Bitcoin’s sharp slide below the $90,000 threshold has reignited concerns that the market may be entering a more fragile phase.
What looked like the beginning of another leg higher has quickly turned into a debate about how deep the next correction could run.
Key Takeaways
Brandt warns Bitcoin may be starting a deeper correction toward lower support zones.
Prediction markets show mixed bets between $80K, $95K, and $100K by year-end.
ETF inflows have returned, but charts still allow room for a drop toward the low-$80Ks.
One development drawing attention this week is a broadening formation spotted by veteran market watcher Peter Brandt. Rather than focusing on the recent bounce itself, Brandt argues that the structure of the market—not the individual candles—tells the real story.
He believes the surge toward $94,000 earlier in the week may have marked the final test of the pattern’s upper boundary. If he’s right, the market is no longer attempting to break higher—it’s preparing to rotate lower.
This week's rally may be all the retesting of the broadening top we will see $BTC
Of course, we will see pic.twitter.com/OmabcfgZVK— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) December 5, 2025
The levels he’s monitoring are not subtle: around $80,200, and if that gives way, a far more dramatic marker near $58,800. Brandt has gone even further in past remarks, suggesting that losing the upper $50,000s could expose a slide into the mid-$40,000s, an area most traders have stopped considering lately.
Traders Are Split on Where Bitcoin Heads Before the Year Ends
Instead of converging on a single narrative, the market is spreading its bets across several price paths.
Prediction-platform data illustrates that split clearly: some expect a return to $80,000, others see a stronger chance of $95,000, and a smaller group is still holding out hope for $100,000 before the calendar flips to 2026.
The uncertainty is made worse by the proximity of next week’s Federal Reserve meeting. Analyst Michaël van de Poppe anticipates a tight sideways range—roughly $92K to $85K—until the central bank provides clarity on its impending rate cut. A 25-basis-point trim appears likely, and historically such moves have helped Bitcoin find support.
Institutions Quietly Return Through ETF Inflows
Despite the price turbulence, one corner of the market has turned surprisingly constructive: U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs.
After nearly an entire month defined by outflows, the funds have logged eight positive sessions out of the last ten, hinting that institutional desks may be rebuilding exposure.
It’s a subtle shift, but one that often precedes a broader change in sentiment.
Short-Term Pressure Remains on the Table
Another technical view comes from Titan of Crypto, who notes that Bitcoin’s ability to reclaim the $89,000 zone is essential. Failure to stabilize above that area, he argues, leaves room for a drop toward $83,900, a support level that has not been revisited since the start of the month.
With multiple analysts flagging downside risks, the market appears to be entering a phase where each bounce must prove itself, and every dip will be scrutinized for signs of exhaustion or acceleration.
