[LIVE] Crypto News Today, December 22 – Crypto Markets Steady as Bitcoin Holds $89K While Investors Eye the Best New Crypto to Buy?

Ben Graham · December 22, 2025

Crypto markets remain calm on December 22, 2025, with Bitcoin holding above the $89,000 level as traders weigh year-end positioning. At the same time, renewed strength in privacy coins and fresh whale activity are pushing investors to reassess where the best new crypto to buy could be heading into Christmas.

Bitcoin is trading near $89,441, up just over 1% on the day, showing resilience despite rising competition from traditional safe-haven assets. Ethereum follows a similar pattern, hovering around $3,032 with modest gains, while most large-cap altcoins post controlled, low-volatility moves.

Across the broader market, BNB trades near $864, XRP sits at $1.92, and Solana remains under pressure at $126. While price action is muted, selective sectors are starting to outperform.

$UNI has completed its deep correction and is now breaking out of a classic reversal wedge. pic.twitter.com/GeuXWfq6Ze

— Aman (@Im_Aman2) December 21, 2025

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Privacy Coins and Select Altcoins Break From the Pack – Best New Crypto To Buy Now?

Privacy-focused tokens are among the clearest gainers this week. Monero trades around $471 after climbing more than 2% on the day, while Zcash pushes toward $443, extending strong weekly momentum. The renewed interest suggests investors are rotating into assets tied to censorship resistance and on-chain privacy as macro uncertainty lingers.

Elsewhere, niche projects are also seeing speculative inflows. Gaming token BEAT posts a sharp increase in trading volume alongside a rising market cap, while Hyperliquid’s HYPE token continues to attract attention following recent whale purchases.

Over the past hour, two more whales deposited $5M USDC into #Hyperliquid to buy $HYPE.

0xDAeF currently holds 214,497 $HYPE($5.44M) and still has 5.52M $USDC ready to buy more.

0x3300 currently holds 102,460 $HYPE($2.61M) and still has 2.45M $USDC allocated for further… pic.twitter.com/qwWh2GB1vN

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) December 22, 2025

Gold’s rally adds another layer to the market backdrop. Prices have moved above $4,400 per ounce, setting fresh records and pulling some defensive capital away from risk assets. Even so, Bitcoin’s ability to hold its ground contrasts with earlier cycles when gold rallies often coincided with sharper crypto pullbacks.

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Whale behavior reflects this mixed sentiment. One large holder recently exited a sizeable AAVE position at a loss, swapping into stETH and wrapped Bitcoin instead. At the same time, other wallets are quietly accumulating sETH and increasing exposure to HYPE, which trades near $25.48 after a near 5% daily gain.

Institutional positioning remains relatively stable. Bitcoin ETFs, led by BlackRock’s IBIT, have attracted roughly $25 billion in inflows so far in 2025. While daily flows fluctuate, overall demand for regulated Bitcoin exposure remains intact.

As Christmas approaches, market sentiment stays cautious, with fear indicators elevated and liquidity thinning. Still, past years often saw late-December rebounds, keeping traders engaged despite the risks.

Crypto Fear and Greed Chart

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With privacy coins, gaming tokens, and select Layer-1 and DeFi plays showing relative strength, the search for the best new crypto to buy remains active as the year draws to a close.

Stay tuned for the latest crypto news.

30 minutes ago

US Regulatory Delays Drive Fresh Crypto Fund Outflows

By Fatima

Digital asset investment products recorded $952 million in outflows last week, ending a four-week run of inflows, according to CoinShares. The reversal followed delays to the US Clarity Act, which prolonged regulatory uncertainty and pressured investor sentiment. Outflows were almost entirely concentrated in the US, totaling $990 million, while Canada and Germany posted modest inflows. Ethereum saw the largest withdrawals at $555 million, with Bitcoin close behind at $460 million. Meanwhile, Solana and XRP continued to attract capital, suggesting investors remain selective rather than broadly risk-off.

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