Let's be real: the crypto market moves at a head-spinning pace. At the moment, Bitcoin sits around $104,000, and everyone has a different opinion on what we will see in the coming months. New all-time highs? A3 healthy pullback? Something we didn't see coming?
Here at HodlFM, we're not here to hype you up with moon predictions. What we do is look at the actual data and try to figure out what's really going on. This guide walks through our bitcoin price prediction, what Ethereum might do next, and which sectors are actually building something real. If you're wondering what crypto to buy now, we'll give you a framework to think through it yourself.
What's actually moving the market right now
A few big forces are shaping these crypto short-term predictions as we head into early 2026.
First up: the Fed. Jerome Powell recently hinted that October's rate cut might be the last one we see in 2025. Lower rates typically help crypto because investors look for higher returns elsewhere. If rates stay higher for longer, Bitcoin might struggle despite looking strong on other fronts.
On the institutional side, things look solid. Bitcoin ETFs keep pulling in money, and having BlackRock in the game has changed how serious investors view crypto. This creates steady buying pressure that acts like a safety net under prices.
Watching on-chain data gives us real-time clues. When transaction volumes rise and coins move off exchanges, people are usually accumulating. The opposite tells a different story. This is where crypto price predictions short-term get interesting – because the blockchain doesn't lie.
Here's something that caught people off guard: Trump's tariff talk in October caused Bitcoin to drop nearly 10% before bouncing back. Crypto isn't living in its own bubble anymore.
Bitcoin and Ethereum – What the charts are telling us
Bitcoin: Can it break through?
FXStreet analysts point out that Bitcoin keeps getting rejected at the $115,137 level. Bulls keep trying to push through, but so far, no luck. In trading, when the price keeps hitting the same ceiling, something eventually gives.
Looking back, October closed positively 73% of the time, with the last six years averaging a 27% return. If that pattern holds in our short-term crypto predictions, we could see Bitcoin test $120,000 before year-end. But past performance doesn't guarantee anything.
The supply story is compelling. The halving back in April 2024 cut miner rewards in half, from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC. Historically, less supply plus steady demand equals higher prices, though timing varies.
FXStreet's technical team warns that if Bitcoin loses support at its ascending trendline and breaks below key moving averages, we could see a pullback to $100,000. Smart money watches these levels closely.
Ethereum: make or break time
Ethereum's trading near $3,500 right now, Ethereum's at one of those decision points where it either breaks out or pulls back.
Ethereum's RSI just hit its most oversold level since April 2025, which historically has come before some solid rallies. This could mean people are gathering down here. Of course, oversold can stay oversold during downtrends, so don't take it as a guaranteed buy signal.
If Ethereum manages to break above $4,220, analysts from CoinPedia and others are targeting the $4,200-$4,500 range, with $5,000 possible as Layer-2 activity and staking pick up. The upcoming Fusaka upgrade and Pectra improvements might provide the catalyst.
Here's what institutional money is doing: On October 27, BlackRock's Ethereum ETF bought 17,440 ETH, worth about $70.69 million. That's real money showing confidence in where Ethereum's headed.
Where the action is: altcoins worth watching
AI tokens: separating real projects from hype
When you're thinking about buying crypto, AI tokens deserve a real look – but separate the builders from the talkers.
The AI crypto sector added over $10 billion in market cap in just one week this year, with the total market sitting between $24-27 billion by mid-year. That's serious growth, but some of it's probably froth.
According to analysis from Koinly and CoinDCX, the real contenders include Bittensor (TAO) with its decentralized machine learning network, NEAR Protocol integrating AI features, Internet Computer (ICP) hosting AI apps on-chain, and Render (RNDR) providing decentralized GPU computing.
Market analysts think altcoins tied to AI utilities and Ethereum Layer-2s could outperform this year. The difference now is that some projects are actually being used for real things, autonomous agents, data marketplaces, not just speculation.
