The cryptocurrency market experienced renewed weakness on December 17, 2025, as flagship digital assets Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and XRP extended declines, putting the total crypto market capitalization around the psychologically important $3 trillion floor.
Bitcoin’s price slipped, retreating from recent levels and contributing to broader unease across digital assets. Ether and XRP also traded softer, reflecting a risk-off sentiment among investors and a pullback in trading activity.
Market participants noted that this downturn comes after several attempts to defend the $3 trillion aggregate market cap, a level that has been tested multiple times in recent weeks and now appears to be a key support zone amid thinning liquidity.
Analysts point to a combination of macro headwinds, profit-taking and cautious sentiment ahead of major economic data releases as factors weighing on crypto prices. Some traders see the current phase as a consolidation rather than a full-blown crash, but the inability to sustain gains above key technical levels has kept pressure on prices.
The downtrend in BTC, ETH, and XRP comes as broader financial markets also grapple with volatility, leading investors to reduce exposure to higher-beta assets like cryptocurrencies. Whether the market can find support and rebound from these levels will depend on shifts in risk appetite and fresh catalysts in the weeks ahead.
Overall, the crypto sector’s struggle to hold the $3 trillion market cap highlights the fragile state of risk assets at year-end, with major tokens closely watched for signs of stabilization or further weakness.
