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Trading has turned choppy again in the crypto market, with bitcoin altcoins showing widening divergences as volatility clusters inside a tight range. Summary Bitcoin price stalls between $85K and $93K Why altcoins are bleeding harder than Bitcoin UNUS SED LEO (LEO) Pump.fun (PUMP) Aster (ASTER) Dash (DASH) Bittensor (TAO) The pattern is clear for bitcoin vs altcoins Bitcoin price stalls between $85K and $93K Bitcoin has spent most of the past week moving sideways, stuck in a wide band between $85,000 and $93,000. The chart shows sharp intraday swings but no sustained breakout in either direction, leaving trend traders sidelined and short-term scalpers in control. However, this kind of range-bound action creates a familiar hierarchy across the crypto market. When BTC pushes a bit higher, alternative coins follow with only modest gains. When it pulls back, they usually drop faster, amplifying every minor move on the main pair. With no clear direction on Bitcoin, risk appetite remains fragile. Moreover, leverage gets flushed regularly and traders rotate quickly between narratives, leaving weaker names exposed. That is exactly what played out over the past seven days. Why altcoins are bleeding harder than Bitcoin Sideways conditions in the flagship coin are often the worst backdrop for smaller tokens. Liquidity stays tight, conviction is low, and every BTC dip triggers outsized selling in small cap altcoins. That said, sector-specific headwinds have made the latest drawdowns even more severe. In particular, older legacy projects and fading narratives struggled as attention shifted. At the same time, ai token selloff dynamics, renewed skepticism on RWA stories, and meme fatigue all contributed to heavy pressure. The result was a cluster of altcoin weekly losers even while Bitcoin itself moved mostly sideways. Below are five of the tokens that lost the most over the past week, illustrating the growing altcoin liquidity risk as the market chops within a narrow band. UNUS SED LEO (LEO) UNUS SED LEO (LEO) held up relatively well on some individual sessions, but the weekly picture tells a different story. Toward the end of the period, the token rolled over hard, breaking its short-term structure and erasing earlier stability. However, the bigger issue was its limited upside participation during brief Bitcoin bounces. With buyers reluctant to chase, sellers took control as soon as BTC stalled near resistance. LEO’s move highlights how even large-cap tokens can slide quickly when liquidity thins and patience runs out. Pump.fun (PUMP) Pump.fun (PUMP) ranked among the hardest-hit names of the week, posting a steep decline with minimal relief rallies. Earlier in the cycle, this speculative token benefited from aggressive, meme-driven momentum and fast-moving social flows. Once Bitcoin started chopping inside its $85K93K range, speculative demand faded almost instantly. Moreover, the absence of new catalysts turned every uptick into a selling opportunity. The result was a steady drawdown and a textbook example of how a meme coin crash can unfold in a crypto sideways market. Aster (ASTER) Aster (ASTER) also saw a sharp weekly drop as its broader sector lost steam. Despite strong trading volume earlier in the month, buyers failed to defend key technical levels once Bitcoin rolled over from the upper part of its range. The chart now shows a clear pattern of lower highs and accelerating downside pressure. Moreover, order flow suggests that traders are exiting rather than rotating within the theme. This behavior underlines how quickly confidence can fade when macro momentum slows and sector narratives cool. Dash (DASH) Dash (DASH) continues to struggle in the current environment. As an older alternative coin with limited narrative traction, it tends to underperform whenever market liquidity becomes selective and attention concentrates in newer sectors. This week’s move looked less like outright panic and more like persistent, methodical selling. However, each minor Bitcoin pullback pushed DASH to fresh weekly lows, showing how legacy projects remain vulnerable when capital rotates aggressively into other opportunities. Bittensor (TAO) Bittensor (TAO) stands out because its decline comes from the high-profile artificial intelligence segment. Earlier this year, the AI story ranked among the strongest themes in digital assets, attracting significant volumes and speculative capital. As Bitcoin stalled, many traders used TAO and its peers to lock in profits after a strong run. Moreover, the speed of the correction underscored how quickly positioning can reverse when both macro sentiment and BTC momentum fade. The sharp drop also adds to concerns around a broader bitcoin altcoins decoupling phase. The pattern is clear for bitcoin vs altcoins This week reinforced a simple but important rule that many traders already know well. When the benchmark coin moves sideways, alternative assets tend to bleed value over time. When the leader dips, they often crash even harder. Conversely, on the occasions when Bitcoin rallies, smaller tokens frequently lag rather than outperform. That said, a decisive breakout could still reset the current regime and change correlations. Until that happens, the prevailing relationship visible on any bitcoin vs altcoins chart continues to favor caution. As long as the market trades between overhead resistance and the crucial bitcoin support resistance band near $85,000, alternative tokens remain in a vulnerable spot. In this phase, managing exposure, watching liquidity, and respecting the risks of a prolonged crypto market sideways structure remain essential. In summary, with Bitcoin locked between $85K and $93K and volatility recycling within that corridor, altcoins face a challenging backdrop. Unless the leading coin breaks cleanly above resistance or loses the $85K floor, pressure on speculative sectors is likely to persist and rotation will stay fast and unforgiving.

