Journalist
Posted:
The market continues to falter without clear direction.
This is mainly because most of the macro volatility now appears to be behind us. The BOJ rate hike has been priced in, Trump’s concerns about tariffs have faded from immediate attention and inflation in November was softer than expected.
Consequently, you might expect whales to step in and buy Bitcoin [BTC] dive. Indeed, the 3.08% move on December 19 shows the first signs of bull activity, indicating that the support levels are attracting buyers.
Source: TradingView (BTC/USDT)
However, the question remains: do bulls defend or engage?
Watching ETF bidsit is clear that the Bitcoin bulls are not yet approachable. And while that may sound alarming, it could actually be a bullish signal. You see, from a macro lens, Bitcoin is heading into one of its most volatile weeks.
In this setup, maintaining support is the key to keeping FOMO intact. According to AMBCrypto, if bulls follow this playbook, there could be a spark Bitcoin‘s much-needed breakout from its range, creating a bullish base heading into 2026.
The next seven days could decide Bitcoin’s next big move
Historically, the expiration dates of major options have corresponded with the Bitcoin chop.
It is striking that this time is no different. Market makers see BTC’s continued consolidation below $90,000 not as a fluke, but as part of the quarterly “triple witching” expiration, with massive options about to expire across the entire market.
For Bitcoin, $415 million in options expire over the next seven days. Furthermore, exposure remains highly concentrated, with 50% of the total occurring on December 26, making this the most important date to watch.
Source:
In this setup, bulls playing defense are actually bullish.
With $415 million in options set to expire soon, volatility should boost sentiment in the coming week. If the bulls continue to hold the $85,000-$88,000 support zone, conditions open up for a FOMO-driven move as the macro noise clears.
Those weak ETF bids? Should appear soon. As long as the bulls stick to this playbook and hold Bitcoin through December 26, it looks like the first real signal of a confirmed breakout heading into 2026.
Final thoughts
- Bitcoin remains range-bound as $415 million in options expire, with December 26 serving as the key turning point for volatility.
- If bulls defend the $85,000 to $88,000 support zone until expiration, the setup favors a post-expiration breakout and a bullish base in 2026.