23 December 2025
Crypto consolidates ahead of next catalyst
LMAX Digital performance

LMAX Digital volumes eased at the start of the week as trading conditions thinned into the holidays. Total notional volume for Monday came in at $295 million, 9% below 30-day average volume.

Bitcoin volume printed $159 million, 14% below 30-day average volume. Ether volume came in at $68 million, 7% below 30-day average volume.

Looking at average position size over the past 30 days, we’re seeing average bitcoin position size at $8,902 and average position size for ether at $2,059.

Bitcoin and ETH volatility have been trending down over the past several weeks. We’re looking at average daily ranges in bitcoin and ether of $3,271 and $160 respectively.

Latest industry news

Bitcoin continues to trade in a relatively tight range, consolidating recent gains as markets pause after last week’s macro-driven moves. Price action remains orderly, with dips finding support on steady spot demand, reinforcing bitcoin’s role as the primary macro proxy within crypto. Volumes are slightly lighter, consistent with the early onset of thinner liquidity as markets move toward the year-end holiday period.

Ethereum broadly tracks bitcoin but is modestly underperforming today, reflecting a lack of near-term protocol-specific catalysts and ongoing sensitivity to shifts in risk appetite. At the same time, ETH continues to benefit from structurally lower circulating supply through staking and fee burn, helping to anchor downside and preserve relative resilience versus smaller-cap altcoins.

Across the wider crypto market, price action is mixed, with selective strength in large-cap DeFi tokens following recent governance and fee-accrual developments, while higher-beta assets lag as traders temper risk. Stablecoin flows remain constructive, indicating capital largely stays within the ecosystem rather than exiting outright.

Traditional markets provide a supportive but measured backdrop. A softer US dollar and a modest pullback in Treasury yields help cap downside volatility, while ongoing debate around the Fed’s policy outlook sustains interest in bitcoin as a non-sovereign, scarce asset. Equity markets are broadly stable, limiting negative spillovers into crypto.

On the geopolitical front, there are no new shocks, but persistent uncertainty around global growth, fiscal policy, and central bank independence continues to underpin medium-term demand for bitcoin. Overall, crypto markets remain in consolidation mode, taking cues from macro developments while waiting for a clearer catalyst to drive the next directional move.

LMAX Digital metrics
Price performance
last 30 days avg. vs USD (%)
Total volumes
last 30 days ($bn)
BTCUSD volumes
last 30 days ($bn)
BTCUSD avg. trade size
last 30 days ($k)
ETHUSD avg. trade size
last 30 days ($k)
Average daily range
BTCUSD
$3,271
ETHUSD
$160
Tweets Social media

@TheBlock__
Tom Lee’s BitMine adds another $88 million worth of ETH to growing treasury.

@CoinDeskPodcast
Stablecoin market cap is nearing $300B, up sharply from $205B at the start of the year.

Crypto Bulletin sign-up
Subscribe