U.S. stocks and precious metals hit new highs together, but Bitcoin clearly lagged behind

A wave of rebound occurred in the global markets at the end of the year, with U.S. stocks and precious metals reaching new highs simultaneously, but Bitcoin clearly lagged behind. As traders reduced risk exposure before the holidays, Bitcoin prices continued to decline. Data shows that Bitcoin traded around $87,200 on Friday, down about 6.5% from nearly $93,000 at the start of 2025. Although it briefly touched a historical high of over $126,000 in early October, its recent trend has clearly weakened. Throughout the holiday week, Bitcoin's price performance was sluggish, continuously oscillating below $90,000. Analysts pointed out that the record $28 billion in crypto options expiring on Friday became a key short-term market catalyst, amplifying price volatility amid the thin liquidity at year-end.