The selling pressure on Bitcoin (BTC) on December 15, 2025, which saw prices fall below $86,000, was driven by a combination of macroeconomic factors and market dynamics, including fear of rising global interest rates, anticipation of key U.S. economic data, and large-scale liquidations. There were social media accusations of specific exchanges like Binance and Wintermute "dumping" BTC, but some analysts contend this was normal market flow and user-driven selling.
1 BTC equals
₹78,41,632.50
As of 16 Dec, 10:10 am IST • Disclaimer
15 Dec 2025 - 16 Dec 2025
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Key Reasons for the BTC Sell-off
Macroeconomic Pressures: The primary driver for the sell-off was broad macroeconomic uncertainty. The Bank of Japan's interest rate hike and general concerns about global inflation made traditional, safer investments more attractive, leading investors to shed riskier assets like cryptocurrency.
Market Liquidations: The initial price drop triggered a cascade of liquidations, wiping out over $537 million in crypto positions, primarily long (buy) positions, over a 24-hour period. These forced sales amplified the downward price movement.
Anticipation of U.S. Economic Data: Traders were bracing for a volatile week ahead of key U.S. economic data releases, including jobs and inflation reports. This uncertainty led to increased caution and selling pressure.
Speculation and Accusations of Manipulation: On-chain data showed large amounts of BTC moving onto exchanges, often a precursor to selling. Some social media users accused major market makers and exchanges of coordinated selling or "pure manipulation" to trigger liquidations.
Weak Institutional Demand: Overall net flows for Bitcoin spot ETFs have been negative in December 2025, indicating that large institutional investors are reducing their exposure rather than buying the dip, which further impacted market confidence.
Ultimately, the market experienced a significant decrease in liquidity and an increase in selling pressure as large investors and traders reacted to global economic cues and market volatility.
