Market Update: Silver Surges to New High Before Plunging, Institutions Warn of Precious Metals Correction Risk; Is Bitcoin Experiencing a ‘Dead Cat Bounce’?

As we kick off the week, the financial markets are buzzing with volatility. Silver stole the spotlight, rocketing past $84 per ounce to a record high before crashing back due to profit-taking, stabilizing around $78. This wild ride dragged down gold, platinum, and palladium, sparking debates on a potential . Meanwhile, Bitcoin teased $90,000 again but faces skepticism—is this a fleeting rebound or a classic <'dead cat bounce'>? In this crypto and commodities market update, we break down the trends, analyst views, and key data to help you navigate the chaos.

The Precious Metals Rollercoaster: From Euphoria to Correction Fears

Spot silver’s surge to $84/oz marked a historic peak, fueled by classic drivers like anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts and relentless central bank gold buying. But a fresh narrative is emerging: commodity control rights amid geopolitical tensions and supply chain worries. China’s bombshell announcement of silver export licensing from January 1, 2026, has traders betting on tighter global supplies.

However, the party ended abruptly. Profit-taking triggered a sharp reversal, with silver ending the day in the red. Gold pulled back from near-$4,550 highs, while platinum and palladium shed 7% or more. This spillover highlights the interconnectedness of precious metals.

Institutional Divide Widens:

• Bullish on Gold: Goldman Sachs eyes $4,900+ by 2026.
• Bearish Warnings: UBS and Capital Economics flag prices detached from fundamentals. Capital Economics predicts silver could plummet to $42 by year-end 2026.

The CME Group’s double margin hike on silver futures in two weeks evokes memories of the 2011 crash. Despite strong industrial demand—especially in solar panels—prices above $134/oz could crush demand. Copper as a substitute? Not soon; factories need 4+ years to adapt.

Looking ahead, firms like Guojin Securities spotlight 2026 themes: commodities, supply chains, and FX. With investments outpacing consumption, expect wider trading ranges. China’s manufacturing edge, AI boom, and industrial recovery make these assets must-watch.

Bitcoin’s Tepid Bounce: Dead Cat or Setup for $100K?

While metals swung wildly, crypto stayed subdued. Bitcoin briefly topped $90,000 but closed at $89,989 (YTD -3.25%). Trading volume hit $31.45 billion, but sentiment screams caution.

Bearish Takes:

• Analyst Killa: Short-term pops possible, but cycle over—target below $70,000.
• Ali Charts: $4.5B net outflows, $1B from BTC ETFs in two weeks. Rebound lacks spot buying: classic <'dead cat bounce'>.
• 10x Research: Volumes 30% below average, fragility lurking.

Bullish Counterpoints:

• Astronomer: Short liquidity piled at $94K-$95K, eyeing $112K.
• Michaël van de Poppe: Rotation from hot metals to crypto could push BTC to $100K this week.
• PlanB: Like 2021’s 50%+ dip before new highs—mid-cycle shakeout.
• Samson Mow: Dumps 2025 bear thesis for decade-long bull run.

Key levels to watch: Resistance $90K-$94.6K; support $80K-$86.3K. Breaking up confirms bulls; failure signals bears.

Ethereum’s Cautious Climb: Coiled Spring or Vacuum Drop?

ETH crossed $3,000 (YTD -9.2%, volume $28.28B), but vibes are mixed. On-chain expert Murphy flips the script: Not top-selling pressure, but fragmented profits below. $2,700 is prime support; breach opens ‘vacuum’ to $1,800-$2,600.

Whales (100K+ ETH holders) accumulate at $2,700—long-term faith, short-term hedge. Technically:

• CyrilXBT: ‘Coiled spring’—break $3,345 unleashes upside.
• van de Poppe: $2,775 untouchable support; above $3,000 targets $3,650 fast.

Market Data Snapshot

ETF Flows (Last Week):

• BTC: -$782M (BlackRock IBIT -$435M)
• ETH: -$102M (BlackRock ETHA -$69.4M)
• Solana: +$13.14M
• XRP: +$64M

Nine-week BTC ETF outflows: ~$6B, squeezing liquidity.

Hot News and Sector Moves

• Lighter TGE: Dec 29 expected. 25% airdrop auto-distributed; recent transfers for investors/team.
• Flow Hack: $3.9M exploited; nodes paused for fix—no user funds at risk.
• ZBT Surge: +78% to $0.2+.
• Top Gainers (Top 100): Canton Network +11.3%, Midnight +10.3%, DoubleZero +4.7%.
• Sectors: SocialFi +3%; Layer 2 slight dip.

Upcoming Catalysts: Unlocks, Regs, and Deadlines

Token Unlocks:

• Hyperliquid (HYPE): 9.92M tokens (~$256M) Dec 29.
• Kamino (KMNO): 229M (~$11.8M) Dec 30.
• Others: SVL, ZORA (~$6-7M each).

Deadlines:

• Blue Sky Gerui funds recovery: Dec 29.
• Binance delists FDUSD pairs (EIGEN/ARB): Dec 30.
• ChronoForge shutdown: Dec 30.
• Padre to PUMP swap: Submit wallets by Dec 30.

Regs & Listings: EU/UK/HK digital asset rules this week. Shanghai Futures: Gold/silver limits to 15% Dec 30. HK listings: Wuyi Vision, Lin Qingxuan.

Other notes: UNI burns $596M; whale pulls ETH/SKY/AAVE; Solana DEX volumes top Bybit; Coinbase BTC premium negative.

Insights: Metals Volatility vs. Crypto Resilience?

Silver’s plunge underscores correction risks when speculation overtakes fundamentals— a lesson for crypto. BTC’s <'dead cat bounce'> fears stem from ETF outflows, but historical parallels and liquidity setups suggest rotation potential. As metals cool, capital may flow to ‘digital gold’ Bitcoin. Watch supports closely; fear index at 24 signals buying ops for bold traders.

Stay tuned for more updates—markets never sleep.

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