Crypto News Today: Latest Updates for Dec. 10, 2025

December 10, 2025 Nxtgen Virtue

Bitcoin Reclaims $92K, Ethereum Trades Above $3.3K as Market Sentiment Improves

December 10, 2025 – The cryptocurrency market showed signs of recovery today as Bitcoin climbed back above $92,000 and Ethereum surged past $3,300, marking a notable shift in market sentiment ahead of the Federal Reserve’s highly anticipated interest rate decision.

Market Overview

The total cryptocurrency market capitalization rose 3% to reach $3.2 trillion, marking a continuation of the quiet recovery across major digital assets. The crypto Fear and Greed Index improved to 26 from yesterday’s 22, moving out of the “extreme fear” zone that had gripped the market in recent weeks.

Key Price Movements:

Bitcoin (BTC): Trading at $92,496, up 2.3% in the past 24 hours
Ethereum (ETH): Rallied 6% to $3,312, briefly pushing past $3,300
Solana (SOL): Gained 3.9% to reach $138
Privacy Coins Leading: Zcash surged 11% to $440, Monero up 5.4% to $390

Federal Reserve Decision Looms Large

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) opens its December 2025 session today, with the decision set for release tomorrow, December 10, at 2:00 p.m. ET. Market expectations heavily favor a 25-basis-point rate cut, with traders assigning an 89.4% probability to this outcome.

If confirmed, this would mark the third consecutive rate cut this year following adjustments in September and October. Analysts suggest that while the rate cut itself is largely priced in, Jerome Powell’s press conference and the Fed’s dot plot projections for 2026 could trigger significant market volatility.

Sector Performance

AI-linked tokens led gains with a 4.46% sector surge, driven by strong performances from FET (+9.6%), Worldcoin (+6.5%), and Virtuals Protocol (+5.5%). Meme coins, Layer 2 solutions, DeFi protocols, and Layer 1 blockchains also recorded solid advances, underscoring a short-term shift toward risk-on sentiment.

Privacy coins continue to stand out as top performers. Zcash has now gained approximately 600% year-to-date, making it one of 2025’s strongest performers among major cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin Analysis

Bitcoin soared back over $94,000 in morning U.S. trading on Tuesday, gaining more than $3,000 in less than an hour, although it has since stabilized around the $92,000 level. The recovery comes after Bitcoin spent the weekend trapped in a tight range below $90,000.

Analysts at CryptoQuant note that Bitcoin often experiences uneven moves around Federal Reserve rate decisions. Historical patterns from September and October show that BTC tends to reach short-term highs following rate announcements before experiencing pullbacks, suggesting traders should remain cautious about a potential “buy the rumor, sell the news” scenario.

Ethereum’s Strong Recovery

Ethereum’s performance has been particularly impressive, with the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap posting gains that outpaced Bitcoin. After a slow start to 2025, Ethereum has found major momentum in recent weeks, with ether ETFs seeing a record-breaking $2.12 billion inflows in the past week.

The upcoming Fusaka upgrade scheduled for December aims to improve scalability and system efficiency, adding to positive sentiment around Ethereum’s long-term prospects. Institutional holdings in Ethereum have exceeded $13 billion, with stablecoin transactions on its network reaching $2.82 trillion in October 2025.

Institutional Developments

PNC Bank became the first major U.S. bank to offer direct spot bitcoin trading to eligible Private Bank clients through its digital platform, using Coinbase’s Crypto-as-a-Service infrastructure. This development reflects growing institutional acceptance of cryptocurrencies in traditional banking.

Additionally, Acting CFTC Chairman Caroline Pham announced a new pilot program that allows Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC to be used as collateral in U.S. derivatives markets, marking a significant regulatory milestone for crypto adoption.

Market Outlook

While today’s gains signal improved sentiment, analysts remain divided on whether this represents a sustainable recovery or merely a temporary pause. Standard Chartered recently adjusted its Bitcoin forecast, now expecting the cryptocurrency to reach $150,000 by 2026, down from its previous $300,000 target.

10x Research warns that despite the surface calm, derivatives markets are showing signs of brewing volatility, with options traders buying volatility protection and funding rates softening. The firm suggests traders should prepare for unexpected moves in the coming weeks.

What’s Next?

All eyes remain on tomorrow’s Federal Reserve announcement and Chairman Powell’s subsequent press conference. The combination of the rate decision, updated economic projections, and Powell’s commentary on future policy could determine whether the current recovery extends into year-end or faces renewed pressure.

As the final major economic event of 2025, the Fed’s December meeting carries considerable weight for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. Traders are positioning cautiously, aware that while a 25-basis-point cut is expected, any surprises in the accompanying statement or forward guidance could trigger significant volatility in both directions.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.