Crypto News Today (December 17): Bitcoin Price Clings on to $86K With Bears Firmly in Control Heading into 2026 – Best Crypto to Buy During The Dip?

Market Overview - The crypto market opened on December 18 amid fear and uncertainty, with Bitcoin trading between $86,000 and $87,000, and the combined crypto market cap precariously above $3 trillion [1] - Bitcoin ETF flows have seen over $500 million exiting various BTC ETF products since December 16, indicating a defensive stance from investors [4] Memecoins Performance - Memecoins, particularly PIPPIN and TROLL, have shown significant gains, with PIPPIN up nearly +7% and TROLL up +5% in the past 24 hours [2][6] - The recent surge in memecoins is attributed to a federal court allowing a second amended class-action complaint involving Pump.fun and Solana-linked entities [2] Market Sentiment - There is a divide among traders, with some believing the market is in a bear phase while others see current price actions as a correction before a potential rise in 2026 [3] - Despite the struggles of Bitcoin and major caps, the memecoin sector is providing a glimmer of hope, with PIPPIN and TROLL showing strength [5] Privacy Tokens - Monero (XMR) has outperformed most of the market over the last 12 months, up 95%, and is up 145% against Bitcoin this year [7] - XMR, TROLL, and PIPPIN are considered top candidates for investment during uncertain market conditions [7]