Bitcoin rose to trade near the key $90,000 level on Monday after briefly breaking above it earlier in the session, but the cryptocurrency once again struggled to hold gains above that threshold, repeating a pattern of failed rebound attempts seen earlier this month.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency was last up 2.2% at $89,663.6 as of 02:07 a.m. US Eastern Time (07:07 GMT).

Bitcoin has tested the $90,000 level several times throughout December, but each attempt has been followed by pullbacks as buying momentum faded and trading volumes remained thin heading into year-end.

Bitcoin supported by Fed rate-cut bets, but stalls near $90,000

Monday’s advance in Bitcoin was supported by broader strength across financial markets, as investors continued to price in expectations that the US Federal Reserve will deliver further interest rate cuts in 2026 following its latest reduction.

Lower interest rate expectations typically support risk assets, including cryptocurrencies, by reducing the appeal of holding cash and fixed-income investments and encouraging capital flows into higher-yielding alternatives.

The move also came as Bitcoin attempted to catch up with gains seen across other asset classes.

Gold hovered near record highs, while silver and platinum posted fresh peaks, as investors assessed ongoing geopolitical risks, including US-led talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, which have yet to deliver a clear breakthrough.

Strength in precious metals underscored continued demand for safe-haven and alternative assets, providing a supportive backdrop for cryptocurrency markets.

Despite the positive tone, Bitcoin’s gains remained capped, with traders pointing to profit-taking and weak liquidity as key headwinds. The $90,000 level continues to be viewed as a major psychological and technical barrier, requiring stronger catalysts to trigger a sustained rally.

Institutional participation was also mixed, after having supported crypto markets earlier in the year, as some funds adopted a wait-and-see approach ahead of key economic data releases at the start of the new year.

Cryptocurrency prices today: modest gains for altcoins

Most major alternative cryptocurrencies posted modest gains on Monday.

Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, rose 2.7% to $3,018.92.

XRP, the third-largest cryptocurrency, gained 1.5% to $1.90.

Solana advanced 2.7%, while Cardano and Polygon edged slightly lower.

Oil prices rose by more than $1 on Monday, as investors weighed talks between the US and Ukrainian presidents over the possibility of reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine against the risk of oil supply disruptions in the Middle East.

Brent crude futures climbed $1.27, or 2.1%, to $61.91 a barrel by 12:00 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.29, or 2.3%, to $58.03 a barrel.

Both benchmarks had fallen by more than 2% on Friday.

Axel Rudolph, an analyst at IG, said energy markets moved higher as geopolitical developments supported crude prices, with Brent gaining on renewed tensions in the Middle East and shifts in peace talks over Ukraine. He added that low liquidity could amplify volatility heading into the start of the new year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that significant progress had been made in talks with his US counterpart Donald Trump, and that both sides agreed US and Ukrainian working groups would meet next week to finalize outstanding issues aimed at ending Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Zelenskyy added that holding a meeting with Russia would only be possible after Trump and European leaders agree on a peace framework proposed by Ukraine.

Yang An, a China-based analyst at Haitong Futures, said the Middle East had also seen instability recently, citing Saudi air strikes in Yemen, which may be fueling market concerns over potential supply disruptions.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, is expected to cut the February official selling price for its flagship Arab Light crude to Asian buyers for a third consecutive month, reflecting spot market declines due to ample supply, according to a Reuters survey of six Asian refining sources.

Investors are also awaiting US inventory data for the week ended December 19. A broad Reuters poll showed US crude stockpiles are expected to have fallen last week, while distillate and gasoline inventories are likely to have risen.

The report has been delayed from its usual Wednesday release due to the Christmas holiday.

Strong Chinese seaborne crude imports have also helped tighten market conditions elsewhere, according to Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS. He added that the $60-a-barrel level represents a soft floor for Brent prices, with a modest recovery expected in 2026, as supply growth from outside the OPEC+ alliance may begin to falter by mid-2026.

The Japanese yen recouped some of its losses on Monday after retreating late last week, as markets assessed the timing of further interest rate hikes in Japan and the likelihood of official intervention, while thin year-end trading left European currencies largely stable.

A summary of opinions from Bank of Japan policymakers at their December meeting, published on Monday, showed that members discussed the need to continue raising interest rates. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said last week that Japan has full freedom to act against excessive moves in the yen.

Bart Wakabayashi, head of State Street’s Tokyo branch, said these intervention warnings have helped limit positioning in dollar/yen, although bearish sentiment toward the Japanese currency is evident in other foreign exchange pairs.

