Santiment said on Tuesday that Bitcoin is underperforming gold and the S&P 500 since early November, with gold up 9%, the S&P 500 up 1%, and BTC down 20%. Analysts noted BTC was around $88,000 as of Wednesday, and believe 2026 could present an opportunity for crypto to narrow the gap.

The IRS has introduced Form 1099-DA for U.S. digital asset tax reporting in the 2025 trading year, with filings due in 2026. Brokers must report gross proceeds from crypto sales, while cost basis reporting is optional in 2025 and mandatory in 2026. Industry professionals highlight complexity and urge early preparation and record-keeping.

In December, the Federal Reserve's dot plot showed disagreement on 2026 policy, while the Dec. 10 move lowered the target range to 3.5%–3.75%. According to CME Group, investors see a 20% chance of a 25 bp cut in January and 45% in mid-March, with analysts debating one to two cuts and potential impacts on crypto flows.

On December 31, 2025, the China EV landscape was described as consolidating amid intensifying price competition. In 2025, Tesla’s sales fell 7.4% and BYD’s declined 5.1%, with BYD’s November down 26.5%. Analysts highlighted market concentration and prolonged discounting, while Geely, BYD and Volkswagen accelerated overseas expansion and local development plans for 2026.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration delayed its Weekly Petroleum Status Report on Monday, first canceling a 10:30 a.m. ET release before setting 5 p.m. publication after market close. The report covers inventories for the week ended Dec. 19, and the shift followed staffing cuts and a holiday order granting Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 off. Brent settled at $61.92; WTI at $57.95.

On Tuesday, Clear Street's Owen Lau told CNBC that the pace of Federal Reserve cuts in 2026 may be a major driver for retail re-entering crypto. Fed December minutes released Tuesday signaled flexibility on policy, while Polymarket puts the odds of a January cut at 15% and March at 52%.

Ethereum is trading just under the $3,000 technical pivot, a level that has historically separated expansion from consolidation. XRP is now sitting on a long-term weekly support slightly below $2, while Solana has pulled back to the $120 zone that has often acted as a launch area. Market behavior suggests controlled declines and weakening sell pressure, leaving room for potential reversals if these supports hold.

On 26 December, total crypto market capitalization hovered near $2.96 trillion with roughly $102.94 billion in daily volume, according to CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin traded between $86,000 and $90,000 while the Fear and Greed Index read 30; since 18 December, market cap rose from $2.85 trillion to $2.96 trillion, an increase of about $110 billion, as Santiment noted social spikes on price dips.