Bittensor (TAO) has recently experienced a challenging period following its breakdown in mid-November, which has significantly impacted short-term price momentum. The project recently underwent a halving event, reducing the inflation rate of its token, $TAO. Historically, events like halvings can generate pre-event optimism, often followed by a “sell-the-news” reaction, and Bittensor appears to have followed this pattern. Since early November, both spot and leveraged trading volumes have declined, and there are currently no indications of renewed momentum. This context keeps Bittensor price prediction focused on patience and risk management in the near term, while longer-term believers may still view it as a best crypto to buy now candidate once broader market conditions stabilize. Summary Why Bittensor’s First Halving Reminds Investors of Early Bitcoin Bittensor Price Prediction Investors Eye Promising ICOs Beyond Bittensor as Top Crypto to Buy Now Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) Pepenode (PEPENODE) Why Bittensor’s First Halving Reminds Investors of Early Bitcoin Greg Schvey, who is followed by well-known crypto commentator Mario Nawfal, recently shared reflections on X about the completion of Bittensor’s first halving, comparing it to Bitcoin’s early history. He noted that Bitcoin’s initial halving occurred during aggressive central bank expansion, prompting widespread questioning of monetary control and the nature of money itself. In a similar way, Bittensor is emerging amid the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. He argued that Bittensor presents a decentralized alternative, using open competition to shape AI infrastructure, training, and applications without centralized control. Schvey highlighted that early Bitcoin participation required deep technical understanding, a barrier that also exists for Bittensor today due to its crypto and AI complexity. He emphasized that Bittensor remains driven by a small but highly committed community. This phase, he suggested, is rich in meaningful collaboration before broader attention arrives. Valuation uncertainty was another shared trait, as Bittensor’s long-term economic model is still being debated and refined. Key differences include today’s mature crypto infrastructure, lower risk tolerance, and a far more diverse group of participants. He concluded that just as Bitcoin offered an alternative to centralized money, Bittensor may now represent an alternative to centralized intelligence. Source – Cilinix Crypto YouTube Channel Bittensor Price Prediction $TAO price prediction remains tilted to the downside after the token broke its mid-November support, signaling continued weakness in market structure. Price has failed to regain former value areas, confirming that bearish momentum still dominates the trend. The loss of the $300–$320 zone marked a key structural breakdown, opening the door to lower price levels. Strong historical support is expected between $215 and $240, where price may attempt to stabilize or consolidate. If that zone fails to hold, additional downside toward the $190–$180 range becomes increasingly likely. A sustained recovery would require a decisive move back above the $310 level, which currently appears unlikely in the near term. Investors Eye Promising ICOs Beyond Bittensor as Top Crypto to Buy Now While near-term price action may stay under pressure, Bittensor’s longer-term outlook still points to potential opportunities for investors willing to endure extended consolidation phases. In parallel, investors seeking higher-growth exposure ahead of 2026 are also exploring crypto presales such as Bitcoin Hyper and Pepenode, with detailed discussions on each outlined below. Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) Bitcoin Hyper is a promising Bitcoin layer 2 solution designed for speed and scalability, enabling near-instant transactions with minimal fees. By creating a trustless copy of Bitcoin’s blockchain, it allows users to interact with decentralized applications, staking, and payments. The layer 2 system periodically commits its state back to Bitcoin’s main chain, maintaining security and decentralization. Investors are showing interest in the presale, which has already raised $29.5 million, signaling confidence despite current market conditions. The efficient tokenomics, including allocations for development, marketing, and rewards, aim to sustain long-term growth. This structure positions Bitcoin Hyper as a potential opportunity for investors seeking early exposure to innovative Bitcoin-based projects. Visit Bitcoin Hyper Pepenode (PEPENODE) Pepenode is a unique meme coin project that allows users to participate in virtual meme mining by creating their own server rooms and nodes to generate meme coins. Investors can buy nodes, upgrade facilities, and combine them to increase mining power, all without requiring additional computing resources. Each node has unique properties, and mining rewards include popular meme coins such as Pepe and Fartcoin. The presale period is limited, with only 21 days remaining, and has already raised $2.3 million at a price of $0.0012016 per token. With its engaging mechanics and potential for returns, Pepenode appeals to crypto enthusiasts seeking novel investment opportunities. The project highlights the growing trend of gamified and decentralized token-based ecosystems in the crypto space. Visit Pepenode This article has been provided by one of our commercial partners and does not reflect Cryptonomist’s opinion. Please be aware our commercial partners may use affiliate programs to generate revenues through the links on this article.