“I think holding long yen positions is extremely painful,” Wakabayashi said. “We’re seeing some expression of short yen positions against those currencies, especially against the Australian dollar.”

He added: “The market is still trying to understand the role the yen plays now in terms of being a safe haven.”

The dollar was last down 0.26% at 156.3 yen, after jumping 0.45% on Friday. The yen traded at 105.02 per Australian dollar, just shy of the 17-month low of 105.08 reached on Friday.

The dollar index, which measures the US currency against a basket of peers, edged slightly lower to 97.95. The euro ticked up marginally to $1.1780, while sterling was steady at $1.3503.

The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate to a 30-year high of 0.75% from 0.5% at its December meeting. The summary of opinions released on Monday showed that many board members saw the need for further rate hikes, with real interest rates still deeply negative once inflation is taken into account.

However, the rate hike failed to stem the yen’s decline, with the currency falling to 157.78 per dollar on December 19, prompting renewed intervention warnings. Japan last intervened to support the yen in July 2024, when it bought the currency after it slid to a 38-year low of 161.96 per dollar.

With limited data this week and thin trading ahead of New Year holidays in many markets, geopolitical developments moved to the forefront.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were “very close, perhaps extremely close” to reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, although both leaders acknowledged that some of the most complex issues remain unresolved.

In Asia, tensions remained elevated as China deployed military units around Taiwan ahead of live-fire drills scheduled for Tuesday. Meanwhile, North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of long-range missiles on Sunday, while South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said further tests could take place around New Year’s Day.

The main data focus this week will be the release of minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Tuesday, from a gathering held earlier this month. The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates at that meeting and projected just one additional cut next year, while market participants have priced in at least two more.

Goldman Sachs analysts said in a note: “The FOMC adjusted its post-meeting statement to signal a higher bar for further rate cuts, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reinforced this message during his press conference. We expect the December minutes to point to continued disagreement among committee members over the appropriate near-term path of monetary policy.”

The Australian dollar was little changed at $0.6717, while the Swiss franc was firmer at 0.787 per dollar.

Silver prices fell by more than 6% in the European market on Monday, driven by accelerating correction and profit-taking activity, after earlier hitting a fresh all-time high during Asian trading by breaking above the $80 per ounce level for the first time ever.

In addition to profit-taking pressure, silver prices came under further strain from the recovery of the US dollar in foreign exchange markets, as well as a slowdown in safe-haven buying amid positive developments surrounding peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Price Overview

• Silver prices today: Silver fell by 6.4% to $74.28, from an opening level of $79.33, after recording an intraday high of $83.97, its highest level on record.

• At Friday’s settlement, silver prices jumped by 10.5%, marking a fifth consecutive daily gain and the largest single-day increase since September 17, 2008, supported by record demand for the white metal.

• Silver gained more than 18% last week, posting a fifth straight weekly gain and the largest weekly increase on record.

• These sharp gains were driven by silver’s designation as a critical US mineral, limited global supply, and declining inventories amid rising industrial and investment demand.

US Dollar

The US dollar index rose by 0.1% on Monday, extending its gains for a third consecutive session and continuing its recovery from two-and-a-half-month lows, reflecting a broader rebound in the US currency against a basket of major and secondary currencies.

In addition to buying from lower levels, the dollar’s recovery ahead of year-end trading has been supported by short-covering activity, as the US currency approaches its largest annual loss since 2017.

Positive Developments

Following the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expectations have increased for tangible progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.

Trump said after the meeting in Florida that both the Russian and Ukrainian sides “want to reach an agreement,” adding that talks have entered a sensitive and advanced phase.

US Interest Rates

• According to the CME FedWatch Tool, pricing for the probability of keeping US interest rates unchanged at the January 2026 meeting currently stands at 82%, while the probability of a 25 basis point rate cut is priced at 18%.

• Investors are currently pricing in two US interest rate cuts over the course of next year, while Federal Reserve projections point to a single 25 basis point cut.

• To reprice these expectations, investors are closely monitoring upcoming US economic data, as well as comments from Federal Reserve officials.

• Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy meeting are due to be released tomorrow, Tuesday, and are expected to provide clearer signals on the path of US interest rates in 2026.

Silver Outlook

Tim Waterer, Chief Market Analyst at KCM Trade, said that interest rate cuts, combined with continued strong industrial demand and constrained supply, could set the stage for silver to rally toward $100 per ounce in 2026.