Analytical Review of Cryptocurrencies as of December 3, 2025: Yearn Finance Hack, Bitcoin Correction, Top Altcoin Dynamics, and Key Market Trends.
The cryptocurrency market has commenced December with a sharp correction: following a recent rally, Bitcoin has lost ground, and prices of many altcoins have declined. The focus has shifted to the hack of the DeFi protocol Yearn Finance, resulting in millions of dollars lost. Furthermore, speculative volatility and profit-taking exacerbated the price decline. Nonetheless, institutional interest in digital assets remains high, with major banks and funds expanding investor access to crypto-ETFs and trading funds. The market's backdrop is contradictory: on one hand, new technical products are being developed to engage with cryptocurrencies; on the other hand, regulators are exhibiting caution. Investors across various regions (the USA, EU, Asia) are closely monitoring economic signals and news from the industry.
Bitcoin Under Pressure
The first cryptocurrency has corrected several percent following its historic high. As of December 3, the price of Bitcoin (BTC) is approximately $85,000, significantly lower than the record highs reached at the end of November. Profit-taking and a general decline in sentiment have pushed the price down to a local minimum around $80,000 on short-term intervals. Experts point out that key support lies in the $80–82k zone: breaking through this level could lead to further declines. However, in the medium term, most analysts continue to expect a bull trend to remain intact if demand recovers. Experts believe that overcoming substantial resistance levels will allow Bitcoin to reach new heights.
Ethereum and Altcoins: Correction Amid Sell-offs
Following Bitcoin, the leading altcoin Ethereum (ETH) and other major tokens have also experienced declines. At the time of publication, Ethereum is trading around $2,800, a few percent lower than its recent peak above $3,000. Other altcoins are also under pressure: XRP, Binance Coin, Solana, Cardano, and others have seen declines. For instance, Ripple (XRP) has dropped to approximately $2.70, Binance Coin (BNB) to around $800, and Solana (SOL) to about $135. Market participants associate this downturn with news about Yearn Finance and a general increase in volatility. Meanwhile, many investors note that capital inflows have previously been shifting towards Ethereum-based products, which partially supports ETH's price. Forecasts for altcoins remain mixed: consolidation is possible if the situation stabilizes, but further dynamics depend on the overall conditions in the financial markets.
DeFi Hack: Yearn Finance Incident
One of the key events of the week was the significant incident within the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. The Yearn Finance protocol confirmed a successful attack: the hacker exploited vulnerabilities in the smart contracts of the yETH token, "printing" billions of coins and withdrawing approximately $9 million from the liquidity pool. Although the main pools of Yearn remained unaffected, the news itself triggered panic among traders. The price of the YFI token plummeted, while other crypto assets faced pressure as well. Experts remind us that such smart contract errors and unprecedented "bugs" continue to pose significant risks for DeFi protocols.
Institutional Investments and Regulatory Environment
Despite the current turbulence, interest from major players in cryptocurrencies remains strong. Last week, it was announced that investment bank Goldman Sachs will acquire the ETF fund issuer Innovator Capital Management for $2 billion, expanding its presence in the cryptocurrency product segment. Simultaneously, the $11 trillion Vanguard, which had long been an advocate of traditional assets, will allow its clients to trade ETFs based on Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana starting December 3. Additionally, Bank of America officially recommends that investors allocate up to 1–4% of their portfolios to digital assets, while some hedge funds and pension funds are gradually integrating cryptocurrencies into their long-term investments. The regulatory landscape shows a mixed picture: China continues to ban private cryptocurrency trading, while in the USA and EU, new rules for investor protection are being discussed. This contrast indicates that the infrastructure for institutional investments is expanding, but oversight remains stringent.
Market Sentiment and Volatility
The sharp decline in prices has led to a surge of fear in the market: according to various estimates, the "fear and greed" index has dropped to extremely low levels (around 20–25 points), indicating panic among investors. Market participants note an acceleration in volatility and record liquidation volumes: only during the Asian session, exchanges recorded forced closures of long positions worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Such "liquidations" accelerate the price drop. The current situation serves as a reminder for market participants of the importance of adhering to risk limits: extreme sell-offs often precede reversals, but in the short term, any exacerbation can trigger additional losses.
Forecasts and Expectations
Expert opinions regarding the future development of the cryptocurrency market are divided. Some analysts maintain bullish forecasts, believing that the current correction may be a temporary pause before renewed growth. For instance, specialists from Standard Chartered still believe that Bitcoin could reach levels of around $150–200k by the end of the year, while Ethereum could hit $7–8k. Optimists point out that even after the recent pullback, current levels are close to most medium-term targets. Conversely, cautious traders warn of the risks of further correction: pressure from macro factors and increased regulatory scrutiny could slow price recovery. As a result, experts expect a period of consolidation: once demand stabilizes, key resistance levels will be able to determine the further trend.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC) – the first and largest cryptocurrency. The current price is around $85,000, with a market capitalization exceeding $1.5–1.7 trillion (approximately 60% of the market).
- Ethereum (ETH) – the leading altcoin and platform for smart contracts. The price is approximately $2,800, and the market capitalization is around $300–350 billion.
- Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin backed by the US dollar. The price is stable at $1, with a market capitalization over $150–160 billion.
- Ripple (XRP) – the token of the Ripple payment network. Trading around $2.70, with a market capitalization of about $120–130 billion. Developments regarding the token's status in the USA continue to influence its popularity.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the cryptocurrency of the Binance exchange. Valued at around $800, with a market capitalization of approximately $100–110 billion. BNB is popular due to its wide usage on the exchange and within the BNB Chain ecosystem.
- Solana (SOL) – a high-performance blockchain platform. Priced around $135, with a market capitalization of about $90–95 billion. The popularity of SOL is supported by active project development within the ecosystem and expectations of a spot ETF launch.
- USD Coin (USDC) – the second-largest dollar-backed stablecoin. The price is fixed at $1, with a market capitalization of approximately $60–70 billion. USDC is used in institutional transactions and DeFi protocols due to its reserve transparency.
- Cardano (ADA) – a blockchain platform with a scientific approach. ADA is valued at about $0.50–0.60, with a market capitalization of approximately $20–25 billion. The project attracts attention with plans for new upgrades and discussions on launching related financial products.
- TRON (TRX) – a blockchain for smart contracts, popular in Asia. Trading around $0.33, with a market capitalization of about $30–35 billion. TRX remains among the top coins due to its extensive use for issuing stablecoins.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – a well-known meme cryptocurrency. Priced around $0.18–0.20, with a market capitalization of $25–30 billion. DOGE is supported by a significant community and periodic attention from celebrities, keeping it in the top 10 despite high volatility.
Cryptocurrency Market Data as of Morning December 3, 2025
Prices of major digital assets as of the morning:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $85,000
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,800
- Ripple (XRP): $2.70
- Binance Coin (BNB): $800
- Solana (SOL): $135
- Tether (USDT): $1.00
- Total market capitalization: ~ $3.5 trillion
- Fear and Greed Index: ~ 23 (Extreme Fear)
