Bitcoin’s Path to $100K: Navigating Resistance and Institutional Shifts

As of December 17, 2025, Bitcoin finds itself consolidating around the $90,700 mark, encountering significant headwinds just below the critical $93,000–$94,000 resistance zone. This price ceiling has proven formidable since late November, repeatedly halting upward momentum. The recent stall coincides with a notable cooling in institutional demand, as evidenced by spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) data. On December 8, these funds experienced net outflows of $60 million, signaling a potential shift in sentiment among major players like Fidelity and BlackRock's iShares. This slowdown in ETF inflows, a primary driver of the 2024-2025 bull market, introduces a new layer of complexity to Bitcoin's trajectory. The market's immediate focus is now squarely on the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decision, which is expected to provide crucial direction for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. While the short-term picture shows consolidation and tempered institutional appetite, the underlying bullish thesis for Bitcoin remains intact among long-term proponents. The current phase is widely viewed as a necessary period of price discovery and stability-building before a potential assault on the psychologically significant $100,000 level. The interplay between macroeconomic policy, institutional flow data, and technical resistance will likely determine the timing and vigor of Bitcoin's next major price move.

Bitcoin Price Stalls at $90K as ETF Inflows Slow Ahead of Crucial FOMC Decision

Bitcoin trades near $90,700, trapped in a tight range as spot ETF inflows decelerate. The cryptocurrency faces stubborn resistance between $93,000–$94,000, a zone that has repeatedly capped gains since late November.

Institutional demand shows signs of cooling—Farside Investors data reveals $60 million in net outflows from bitcoin ETFs on December 8. Key products like Fidelity's offering and BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust previously drove institutional adoption throughout 2025.

Market structure remains neutral despite the slowdown. Analysts note Bitcoin continues to find support between $88,000–$90,000, with liquidity clusters confirming this as a critical area.

Bitcoin's Liquidity Migration: From Exchanges to Institutional Vaults

Bitcoin's liquidity landscape is undergoing a tectonic shift. Nearly 2.57 million BTC—13% of circulating supply—now sits in ETFs and corporate treasuries, eclipsing the 2.09 million BTC on centralized exchanges. This isn't just a rebalancing. It's a fundamental rewiring of market mechanics.

The old paradigm of exchange-driven price discovery is fading. Basis trades now pivot around institutional custody solutions and regulated products. Volatility profiles are mutating as the marginal seller transforms from a retail trader to a pension fund's rebalance algorithm.

Glassnode data reveals the staggering inertia: 61% of Bitcoin hasn't moved in over a year. The asset is hardening into a collateral base layer—less a speculative vehicle, more a bedrock asset in the shadow liquidity system.

Retail Bitcoin Activity Crashes to Historic Lows as Institutional Demand Shifts Dynamics

Retail inflows of Bitcoin to Binance have collapsed to 411 BTC—a near-historic low—marking a 60% decline since spot ETF launches redirected liquidity to institutional vehicles. The drop from 1,056 BTC in early 2024 underscores a structural shift: small holders (‘shrimp’) are retreating while ETFs dominate market flows.

December 2022’s post-FTX panic saw retail inflows of 2,675 BTC to Binance. Today’s 411 BTC reflects not just cyclical disinterest but a fundamental reordering of participation. Analysts note spot ETFs are vacuuming up liquidity that once circulated on centralized exchanges.

The data paints a stark dichotomy: institutional channels thrive as retail atrophies. CryptoQuant’s metrics reveal this divergence isn’t merely seasonal—it’s systemic. ‘When the tide goes out, you see who’s swimming naked,’ observed one trader, referencing Bitcoin’s increasingly institutionalized plumbing.

Twenty One Capital Debuts on NYSE With $4B Bitcoin Treasury

Twenty One Capital, a Bitcoin-native financial firm co-founded by Jack Mallers, began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker 'XXI.' The company holds 43,514 BTC—valued at roughly $4 billion—placing it among the largest corporate Bitcoin treasuries in public markets.

Backed by institutional heavyweights including Tether, Bitfinex, and SoftBank Group, Twenty One aims to build more than just a BTC treasury. The firm plans to develop Bitcoin-centric financial infrastructure, positioning itself as a bridge between traditional finance and digital assets.

The IPO offers public investors exposure to Bitcoin through a regulated entity rather than direct crypto exchanges—a move that could appeal to institutions wary of custody risks.

Bitcoin's Resilience Tested as Japan Prepares First Rate Hike Since 1995

The Bank of Japan's anticipated 0.25% rate hike to 0.75% marks a historic shift from its decades-long ultra-loose policy. While markets have largely priced in the December move, the 1.95% yield on 10-year JGBs reveals lingering tension.

Unlike August's surprise intervention that rattled crypto markets, Bitcoin now benefits from offsetting forces: declining US Treasury yields and institutional inflows. The real threat lies not in Japan's policy normalization but in potential Fed reversals or regulatory crackdowns.

Carry trade unwinds remain a watchpoint, but BTC's 2025 performance suggests decoupling from traditional risk assets during monetary transitions.

PNC Bank Integrates Spot Bitcoin Trading via Coinbase for High-Net-Worth Clients

PNC Bank has launched spot Bitcoin trading for its Private Bank clients, marking a significant step in traditional finance's embrace of digital assets. The service, powered by Coinbase's Crypto-as-a-Service (CaaS) platform, allows high-net-worth individuals to buy, sell, and hold BTC directly within their existing PNC accounts.

This integration eliminates the need for external crypto exchanges, offering seamless access to Bitcoin alongside traditional banking services. PNC becomes the first major U.S. bank to embed spot Bitcoin trading within its Core offerings, signaling growing institutional acceptance.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong highlighted the MOVE as responsive to increasing demand from traditional investors. The bank may expand the service to nonprofit clients in future phases, suggesting a broader institutional roadmap for crypto adoption.