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The cryptocurrency market edged lower at the start of the week as Bitcoin struggled to hold above the closely watched $90,000 level, underscoring growing caution among traders amid thin liquidity, elevated fear and looming macroeconomic risks.

Total cryptocurrency market capitalisation slipped about 0.5 percent to $3.15 trillion, while roughly 80 of the top 100 digital assets by market value traded lower over the past 24 hours.

Trading volumes also declined, with total crypto turnover falling to $94.3 billion, well below levels seen earlier in the month, a sign that investors are increasingly sitting on the sidelines.

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Bitcoin, the largest digital asset, fell about 0.5 percent to around $89,600, making it one of the more resilient performers among major tokens. Ethereum bucked the broader trend, rising 0.6 percent to trade near $3,130, while Dogecoin and XRP led losses among large-cap assets. Tron stood out as the strongest gainer in the top 10, climbing more than two percent.

Market participants say the pullback reflects consolidation rather than panic selling, as lower holiday liquidity and the absence of fresh catalysts keep prices range-bound. The crypto fear and greed index remained stuck at 27, signalling persistent fear and indecision among investors.

Tony Severino, market analyst at YouHodler, said Bitcoin, by definition, is still in an uptrend, even as he warned that confirmation of a bear market would require a decisive lower low.

According to Severino, the $74,000 level has emerged as a critical support zone that bulls must defend to maintain the broader bullish structure.

For now, Bitcoin remains trapped between technical resistance and psychological barriers. The token is struggling to reclaim its 50-week moving average near $102,000, with the $100,000 mark acting as a major hurdle for any renewed upside momentum.

Beyond technicals, traders are increasingly focused on global macro risks. Attention has turned to Japan, where the Bank of Japan is expected to implement a 25-basis-point interest rate increase on December 19. A shift toward tighter policy could have ripple effects across global markets.

Ignacio Aguirre, chief marketing officer at Bitget, told Cryptonews that a stronger yen raises the risk of unwinding yen carry trades, a move that could temporarily pressure crypto valuations as leveraged positions are reset across asset classes.

While short-term volatility has picked up on lower timeframes, higher timeframes remain unusually calm, according to Severino.

He described the current market structure as compressed, warning that such conditions often precede sharp directional moves. “A spark is waiting to ignite this compression into an explosion,” he said.

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Bitcoin’s recent trading range highlights the uncertainty. Over the past week, the token has fluctuated between roughly $88,200 and $94,300, down about 2.2 percent over that period and nearly seven percent over the past month. It remains almost 30 percent below its all-time high.

Analysts say a sustained move lower could see Bitcoin test sub-$80,000 levels, while a break higher would likely require a convincing push back above $100,000. Until then, the crypto market appears locked in a holding pattern, waiting for a decisive macro or technical signal to set the next direction.

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