LIVE: Crypto Market Slides — Bitcoin Drops Below $88,000 as Broad Sell-Off Deepens

Market recap: Over the past 24 hours the crypto market traded broadly lower, driven by a pronounced risk-off sentiment that weighed on almost every sector. Bitcoin slipped 1.24% to trade below $88,000, while Ethereum declined 1.58% and fell back under $3,000. Sector performance was uneven but tilted negative: high-volatility segments led losses, and both Layer 1 and Layer 2 indices cooled markedly.

Sector highlights: Centralized finance (CeFi) indicators slipped about 1.32% despite modest gains in CRO and BGB tokens. The PayFi segment fell roughly 2.11% even as Company SafePal posted small intraday strength. Layer 1 and Layer 2 sectors dropped approximately 2.46% and 4.10%, respectively, while market-wide indices for SocialFi, NFT, and RWA posted notable declines — underscoring persistent pressure across the more speculative corners of the market.

What this means for traders: The broad-based weakness suggests that short-term momentum has shifted into selling pressure. Traders monitoring major support and resistance levels should note Bitcoin's failure to hold $90,000 as a potentially meaningful signal that momentum has cooled. Near-term support zones to watch are the psychological and technical levels around $85,000–$86,000, while immediate resistance now sits near the recently lost $90,000 area. For Ethereum, breaking back above $3,100–$3,200 would be required to reassert bullish control in the short term.

Volatility and selective resilience: Despite the broad negative tone, a handful of tokens showed resilience, pointing to continuing opportunities for selective long/short plays. High-volatility tokens remain susceptible to outsized moves, so risk management and tighter position sizing are advisable. Liquidity conditions in lower-cap sectors remain thin, amplifying price moves for many altcoins.

Market context and live coverage: This update forms part of ongoing live reporting by Company Cryptonews of market developments on Dec. 30, 2025. Readers should consider this a snapshot of heightened market re-pricing driven by sentiment shifts rather than a fundamental overhaul of digital-asset narratives. As always, please cross-check order books, on-chain indicators and macro cues before initiating large positions.

Key takeaways: 1) Broad sell-off with Bitcoin under $88,000 and Ethereum under $3,000; 2) Sector weakness concentrated in Layer 1/2, SocialFi, NFT and RWA indices; 3) Select tokens (including CRO and BGB) display short-term resilience; 4) Traders should monitor support near $85k–$86k for Bitcoin and $3,000 for Ethereum and adjust risk controls accordingly.

Further reading and links: For continuous live updates and deeper technical analysis visit Company Cryptonews. Stay cautious: market conditions can shift rapidly and selective sector strength does not imply immediate market-wide recovery.