Key Insights:
- Bitcoin price remains range-bound between $86,500 and $90,000 as traders await a breakout signal.
- A brief Binance price drop was caused by low liquidity, not market-wide selling or liquidations.
- Long-term projections for 2026 suggest higher prices driven by adoption and infrastructure growth.
Bitcoin price remains locked in a narrow range below $90,000 as traders watch for a clear move.
Analysts point to price structure, a brief Binance liquidity event, and long-term forecasts as factors shaping expectations.
Market participants continue to focus on support, resistance, and broader adoption signals.
Conditions That Could Drive Bitcoin Price Toward the $100,000 Level
Bitcoin price has spent several weeks moving between well-defined levels.
According to market analyst Michaël van de Poppe, the asset has been unable to fall below $86,500.
It has also failed to break above $90,000. This range has been held through multiple weekly sessions.
Such extended consolidation often signals that the next move could be decisive.
Van de Poppe stated that the longer price trades within this zone, the more meaningful the breakout becomes.
A clear move above $90,000 could set the tone for the short term. That scenario might open the way toward the $100,000 level.
The analyst explained that another test of resistance would be important. If buyers manage to push through with volume, the trend could shift higher.
If not, prices may continue to move sideways. This balance reflects ongoing uncertainty in the market.
Derivatives expiration was also noted as a factor. On expiration days, options-related pressure tends to ease.
This can allow Bitcoin price to follow a more natural path. Traders often watch these sessions closely for changes in momentum.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin USD was trading near $88,556. This places it close to resistance but still within the established band.
Binance Flash Crash Explained as a Liquidity Issue, Not a Market Collapse
A sudden drop in Bitcoin price to around $24,000 on Binance caused confusion among traders.
Some reports described the move as a crash. Analysts later clarified that the event was limited and technical in nature.
The incident followed the launch of a 20% fixed annual yield promotion for USD1 deposits.
This offer led many users to convert USDT into USD1. As demand rose, USD1 traded at a noticeable premium, which is unusual for a stablecoin.
Some traders borrowed USD1 against Bitcoin-linked assets on decentralized lending platforms.
They either deposited the funds or sold them slowly to meet demand. One participant chose a different approach and placed a large market order on the BTC/USD1 pair.
That trading pair had very thin liquidity. The market order cleared most buy orders at once.
This caused a brief and sharp drop in price. Automated trading systems quickly stepped in and bought the discounted Bitcoin USD. The price recovered almost immediately.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao commented on the event. He said it showed that the exchange was not involved in the trade.
He also confirmed that no liquidations occurred. The affected pair is not used in major price indexes.
Bitcoin USD Price Outlook for 2026 Based on Shared Projections
Looking further ahead, projections for Bitcoin price in 2026 vary widely. A forecast attributed to ChatGPT suggested a broad trading range.
The estimate placed Bitcoin between $110,000 and $160,000, with an average near $135,000.
The forecast assumes that Bitcoin USD will hold above previous cycle highs. It also assumes the absence of a major liquidity or macroeconomic driver.
Under those conditions, price growth could remain steady rather than explosive.
Another market commentator shared that there could be a possible Bitcoin all-time high of $250,000 in 2026.
The message emphasized that adoption often appears quietly. It argued that infrastructure developments tend to show up in price later.
One example mentioned was Visa enabling USDC settlements on Solana for United States banks.
While such projections attract attention, they remain speculative.
Market participants generally agree that long-term price depends on adoption, liquidity, and market structure.
For now, Bitcoin price continues to reflect a market waiting for its next clear signal.
Source: https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2025/12/26/bitcoin-price-holds-steady-below-90000-as-market-awaits-direction/
