[LIVE] Crypto News Today, December 23 – Bitcoin Price Rejected at $90K as Gold Price Reaches New ATH

Ben Graham · December 23, 2025

The crypto market moved lower on December 23, as Bitcoin BTC $87,327.44 1.33% Bitcoin BTC Price $87,327.44 1.33% /24h Volume in 24h $32.59B Price 7d Learn more price failed to hold above the $90,000 level, while gold price today continued to trade near record highs. After testing the $89,000–$90,000 range earlier in the week, BTC pulled back toward $87,000–$88,000 and currently trades at $87,482, down 2.44% over the past 24 hours.

The move comes as traders position ahead of a $28.5 billion Bitcoin and Ethereum options expiry on Deribit scheduled for December 26, the largest in the exchange’s history. Large open interest around the $85,000 and $96,000 strikes continues to shape short-term price behavior as hedging activity remains elevated.

More than $23B in $BTC options expiring this Friday.

One of the largest expiries ever → expect volatility spikes and sharp moves around expiry.

Don’t get complacent. pic.twitter.com/htZ7tSPHBC

— Gerla (@CryptoGerla) December 23, 2025

Ethereum ETH $2,966.29 0.34% Ethereum ETH Price $2,966.29 0.34% /24h Volume in 24h $16.95B Price 7d Learn more followed Bitcoin’s direction, slipping below the $3,000 level and trading near $2,987–$2,995, with losses of around 1% on the day. The total crypto market capitalization hovered between $2.96 trillion and $3.07 trillion, reflecting mild declines across most major assets.

Altcoins remained mixed, showing consolidation as liquidity thinned ahead of the year-end period. Market sentiment also stayed cautious, with the Fear & Greed Index holding in the “Fear” zone at 29.

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Gold Price Climbs Today as Investors Shift Toward Traditional Safe Havens

While crypto markets consolidated, gold price strength stood out across global markets. Gold reached a new all-time high in the $4,380–$4,470 per ounce range, gaining more than 2% in a single session. The move followed rising geopolitical concerns, including recent U.S. actions targeting sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments, which have raised worries around energy supply constraints and inflation risks. Silver also advanced to fresh highs near $69.45, supported by both investment demand and industrial use.

(Source: TradingView)

Expectations of extended U.S. interest rate cuts into 2026, a weaker dollar, and continued central bank accumulation have provided additional support for precious metals. In contrast, cryptocurrencies have struggled to attract the same level of defensive demand during this period.

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Away from major assets, selective activity continued in decentralized finance. Lighter (LIT), the native token of a zero-knowledge rollup-based perpetual DEX, is catching some attention following its pre-market trading debut on platforms such as Hyperliquid.

As 2025 approaches its close, investors remain focused on post-expiry positioning, macroeconomic signals, and geopolitical developments. For now, gold price momentum contrasts with crypto’s range-bound behavior, leaving markets in a wait-and-see phase.

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