Merlin·Chain priceMERL.

The cryptocurrency market on December 18, 2025, is characterized by a mix of regulatory advancements, significant market liquidations, and cautious price movements for major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Global regulatory bodies are moving towards clearer frameworks for digital assets, while price action in Bitcoin and Ethereum faces headwinds from various factors, including macroeconomic uncertainties and investor sentiment.

Regulatory Landscape Evolves Globally

2025 has emerged as a pivotal year for crypto regulation, marking a shift from enforcement-led actions to the implementation of comprehensive, upfront frameworks worldwide. Jurisdictions are now providing clearer guidance and arrangements aimed at fostering innovation while mitigating risks. This change offers both clarity and new compliance challenges for crypto companies and financial institutions operating across multiple markets.

In the United States, significant progress has been made with the passage of the GENIUS Act in July, establishing the first federal stablecoin framework. Banking regulators have also reversed previous policies, now allowing banks to offer crypto services. Discussions are ongoing in the Senate regarding a crypto market structure bill, focusing on dividing regulatory oversight between the SEC and the CFTC, and addressing decentralized finance (DeFi) and ancillary assets. A bipartisan discussion draft in the U.S. Senate aims to grant new authority to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to regulate digital commodities, though the definition of these commodities still varies across proposed legislation.

The UK is also advancing its crypto regulatory regime. HM Treasury announced on December 15, 2025, the laying of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025. These regulations, expected to come into force from 2027, will introduce new regulated activities for cryptoassets, including operating trading platforms, issuing stablecoins, and cryptoasset staking. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has concurrently opened consultations on its proposed rules and guidance for these activities, aiming to develop a competitive and sustainable UK cryptoasset sector.

Bitcoin Navigates Critical Price Zones Amid Macro Uncertainty

Bitcoin's price is currently hovering around $86,000, testing a critical support zone around $81,300. This level is considered crucial due to Bitcoin's historical correlation with global liquidity trends, which currently suggest a fair value much higher, potentially around $180,000. Despite this, Bitcoin has experienced a 5% decline year-to-date, contrasting with the S&P 500's 15% advance.

Wall Street analysts from Standard Chartered and Bernstein anticipate Bitcoin could reach $150,000 in 2026, driven by institutional adoption fueled by spot Bitcoin ETFs. However, historical patterns following halving events suggest a potential decline into late 2026 or early 2027 before a gradual rebound. Recent data shows sustained outflows from U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs, intensifying price pressure and indicating a market in consolidation.

Ethereum Faces Selling Pressure and Network Development

Ethereum has seen a notable pullback, with its price slipping under $2,900 and trading around $2,800. The network is experiencing growing sell pressure and declining on-chain activity, with weekly active addresses falling to a one-year low. Outflows from U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs, particularly BlackRock's ETHA fund, have contributed to this pressure, alongside significant liquidations of leveraged long positions.

Despite price struggles, Ethereum's execution throughput is at an all-time high following the recent Fusaka upgrade. Developers are also preparing to increase the network's gas limit from 60 million to 80 million units post-January 7 hard fork, aiming to enhance throughput and reduce transaction fees. Rollups like Base are increasingly processing more activity than Ethereum itself, solidifying Ethereum's role as a settlement layer. Institutional interest in Ethereum remains, with Bitwise projecting new highs for ETH as ETFs are expected to acquire more than 100% of its new supply by 2026.

Significant Market Liquidations and Altcoin Performance

The crypto derivatives market experienced substantial liquidations in the last 24 hours, totaling over $540.98 million, affecting more than 153,000 traders. Ethereum led these liquidations with approximately $167.27 million, followed by Bitcoin at around $159.43 million, and Solana (SOL) with about $31.15 million. These liquidations were predominantly from long positions, indicating a market correction against bullish expectations.

Beyond BTC and ETH, XRP ETFs have shown resilience, pulling in $18.99 million in net inflows and pushing total assets past the $1 billion mark. XRP has notably outperformed many altcoins this cycle. Other altcoins like Solana, Dogecoin, and Cardano are generally experiencing declines, with Dogecoin dropping over 4% in 24 hours and Cardano falling more than 3% today. The overall altcoin segment shows weak demand, with the total crypto market capitalization dropping amid sustained selling pressure across large-cap and mid-cap tokens.

Upcoming Economic Data and Events

Today, December 18, 2025, market attention is focused on the release of U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for November, which could influence the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions and broader market sentiment. Other notable events include token unlocks for projects like Jupiter (JUP), Hyperliquid (HYPE), and LayerZero (ZRO), which could introduce further market volatility as previously locked funds become accessible.

In conclusion, the crypto market on December 18, 2025, presents a complex picture of maturing regulation, cautious but fundamentally strong long-term outlook for major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum despite immediate price pressures, and significant short-term volatility marked by substantial liquidations. The interplay of macroeconomic factors, regulatory developments, and shifting investor sentiment will continue to shape the market's trajectory.