The post Wintermute: Bitcoin and Ether Lead as Crypto Markets Stay Range-Bound Into Year End appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

TLDR: Bitcoin and Ether continue to absorb market risk as capital concentrates around the most liquid assets. Early-week sell-offs triggered heavy liquidations, yet downside moves stayed contained as leverage flushed quickly. Retail traders are rotating from altcoins into majors, reinforcing Bitcoin’s role as the market’s primary leader. Derivatives drive short-term price moves, while steady institutional spot flows support majors over the medium term. Wintermute market commentary points to a crypto landscape that remains range-bound yet increasingly resilient as the year draws to a close. The latest market activity shows heightened volatility earlier in the week, followed by calmer conditions. Bitcoin briefly fell below the $85,000 level, while Ether dropped under $3,000, triggering sizable liquidations.  Despite this pressure, prices stabilized later, with Bitcoin grinding back toward $90,000 as forced selling eased. As liquidity thins into the holiday period, the broader structure continues to narrow. Capital is concentrating around the most liquid assets, while alternative tokens lag under persistent supply pressure. Source: Wintermute This environment reflects caution rather than panic, with positioning rather than conviction driving short-term moves. Concentration Around Bitcoin and Ether Wintermute shared on X that market leadership has narrowed further into Bitcoin and Ether, reinforcing a trend seen throughout the second half of the year.  Bitcoin dominance has continued to rise, signaling reduced appetite for risk beyond major assets. Altcoins remain weighed down by token unlocks and excess supply. Internal flow data cited by Wintermute shows aggregate buying pressure returning to major assets. Bitcoin has sustained this demand for longer, while Ether has shown renewed interest toward year end.  These flows suggest that large participants are favoring liquidity and depth over speculative exposure. The firm also noted a shift in retail behavior. Retail traders appear to be rotating out of altcoins and back into majors.  This pattern aligns with…

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Filed under: News - @ December 24, 2025 8:20 am