Bitcoin’s push back toward the near $90,000 mark is giving the crypto market a short-term boost, but few analysts see it as a meaningful turning point after one of the weakest second halves in recent years.
Major tokens remained range in the last 24 hours with xrp, ether, Solana’s SOL, Cardano’s ada and increases as much as 2 per cent. A decline in Aave’s AAVE continued as its leadership battle rages, leaving it as the worst-performing token, down 7%.
The total crypto market capitalization has once again moved above $3 trillion, a psychologically important level that has acted as a key zone between buyers and sellers over the past month. While prices are higher on the day, analysts warn that the rebound reflects exhaustion rather than renewed conviction.
Alex Kuptsikevich, chief market analyst at FxPro, said the market’s recent strength is largely technical and driven by a low base after weeks of selling.
“The crypto market is making another attempt at growth, but this is not yet a recovery,” Kuptsikevich said, noting that sentiment has improved only modestly. The market’s fear and greed index has risen to 25, suggesting traders may be moving away from extreme pessimism but not embracing risk.
Bitcoin was trading near $88,000 in Asian morning hours on Tuesday, pushing towards the upper end of a range that has persisted since the beginning of last week. Kuptsikevich warned that short-term momentum could prove misleading, especially given the broader context. Bitcoin remains about 30% below its 2025 peak and is trading below levels seen at the start of the year.
“Trying to bring year-to-date performance back to zero is little consolation,” he said in an email, adding that disappointment has replaced the optimism that dominated markets earlier this year.
Seasonal patterns reinforce this caution. Data from CoinGlass shows that bitcoin is down more than 22% so far in the fourth quarter, making 2025 one of the weakest year-end periods outside of major bear markets.
While the fourth quarter has historically produced some of bitcoin’s strongest gains, it has also delivered sharp moves this year marked by tightening liquidity and macro uncertainty.
The market remains vulnerable to sharp reversals, especially during US opening hours. Recent sessions have repeatedly seen price gains from Asian and European sessions fade as North American markets open.
