Aptos' APT declines amid slump in wider crypto markets

• APT dropped 2.8%
• Trading volume was 35% above monthly average.
• The elevated activity validated genuine repositioning despite APT's relative weakness against larger digital assets.

APT$1.6113 fell 2.8% over 24 hours as the layer-1 token faced headwinds from sector rotation with traders favoring bigger cryptocurrencies over mid-cap alternatives.

APT traded within a 10 cent range, declining from $1.66 to $1.57 before staging a late-session recovery, according to CoinDesk Research's technical analysis model.

The model showed that volume rose 35% above the 30-day average, signaling institutional participation rather than retail noise.

The elevated activity validated genuine repositioning despite APT's relative weakness against larger digital assets. Selling pressure dominated morning hours as growth-oriented blockchain narratives faced broader market skepticism, according to the model.

The token's resilience at key support levels suggested accumulation emerged during weakness, the model said.

The broader market gauge, the CoinDesk 20 index also declined, and was 2.8% lower at publication time.

Technical Analysis:

• Primary support established at $1.57-$1.575 after successful defense during selloff
• Key resistance remains at $1.64 level where morning rejection occurred
• Exceptional volume spike of 7.3 million at 06:00 breakdown confirmed distribution
• Final hour breakout volume of 93,449 validated bullish reversal pattern
• Overall 35% volume increase above 30-day average signaled institutional interest
• Bearish trend with lower highs dominated morning session trading
• Immediate upside target at $1.64 resistance with $1.575 stop-loss level

Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns.

This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026.

• Bitcoin was lower by a bit more than 1% to just below $88,000 on Tuesday.
• Crypto-related stocks were suffering far larger declines.
• Analysts suggest tax-loss harvesting and low liquidity are contributing to the action in crypto markets as the year ends.
• Some analysts remain cautiously optimistic about a potential rally, though significant recovery is not expected until liquidity returns in January.

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