BTC & ETH Plunge Amid Extreme Fear - 24-Hour Crypto Market Bloodbath
Bitcoin and Ethereum lead a brutal market selloff as investor sentiment hits rock bottom.
The Fear & Greed Index screams 'Extreme Fear'—a familiar refrain that sends shivers down the spines of leveraged longs. This isn't a dip; it's a flush.
What's Driving the Panic?
No single catalyst, just a perfect storm of macro jitters and crypto-native anxiety. The usual suspects—inflation worries, regulatory whispers, and that nagging feeling the party's over—are back on the menu. Remember, in crypto, fear is a more contagious virus than any meme coin.
Where's the Bottom?
Smart money watches for capitulation volume. The kind of selling that smells of margin calls and despair—not profit-taking. Until then, it's a game of chicken between diamond hands and forced liquidations. A classic case of the market doing whatever it takes to prove the most people wrong, usually by first taking their money.
This is where convictions get tested. Bulls see a fire sale. Bears see a dead cat bounce. Everyone else is just checking their portfolio and sighing—the universal pastime of modern finance.
Major Crypto Events Today
Source: Forex Factory
Overall Summary: Cryptocurrency Market Today
The global cryptocurrency market today reached a capitalization of $2.99 trillion, reflecting a 2.3% sharp dip over the last 24 hours. Total trading volume across all cryptocurrencies was $127.4 billion, showing steady crypto activity.
Bitcoin (BTC) remains the largest crypto, commanding 57.3% dominance, while ethereum (ETH) holds 11.4%. Currently, 19,144 cryptocurrencies are being tracked, with Polkadot and XRP Ledger tokens showing the strongest gains in the past day.
24-Hour Crypto Market Update: Prices, Volume & Trends
Bitcoin (BTC) price today is trading at $85,995.56, down 1.97% in the last 24 hours, with a trading volume of $43.6 billion and a market cap of $1.71 trillion.
Ethereum (ETH) is priced at $2,826.47, rising 4.78% in 24 hours with a trading volume of $26 billion and a market cap of $341 billion.
(Note: BTC and ETH are often viewed as less volatile historically, but still risky.)
(Trending data is based on a combination of 24-hour price movement, trading volume, and CoinMarketCap.com trending metrics.)
Bitcoin trades at $85,992.98, down 1.92%, with a trading activity of $43.66 billion.
Ethereum stands at $2,826.42, falling 4.48%, while recording $25.93 billion in volume.
AI Cyclone is priced at $0.0002127, surging 80.02%, with $70.61 in trading activity.
Yooldo Esports trades at $0.4094, up 0.39%, backed by $1.12 billion in volume.
Solana is valued at $123.45, down 4.62%, with a trading volume (TV) of $5.38B.
(Ranked by 24-hour percentage gain)
Canton (CC) is trading at $0.07677, gaining 7.78%, with a TV of about $20.02 million.
Midnight (NIGHT) is priced at $0.06285, up 4.24%, recording a heavy TV of around $1.10 billion.
MemeCore (M) stands at $1.67, rising 2.43%, with TV close to $15.49 million.
(Ranked by 24-hour percentage decline.)
UNUS SED LEO (LEO) is trading at $7.30, down 20.25%, with a daily trading activity of $5 million.
Pump.fun (PUMP) is priced at $0.002051, recording a 12.04% decline, while trading volume stands near $117 million.
SPX6900 (SPX) trades at $0.4793, slipping 11.36%, with a trading volume of $20.3 million.
Stablecoins recorded a 0.1% negative change in the past 24 hours, with a market cap of $313.8 billion and trading volume of $97.8 billion.
The Decentralized Finance (DeFi) market steeply dips 4.9% in the last 24 hours, reaching a market cap of $101 billion, while total value locked (TVL) stands at $5.89 billion.
(TVL refers to the total crypto assets locked in DeFi protocols.)
Fear and Greed Index Today
Source: Alternative Me
The current Fear and Greed Index is 17 (Extreme Fear), an improvement of 16 from the previous day. The sentiment is poor because of the volatility of prices, regulatory uncertainty, and low risk appetite. Compared to 29 last week (Fear), confidence has worsened, though it’s higher than last month’s 11, signaling mild stabilization.
Latest Crypto Market News Today, 18 December: Why It Matters?
Coinbase also said it WOULD introduce stock trading, prediction markets, perpetual futures, Kalshi integration, and Jupiter-powered on-chain swaps, making its trading offerings not limited to crypto.
According to journalist Eleanor Terrett, the US Federal Reserve withdrew 2023 guidance that limited uninsured banks’ crypto access, easing membership rules and reversing a policy that blocked Custodia Bank’s master account.
Studies indicate that almost $300 billion of dormant Bitcoin flowed in 2025 as long-term holders sold in large numbers, and weak ETF flows, declining derivatives markets, and softening retail demand left markets vulnerable worldwide.
Privacy coin Monero outperformed, reaching an $8 billion cap with over 100% yearly gains, nearing its 2021 peak, and overtaking Zcash as the top privacy asset again today.
Binance is weighing a Binance US relaunch, including possible recapitalization to cut CZ’s stake, easing regulatory hurdles. Talks continue, with no final decision yet.
(Note: Each of these updates impacts traders by affecting liquidity, market sentiment, and potential returns, highlighting the need for careful monitoring.)
Comparative Insight
Today is weaker in sentiment and under heavier selling pressure as compared to last week, which had more confidence. bitcoin and Solana were down, but some of the altcoins and privacy coins, such as Monero, did better, showing that not all sectors were recovering equally.
What This Means for Crypto Users
To crypto users, the present state of affairs is an indicator of increased volatility and uncertainty. Short-term trades may be affected by falling prices, the extreme fear mood, and regulatory changes. Nevertheless, more offerings of exchanges and relaxation of banking regulations may help with the long-term adoption and better infrastructure.
This commentary is only informational and not for long-term conditions. It does not indicate the direction of the price or indicate an action to be taken on the investment.
CoinGabbar’s Opinion
The present sphere is still not SAFE for short-term investors since the cryptocurrency is full of fear, the prices are falling, and the liquidity is not strong. Selective opportunities can be available to long-term investors, although care is necessary. It is highly recommended to stagger the investing, risk management, and closely monitor the macro and regulatory developments.
This is not financial advice. Do Your Own Research before investing. CoinGabbar is not liable for any financial loss. The crypto assets are risky,y and you may lose all your investments. Not all regions can offer some of the services or assets discussed.
