Bitcoin price today is holding in the upper-$80,000 range after another whipsaw session that briefly stretched toward the psychologically important $90,000 level. As of 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $87,301, up modestly versus the prior close, after printing an intraday high near $90,187 and an intraday low around $85,355.
The early-morning tone reflects a market stuck between two competing narratives:
- Macro uncertainty ahead of the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) release later this morning
- Institutional positioning via U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, including a standout inflow day
- Shifting U.S. policy signals, from interest-rate politics to banking oversight and crypto engagement
Below is what’s moving the Bitcoin price today—and what traders are watching next.
Bitcoin price today at 5:00 AM ET: where BTC stands right now
BTC is trading near $87.3K in early U.S. hours, following a volatile 24-hour stretch that saw price action rotate sharply between mid-$80Ks and around $90K. [1]
In broader markets, Reuters also noted bitcoin changing hands near the mid-$86,000s earlier in Asia trading as the U.S. dollar held firm and markets lined up major central bank decisions. [2]
Key context: Bitcoin’s inability to hold above $90,000 has become a defining feature of late-2025 trading—each push toward that level has attracted both profit-taking and renewed hedging, keeping BTC in a high-volume consolidation band.
(Prices can differ slightly by exchange and data source.)
The biggest driver today: U.S. CPI at 8:30 AM ET
The market’s main scheduled catalyst is the U.S. CPI release for November 2025, due at 8:30 a.m. ET (per the Bureau of Labor Statistics release schedule). [3]
Why this CPI print is unusual in 2025
Reuters reports that economists expect headline CPI to rise about 3.1% year-over-year, with core CPI around 3.0% year-over-year. [4]
But the bigger issue for traders is the format of the data: Reuters says the BLS will not publish month-to-month changes for this delayed report after the government shutdown disrupted October’s data collection, leaving investors with fewer clean signals about inflation momentum. [5]
That matters for Bitcoin because BTC has increasingly traded as a macro-sensitive liquidity asset—rising when markets price easier financial conditions and falling when real yields and the dollar strengthen.
What Bitcoin traders are watching in CPI
- A hotter-than-expected reading can push rate-cut expectations out, lifting the dollar and pressuring risk assets (including crypto).
- A cooler reading can revive the “soft-landing / easing” narrative and potentially support BTC—especially if ETF flows remain positive.
CoinDesk described Bitcoin being “all over the place” heading into the inflation data, with price swinging roughly between $86,000 and $90,000 over the last day. [6]
Rates are back in the crypto conversation after Trump’s Fed-chair comments
Beyond CPI, the rates narrative picked up fresh headlines after President Donald Trump said the next Federal Reserve chair will believe in lower interest rates “by a lot.” [7]
Reuters also notes the current Fed rate range is 3.5% to 3.75%. [8]
For Bitcoin, rate expectations matter because:
- Lower expected rates typically reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets.
- Lower rates can boost risk appetite and liquidity conditions, which has historically helped crypto—especially when coupled with ETF inflows.
That said, the market is not trading on political headlines alone. Traders are waiting for data (CPI first, then follow-on inflation and labor signals) to confirm whether the Fed can credibly keep cutting, pause, or re-tighten.
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs: a big inflow day changes the tone
One of the most important Bitcoin market stories today is the re-acceleration in spot Bitcoin ETF flows—at least for one key session.
A Cointelegraph report carried by TradingView said U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded about $457 million in net inflows on Wednesday, the strongest single-day intake in more than a month. [9]
- Fidelity’s FBTC reportedly led with roughly $391 million
- BlackRock’s IBIT followed with about $111 million [10]
The same report said cumulative net inflows have moved above $57 billion and total net assets climbed above $112 billion. [11]
Why ETF flows matter more than almost anything else
In 2025, spot ETF flows have become a near-daily scoreboard for institutional participation. When flows are persistently positive, dips tend to get bought faster. When flows turn negative for multiple sessions, BTC’s rallies can fade quickly.
Notably, Investing.com described the market mood as cautious into today’s CPI release, pointing to subdued trading behavior and sensitivity to ETF flow dynamics. [12]
A useful way to read today’s setup: even if Bitcoin’s price looks range-bound, ETFs can quietly determine whether the next major move breaks up or down—especially around a macro data catalyst like CPI.
