Bitcoin Dips to Weekly Low Amid Volatility, Precious Metals Gain
On December 17, 2025, Bitcoin traded down to a weekly low around $85,500 following an earlier rally. The price action exhibited a "Bart Simpson pattern," characterized by a rapid rise, a brief period of stability, and a return to previous levels. Meanwhile, precious metals saw gains, with silver increasing about 5% to a new record high and gold rising roughly 1% near its all-time peak.
In contrast to the precious metals' rise, several cryptocurrencies experienced losses over the week, including Bitcoin down 8%, Ether down 15%, Solana down 12%, and XRP down 12%. Bitcoin's market behavior continues to show a loose correlation with stock markets—this correlation weakens during stock market rallies but approximates a one-to-one relationship when stocks fall.
Jasper De Maere, a strategist at Wintermute desk, anticipates Bitcoin to trade within a range of approximately $86,000 to $92,000 amidst high volatility and liquidation pressures. He cautioned against overinterpreting short-term technical patterns due to factors like year-end positioning and tax considerations. De Maere predicts ongoing profit-taking and sideways movement until new market catalysts emerge, such as the large options expirations expected in late December.
