Bitcoin today: BTC drops 2.5% and fails to reach $90,000

Source: PortaldoBitcoin Original Title: Bitcoin today: BTC drops 2.5% and fails to reach US$ 90,000 Original Link: https://portaldobitcoin.uol.com.br/bitcoin-hoje-btc-cai-25-e-falha-em-conquistar-os-us-90-mil/ Although the week started positively for Bitcoin, which yesterday reached its highest price in eight days at US$ 90,300, the recovery movement quickly lost momentum.

This Tuesday morning, BTC records a 2.5% decline today, causing its price to retreat to US$ 87,527. In reais, the cryptocurrency is traded at R$ 491,136.

Resistance in the market

Bitcoin faces resistance to break the US$ 90,000 barrier as market liquidity decreases, as traders close positions on the eve of Christmas. At the same time, investors are showing greater appetite for precious metals, with gold and silver hitting all-time highs earlier this week.

Typical fluctuations of the period

Analysts reported that, historically, BTC tends to experience fluctuations of 5% to 7% during the Christmas period, a pattern often associated with year-end options expirations, rather than new fundamental catalysts.

The record expiration this Friday follows this pattern. About 300,000 BTC options contracts, equivalent to US$ 23.7 billion, along with 446,000 Bitcoin ETF options contracts, are scheduled to expire.

There is still a residual optimism regarding a possible Christmas rally, although with “limited conviction.” At the same time, signs of stress in the market seem to be diminishing, but the scenario will only become clearer after the options expiration this Friday.

Realization of tax losses

Another factor that could pressure cryptocurrency prices at the end of the year is the realization of tax losses before December 31.

Unlike stocks or ETFs, crypto investors can realize losses for tax purposes and immediately rebalance their positions. In low-liquidity markets, this factor has the potential to amplify short-term volatility rather than reduce it.

Expected return to normality

Even if this happens, the trend is for the market to return to normal in January, with the end of the holiday period.

Just like weekend peaks in low-liquidity environments that often correct when markets reopen, price action during the Christmas week tends to lose strength as liquidity returns in January. Therefore, unless we see a decisive breakout in some direction that significantly redefines positioning and expectations for 2026, the crypto market should remain sideways, caught between reduced leverage, mechanical flows, and a growing chorus of conflicting narratives.