Bitcoin Surges to $88,000 on Hopes for New Year Rebound [Crypto Briefing]

According to Financial News, Bitcoin (BTC) edged up to the $88,000 mark on the 31st. The price increase is attributed to optimism ahead of the new year.
Global digital asset data platform CoinMarketCap reported that as of 10 a.m., BTC was trading at around $88,000, up 1.18% over the past 24 hours. Over the past week, BTC has risen by 0.48%.
In the Korean won market, BTC is trading at approximately 128 million won. According to the global crypto price comparison platform Cryprice, the Korea premium stands at 0.72%.
The digital asset market is anticipating the end of the recent sideways trend and a return to a bull market starting next year. Given that prices have already dropped about 3.8% since the beginning of this year, some believe the current level may serve as a support line.
In the securities industry, there is a view that the institutionalization of digital assets will provide a foundation of support. The adoption of stablecoins is accelerating globally, and the boundaries between traditional finance and digital assets are becoming increasingly blurred.
Han Jongmok, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, stated, "2026 is expected to mark the first year of full-scale institutionalization, with institutional capital flowing into the well-prepared infrastructure. While the digital asset market may seem stagnant recently, it is actually becoming healthier. As speculative volatility fades, predictability based on fundamentals is likely to take hold."
Investor sentiment is also showing signs of recovery. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index provided by CoinMarketCap stood at 32, indicating 'fear,' but this is an improvement compared to recent readings in the 20s. The index ranges from 0 to 100, with values closer to 0 indicating 'extreme fear' and those near 100 representing 'extreme greed.'
At the same time, Ethereum was trading at $2,961, up 1.01% from the previous day. Ripple (XRP) rose 1.23% to $1.87.

yimsh0214@fnnews.com Im Sang-hyuk Reporter