$TAO is attempting to stabilize after an extended decline. A sustained push higher could develop if momentum continues to build above the recent base. 📉 Technical View: • Pattern: Descending triangle transitioning into a potential base formation • Bias: Bullish continuation may emerge if buyers defend the rising short term structure • Key Level: 250–260 support zone with upside focus toward 300–320

$TAO Explained: The Decentralized AI Marketplace Let's break down a simple concept: Project: Bittensor Sector: Decentralized Artificial Intelligence (AI) What it does: Bittensor is a blockchain protocol that creates a decentralized marketplace for machine intelligence. Developers contribute AI models to specialized "subnets" to perform tasks like text generation or data analysis. These models are evaluated by the network, and the most useful ones are rewarded with TAO tokens, incentivizing open AI development. Why it matters: It aims to decentralize AI development, which is largely controlled by a few big tech companies. By creating a competitive, open market for AI, it could lead to more innovation and accessibility. A key recent event was its first-ever "halving" in December 2025, which cut the rate of new TAO token creation in half, introducing programmed scarcity similar to Bitcoin's model. Educational, not advice. #TAO #Bittensor #DeAI #ArtificialIntelligence #CryptoEducation

TAO price under this zone is like buying Bitcoin under $300, some analysts argue. Summary TAO trades in a clear daily downtrend, with price below short and medium EMAs and each bounce sold into. Momentum flips bearish as MACD rolls over and RSI trends lower, signaling sellers still control the tape. A reclaim of nearby resistance could open a higher range, but failure at support would expose TAO to deeper downside. TAO has sold off around 5–6% over the last 24 hours and is trading roughly in the mid‑$200s, while still up strongly on a year‑to‑date basis versus early‑2025 levels. Directionally, 24h looks bearish (short‑term correction), while YTD is still structurally bullish but clearly in a mid‑cycle drawdown. Buying $TAO under this zone is like buying $BTC under $300. pic.twitter.com/DeEbLBStvk— Hardy (@Degen_Hardy) December 14, 2025 TAO (TAO) cryptocurrency continued trading within a bearish structure on the daily chart, with recent price action showing sustained selling pressure and limited buying activity, according to technical analysis. TAO price heading to lower closes Spot price is around 250–265 USD, with a 24h change of about −5.5% to −8% depending on venue. Versus that starting point, current ~250–265 USD means TAO is now negative YTD versus the January open but still multiples above its 2023–early‑2024 base, so structurally it remains in a higher regime than the old cycle. Momentum indicators reflect weakening bullish pressure, according to chart data. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator shows a transition from recovery into renewed weakness, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has moved lower, indicating bearish dominance without reaching extreme oversold conditions. The asset faces immediate resistance near a short-term ceiling that previously provided support. A move above this level could allow the price to test a higher zone where selling pressure is expected to increase. A more significant shift would require a decisive break above broader structural resistance, which would indicate buyers are regaining control. If selling pressure continues, a nearby support cluster represents a critical area where buyers may attempt to stabilize the price. Failure to hold that level would weaken the technical outlook and expose the asset to further declines. Order book data shows large bid walls positioned below the current price, suggesting some market participants are prepared to defend lower levels. Substantial ask walls in the mid-range indicate heavy supply overhead. Clearing these sell orders would require increased momentum and volume. Long positions may be suited for short-term tactical setups rather than trend-following strategies while the broader structure remains bearish, according to market observers. Short-side strategies align with the prevailing trend, particularly on rallies into resistance, though volatility around key support zones remains a factor. The asset maintains a bearish bias on the daily chart, with trend and momentum indicators aligned to the downside. While temporary bounces are possible, the technical structure indicates sellers maintain control until the price can reclaim and hold key resistance levels. Bullish or bearish? Short term (24h): Bearish. Momentum is down, candles are corrective, you’re under recent local support; any “bullish” stance here is purely tactical (fade‑the‑dump scalps), not trend‑following. Year‑to‑date / cycle view? Cautiously bullish. TAO is still structurally tied to AI infra + halving‑driven scarcity, and sits far above legacy ranges, but it is in a mid‑cycle drawdown with clear downside risk if AI risk‑assets keep de‑rating.