Sentiment across the crypto market is showing early signs of recovery as Bitcoin continues to trade above $90,000. This shift comes even though the leading asset recently dipped from the $100,000 level, where market confidence had actually been weaker earlier this month.
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index posted a reading of 25 on Friday, up from 22 the previous day. The index remains in the “Extreme Fear” zone, but it has increased from earlier this month, when Bitcoin slipped below $100,000.
Bitcoin is trading around $91,600 at the time of writing. Traders and analysts are worried about how long it may take for the coin to revisit the six-figure mark.
Crypto Analysts Weigh Odds of a Short-Term Recovery
Crypto analyst Ted said in a post on X that if Bitcoin climbs back to $93,000 or $94,000, a move to $100,000 “could happen first before any downside.” His view highlights the narrowing range Bitcoin has been trading in since the recent pullback.
Sentiment research firm Santiment commented on Wednesday that a surge in negative commentary across socials has often aligned with later improvement in price action. According to the firm, downturns in retail expectations have frequently been followed by short-term rebounds.
Even some well-known crypto executives, usually optimistic, have started to reduce their expectations. On Thursday, BitMine chair Tom Lee stepped back from his long-held projection that Bitcoin could hit $250,000 this year.
He said he still expects Bitcoin to return to $100,000 and added that a new record above the ATH of $125,100 remains possible.
December’s Track Record Faces a New Test
Trader Jelle remarked that many market participants were “caught off guard” by the recent slide after a series of mild corrections. With December now underway, traders are watching to see whether the month follows its usual pattern or breaks from it.
Data shows that since 2013, Bitcoin has averaged a 4.75% return in December. However, both October and November, typically strong months, failed to deliver this year. This raised doubts about whether December 2025 will give some relief to bulls or not.
For now, Bitcoin’s ability to stay above $90,000 has brought a modest lift to market sentiment.