Without a year-end "Santa rally," bitcoin's price has failed to break through the $90,000 mark.

According to CoinMarketCap, a global virtual asset market tracker, as of 8:25 a.m. on the 26th, bitcoin was trading at $87,622 per coin. It was up 2.53% from a week earlier but down 0.12% from 24 hours ago.

A virtual Bitcoin coin. /Courtesy of News1

Altcoins are also moving sideways. Ethereum rose 3.47% from a week earlier to $2,921, but it still has not broken through the $3,000 mark. Over the same period, BNB rose 0.97% to $836.99, XRP rose 1.77% to $1.84, and Solana rose 1.85% to $121.7.

Bitcoin's lack of a year-end rally appears to be due to lower trading volume and options expiration following outflows from spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Foreign media including Bloomberg expect $23 billion (about 34 trillion won) in bitcoin option contracts nearing expiration to amplify volatility.

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