expose a deeper drawdown zone. ^[20]

What forecasters are saying today about Bitcoin’s next move

Forecasts published today are generally converging on one message: Bitcoin is in a consolidation regime, and the next decisive move likely requires either (a) improved liquidity/flows or (b) a technical break that forces repositioning.

Consolidation base case: One technical forecast described “back-and-forth” conditions consistent with accumulation/consolidation, emphasizing that low-liquidity holiday trading can produce sudden moves without much warning. ^[21]
Breakout requirements: Another analysis argued that bulls need to clear ~$91,000 first, with ~$94,700 as a more meaningful line—while also noting that year-end conditions can cause sharp swings even inside a range. ^[22]
Post-expiry release valve: Expert commentary collected today suggested that once options expiry passes, the “pinning” pressure may fade—opening room for a more directional move (with the important caveat that thin liquidity can still produce whipsaws). ^[23]

Macro backdrop: why Bitcoin is being traded like a liquidity gauge

Even on a quiet holiday week, crypto rarely trades in isolation.

A markets report today tied broader price action to expectations for easier U.S. monetary policy and the way global investors are positioning across currencies and rates. Within that context, Bitcoin was cited alongside FX moves during thin trading. ^[24]
Separately, one “stock market today” update also mentioned Bitcoin’s gains in a broader risk-asset roundup, reflecting how BTC is still treated as part of the day’s macro risk sentiment. ^[25]

What to watch next (today and into year-end)

If you’re following Bitcoin price today with an eye on what might move next, the most practical checklist looks like this:

ETF flow prints
Another day of net outflows (or a surprise reversal back to inflows) can matter more than headlines when liquidity is thin. ^[26]
Post-expiry volatility
With major options rolling off, watch for the market to test (or reject) the same levels that have defined the range: ~$85K support and $90K–$91K resistance. ^[27]
The “$90K” narrative turning into a real break (or another rejection)
Many daily summaries continue to frame $90,000 as the level that changes sentiment from “rangebound” to “recovery.” ^[28]
Liquidity signals outside crypto
BTC has been trading in sync with broader liquidity expectations—so rate-path chatter, dollar moves, and risk appetite can still steer the tape. ^[29]

Bottom line

At 10:14 a.m. EST on 26.12.2025, Bitcoin traded near $86.7K, closer to the low end of the day’s range after earlier prints nearer $89K. ^[30]

The bigger picture is not a single headline—it’s a blend of thin holiday liquidity, spot ETF outflows, and a record-sized options expiry that has many desks expecting choppy, level-driven trading until the market clears and re-prices risk into the final days of the year. ^[31]

This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.