A major policy shift for crypto banking: the Fed rescinds a key 2023 stance
Another headline shaping crypto sentiment today is a significant shift in how U.S. bank oversight approaches certain “novel” activities—language that has often been associated with crypto rails and stablecoin experimentation.
A Federal Reserve policy document shows the Board is rescinding its 2023 policy statement interpreting section 9(13) of the Federal Reserve Act, and withdrawing from the record supplementary information that discussed specific crypto-asset activities. [13]
The same Fed document says the Board is replacing the 2023 policy statement with a new policy statement designed to facilitate innovation by state member banks consistent with safety and soundness and financial stability. [14]
Decrypt characterized this as the Fed walking back a nearly three-year-old posture and replacing it with a framework that encourages “responsible innovation,” tied to a broader shift in supervisory approach. [15]
Why Bitcoin cares (even if the rule isn’t “about BTC”)
Bitcoin often reacts to the plumbing of the financial system:
- Easier pathways for banks to engage with crypto-adjacent activities can improve on-ramps, custody, and settlement experimentation.
- It can also reduce “debanking” fears that periodically hit crypto markets and liquidity providers.
This doesn’t automatically mean a straight line up for BTC—but it can improve the medium-term environment for institutional participation.
Coinbase makes a global policy move: George Osborne appointment
On the corporate-policy front, Reuters reported that Coinbase appointed former UK finance minister George Osborne to run its internal advisory council, as the company seeks to expand its influence with governments beyond the U.S., including in Britain and the European Union. [16]
While this is not directly a Bitcoin-price catalyst, it matters to the broader crypto narrative because:
- Regulatory clarity (or uncertainty) affects exchange operations, custody standards, and product rollouts.
- Major U.S. crypto firms increasingly treat policy as a competitive moat—especially as crypto becomes more integrated with traditional markets.
For Bitcoin, the takeaway is less about Coinbase specifically and more about the industry’s continued push toward mainstream regulatory engagement.
What to watch for the rest of today
As of 5:00 a.m. ET, Bitcoin is essentially positioned for a volatility event. Here are the most practical checkpoints traders and long-term investors are watching through the day:
1) 8:30 AM ET — CPI release
- The direction of BTC’s first move may depend on whether CPI reinforces a “rates stay higher” view or reopens the door to more cuts. [17]
2) ETF flow follow-through
- After Wednesday’s reported $457M net inflow, the market will look for confirmation that institutions are adding, not just rebalancing. [18]
3) The $90,000 ceiling and mid-$80,000 support zone
- BTC’s intraday high near $90,187 highlights the pressure around that round-number level.
- The mid-$85,000s has also been tested as an intraday low area, making it a near-term support zone to monitor.
4) Macro crosswinds: the dollar and global central banks
Reuters flagged a market session defined by major central bank events and a firm U.S. dollar—conditions that can shape global risk appetite and crypto correlations. [19]
Bottom line: Bitcoin price today is stable near $87K—but the next move hinges on CPI and flows
At 5:00 a.m. ET on Dec. 18, 2025, Bitcoin price today is hovering around $87,301, after a session that saw BTC trade between roughly $85,355 and $90,187.
The market’s tone is cautious but coiled:
- CPI at 8:30 a.m. ET is the immediate volatility trigger. [20]
- ETF flows are the institutional scoreboard—and they just flashed a meaningful positive signal. [21]
- Policy and regulation remain in flux, with the Fed’s updated stance on “novel” activities adding to a shifting U.S. crypto backdrop. [22]
If CPI surprises, Bitcoin could finally see a decisive break out of its recent range. If CPI lands near expectations, ETF flows and broader risk sentiment may decide whether BTC ends the week pressing back toward $90,000—or sliding to retest the mid-$80,000s.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Crypto assets are volatile and can move sharply on news and macro data.
References
1. www.coindesk.com, 2. www.reuters.com, 3. www.bls.gov, 4. www.reuters.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.coindesk.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.tradingview.com, 10. www.tradingview.com, 11. www.tradingview.com, 12. www.investing.com, 13. www.federalreserve.gov, 14. www.federalreserve.gov, 15. decrypt.co, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. www.bls.gov, 18. www.tradingview.com, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.bls.gov, 21. www.tradingview.com, 22. www.federalreserve.gov