Fetch.ai launched its Capricorn upgrade that improves how different chains work together, and released "Resonate," which shows off AI agents curating content. That's actual progress you can measure.
Real talk: AI tokens are still speculative. Look at whether anyone's actually using the product and whether the team is shipping updates.
DeFi: Quietly building back
DeFi isn't making headlines like it used to, but that doesn't mean nothing's happening.
,VanEck's 2025 predictions note that while DeFi's total value locked is still 24% below its peak, DEX trading volumes could hit $4 trillion in 2025, taking 20% of centralized exchange volume. That's a big shift in where people are actually trading.
VanEck thinks DeFi's TVL will top $200 billion by year-end. Tokenized securities and real-world assets are bringing institutional-grade liquidity into DeFi protocols.
Web3 gaming: surviving the shakeout
Let's not sugarcoat it – Web3 gaming is going through a rough patch. DappRadar's Q2 2025 report shows daily active wallets dropped 17% quarter-over-quarter, and funding fell 93% year-over-year to just $73 million. Over 300 games shut down.
But here's the interesting part: Players are moving to the biggest titles, and serious studios like Sega and Ubisoft are still investing. The market's consolidating around quality.
Future Market Insights projects the Web3 gaming market will grow at 18.5% annually, hitting $184 billion by 2035 from $33.7 billion in 2025. But that assumes games get significantly better, which hasn't happened yet.
Let's talk about what could go wrong
If we're being responsible with these crypto predictions, we need to talk about downside scenarios.
Leverage is dangerous. Too many traders use excessive leverage, and when things go south, it triggers a domino effect. You can see 10-15% drops in hours when liquidations cascade. Watch funding rates on perpetual futures – they'll tell you when things are overheated.
We saw it with the tariff talk, causing a 10% drop. These events don't send warning emails. This is why position sizing matters.
Exchange risk is real. Keep meaningful amounts in self-custody so you're not at the mercy of someone else's balance sheet.
Social media moves markets. By the time you see something trending, you might be late to the party or early to the rug pull.
How to actually navigate this market
Success in these crypto short-term predictions comes down to discipline. Most people don't have it.
Size your positions carefully. Only risk what you can actually afford to lose. The line between investing and gambling is risk management, period.
Use stops wisely. Place them below technical levels that matter, not random percentages. You want to get stopped out when the structure actually breaks, not just from normal market noise.
Fight the FOMO. When everyone's freaking out about a coin on Twitter, you're usually closer to a top than a beginning. When evaluating buying crypto, sometimes the right answer is "nothing yet."
Don't drown in information. Follow a few people who actually know what they're talking about. We try to cut through the noise here at HodlFM and focus on what actually moves the needle.
Stay humble. These crypto price predictions are educated guesses, not guarantees. This market has humbled way smarter people than any of us. When the data changes, change your mind.
Where we stand
The next few months are going to be interesting. Our bitcoin prediction suggests that if we crack $120,000, it could confirm we're in a new phase. If we don't, we might be setting up for a healthy pullback.
AI tokens show real development work when you're thinking about buying crypto. DeFi is maturing quietly in the background. Web3 gaming is going through a necessary shakeout that might leave the good ones in a better position later.
What happens next depends on the Fed, institutional money, and whether the world stays relatively calm. Smart investors are preparing for both scenarios.
Nobody knows exactly what happens next with these short term crypto predictions. But understanding the forces at play helps you make better decisions. The best opportunities in crypto usually show up when everyone else is panicking, not when they're celebrating.
Stay informed and never risk more than you can afford to lose. When emotions run high, let data guide your decisions.
Oleksii Shumak
Disclaimer: All materials on this site are for informational purposes only. None of the material should be interpreted as investment advice. Please note that despite the nature of much of the material created and hosted on this website, HODL FM is not a financial reference resource, and the opinions of authors and other contributors are their own and should not be taken as financial advice. If you require advice. HODL FM strongly recommends contacting a qualified industry professional.
