Bitcoin is hovering just above $85,000, barely keeping pace with weaker-than-expected and much-scrutinized US inflation figures.
Summary
- Bitcoin remains around $85,000 with little reaction to weaker-than-expected US inflation data, as $504 million in liquidations hit the market in the past 24 hours.
- Notable X analysts weigh in on Bitcoin’s current price woes.
- Traders are bracing for volatility with the Bank of Japan’s upcoming decision and Bitcoin facing key resistance at $88,000 while support holds near $85,400.
Trader Information
Crypto charting guru Ali Martinez notes that Bitcoin is still stuck in a box on lower timeframes, facing resistance just below $90,000 and finding support near $85,400. A breakout could trigger bullish vibes, while a breakout could mean even more pain to come.
Lower time frame on Bitcoin $BTC:
• Resistance of $89,900
• $85,400 assistance pic.twitter.com/T65ZG9Kl0p— Ali Charts (@alicharts) December 18, 2025
Daan Crypto Trades also provided some interesting insight.
Bitcoin is likely to see more significant price action before the end of the month, citing historical trends in monthly trading ranges.
So far, Bitcoin’s distance between its monthly low and high is around 12%, which is smaller than usual, as monthly candles typically show wider price swings more than 90% of the time. It is therefore statistically improbable that the monthly high and low were set at the beginning of the month.
This suggests that one of these levels is always likely to be exceeded. While the data does not indicate direction, it does imply increased volatility ahead, with Bitcoin positioned near the middle of its monthly range and a move of at least 5% is needed to test either extreme.
$BTC The current monthly minimum and maximum are still relatively low (~12%).
Monthly candles typically experience a larger lag than this. This happens in 92.3% of months.
With this, the current second pivot (P2) is set on December 9, when the current high was set. That would be… pic.twitter.com/vruBkRfQSZ
— Daan Crypto Trades (@DaanCrypto) December 14, 2025
Michael van de Poppe, another analyst, said Bitcoin’s recent price action highlights the market’s sensitivity to macroeconomic events, even in the face of positive economic data.
Despite encouraging US inflation figures and a brief surge higher, Bitcoin quickly reversed course, highlighting the importance of the $88,000 level as a key resistance that must be breached to restore bullish momentum.
The analyst highlighted the Bank of Japan’s policy decision as the week’s most critical catalyst, noting that while stocks such as the Nasdaq are rallying and gold remains stable, cryptocurrencies are lagging as traders prepare for the possibility of higher rates.
An update on the $BTC chart.
Great news on the CPI, some upward momentum, then, once again, a sharp correction.
It is clear that the $88,000 level is the ultimate level, and it is what the markets need to break to gain some momentum.
It is also clear that the BoJ… pic.twitter.com/vYpA2MwYLe
– Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) December 18, 2025