Bitcoin (BTC) price has continued to dip again, sliding close to 9% over the last 6 days. Bitcoin price moved from around $95,000 to about $86,000 at the time of writing, pulling much of the broader crypto market lower along the way. The move looks sharp on the chart, yet the bigger question keeps surfacing. What actually triggered this dip, and why did BTC price lose momentum so quickly?
Bitcoin price did not fall out of nowhere. CyrilXBT points to a shift in macro expectations as the first pressure point. The Federal Reserve already delivered a rate cut, yet the tone around future easing turned more cautious. Markets had positioned for faster and deeper cuts in 2026, and that optimism faded.
Risk appetite softened as a result. Equities did not collapse, yet assets that depend heavily on easy liquidity reacted more aggressively. Bitcoin sits right in that category. When liquidity expectations tighten even slightly, BTC price tends to feel it early.
🚨 #BITCOIN DIDN'T “RANDOMLY DUMP” TO $75K.
— CyrilXBT (@cyrilXBT) December 16, 2025
Here's a detailed recap to why we dumped earlier today ⤵️
This is what actually punched risk assets in the mouth today
Macro got louder
Markets are still digesting the Fed shift: cut happened, but the path forward got more… pic.twitter.com/hC40VEsfK4
Bitcoin Price Weakness Was Amplified By The Selloff In AI-Linked Equities
Another layer came from outside crypto. AI-related stocks posted weak earnings, triggering a broader pullback in that sector. CyrilXBT explains why that mattered for Bitcoin. Many BTC miner narratives shifted toward AI infrastructure over the past year. When AI stocks sold off, miners followed, and that pressure spilled into crypto sentiment.
Crypto related equities such as Coinbase and MicroStrategy also moved lower with higher volatility than the broader market. That behavior fits a familiar pattern. Equity markets often amplify risk off moves before spot crypto fully reacts, dragging BTC price lower in the process.
Despite the speed of the move, this decline has remained relatively orderly. CyrilXBT highlights the absence of forced liquidations or visible liquidity breakdowns. Selling pressure appears driven by repositioning and uncertainty rather than panic.
That distinction matters. BTC price tends to behave very differently during structural breakdowns compared to periods of macro driven hesitation. This phase looks more like the latter, with investors waiting for clarity rather than rushing for the exits.
Bitcoin Price Chart Shows A Clear Decision Zone Forming
The attached chart helps explain why this area matters so much. BTC price slipped below the 0.618 Fibonacci level near $88,035 and dropped into a lower support band. According to Cihan Türkmen, Bitcoin is now hovering around the final short term defense zone near $85,800.
The chart shows multiple failed attempts to reclaim higher resistance, followed by a clean break lower. Moving averages continue to slope downward, reinforcing the pressure. Price action now compresses between support near $85,000 and resistance closer to $88,000, creating a narrow decision zone.
Cihan Türkmen outlines three possible paths from here. A rebound from the current zone could push Bitcoin price back toward $88,000 and potentially $92,800 where the 200 period EMA sits. Sideways movement between $85,000 and $88,000 would suggest consolidation and volatility building beneath the surface. A breakdown below $85,000 opens the door to $83,000 and possibly $80,400 if selling accelerates.
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The chart aligns with this framework. Support levels are clearly defined, and the next move will likely depend on how BTC price reacts around this zone rather than any single headline.
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