Crypto asset trading at the start of the week on Monday (December 15, 2025) was dominated by bearish sentiment, with most prices moving lower. The bullish momentum expected to continue following the Fed’s decision appeared to stall, pushing most large-cap assets into a price correction. Nevertheless, short-term movements over the past hour suggest that buying interest has not completely disappeared from the market.

Bitcoin Slips, Tron Stands Out

Bitcoin (BTC) remained the main focus as the market leader. After struggling to hold its ground over the weekend, BTC eventually fell below the psychological level of US$90,000. Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin declined by 0.93% and traded around US$89,540.27.

From a technical standpoint, closing below US$90,000 signals short-term weakness. However, there is a hint of optimism, as the last one-hour trading data showed a 1.10% increase. This indicates that buyers are attempting to defend the price and prevent a deeper drop toward the US$88,000 support level.

Bitcoin’s weakness dragged most altcoins lower. Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA) recorded declines of 1.58% and 1.93%, respectively, as investors rotated capital or temporarily locked in profits.

Amid the sluggish market, TRON (TRX) emerged as an outlier. The asset founded by Justin Sun moved against the broader trend, posting a daily gain of 2.28% to reach US$0.2798. TRX’s solid performance was supported by strong network fundamentals, particularly high stablecoin transaction volumes, making it a defensive option during periods of market uncertainty.

Improving Sentiment, Eyes on NFP Data

From a macro and sentiment perspective, market caution stems from uncertainty surrounding upcoming economic data. Psychologically, investor sentiment has improved. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index rose to 24. Although still categorized as “Fear,” this level is significantly healthier than last week’s “Extreme Fear” reading.

Meanwhile, the market’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) is in neutral territory, suggesting that selling pressure is beginning to ease. The market is no longer panicking and is instead adopting a wait-and-see approach.

The key catalyst investors are awaiting is the release of U.S. labor market data on Tuesday night (December 16, 2025). The Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) and unemployment rate will play a crucial role in determining whether the Fed will continue aggressive rate cuts or pause its policy stance at the next FOMC meeting in the coming year.

Assessing the Policy Outlook

In summary, today’s price action reflects a cautious market stance. Although Bitcoin has slipped below US$90,000, the emergence of positive signals on the hourly chart and improving Fear & Greed sentiment point to early signs of stabilization.

However, volatility is expected to rise sharply ahead of the NFP release. Short-term traders may look to capitalize on current rebound opportunities, while long-term investors may find it wiser to wait until the economic data uncertainty subsides.

It is also worth noting that the four-year market cycle scenario remains in play. The dominance of fear in the index is considered normal, as projections suggest the bear market phase could persist until Q3 or Q4 of 2026.

Furthermore, although quantitative easing (QE) measures have been implemented, their effects are not immediate. The market typically requires a lag of several months before the injected liquidity is fully felt across the broader economy.