Cryptocurrency News for Saturday, January 10, 2026: Bitcoin Holds at $90,000, Rising Interest in XRP and Altcoins, Institutional ETFs, Global Trends, and Investor Expectations.
The global cryptocurrency market has entered the new year in a "bullish" consolidation phase: the total market capitalization hovers around $3.1 trillion, with major indicators showing mixed dynamics. Bitcoin remains around the ~$90,000 mark, slightly retreating from recent peaks close to $92,000. Meanwhile, substantial ETF investments in altcoins and new regulatory news create an intriguing picture for investors.
Market Overview
- The total cryptocurrency market capitalization is approximately $3.1 trillion (down about 2.5% in the last 24 hours). Most top assets are trading near previous levels, with only minor fluctuations.
- Bitcoin is trading around the $90,000 mark, down approximately 2% over the last 24 hours following a brief test of $92,000. Analysts note that Bitcoin remains at the psychological threshold of $90,000, with no clear signals for breaking upper or lower extremes.
- Ethereum hovers around $3,100 (down ~3-4%), with its network capitalization exceeding $300 billion, confirming its status as a leader in the smart contract sector. Binance Coin (~$880) and Solana (~$135) have also seen slight pullbacks following recent rallies.
- Other major altcoins are mostly retreating: XRP at around $2.10 (-6-7%), Cardano around $0.39 (-5.5%), Dogecoin around $0.14 (-5%). An exception is TRON (~$0.295), which remains virtually unchanged over the day.
- Factors influencing market dynamics include macroeconomic expectations and regulatory developments. Markets are pricing in the possibility of maintaining current Federal Reserve interest rates in the near term, as well as anticipating the release of December employment data in the U.S. (Nonfarm Payrolls on January 10).
Bitcoin
The leading cryptocurrency continues to trade at record levels. Despite the recent dip, Bitcoin has recorded historical highs above $90,000, driven by positive investor sentiment and a surge in institutional capital. Current trading appears consolidated: many traders are locking in profits at local peaks and assessing new macroeconomic signals.
A key driver remains the Federal Reserve policy: the U.S. Treasury has openly called for accelerating interest rate cuts to support economic growth, which may increase interest in risk assets, including Bitcoin. At the same time, it is expected that the Fed will likely maintain rates unchanged at the meeting on January 31, which limits short-term market movements.
- There have been significant outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs in the early days of January. This could indicate profit-taking by institutional investors following December's rally.
- Investors continue to monitor the dynamics of key support/resistance levels ($90-95k). The main objective remains to hold positions above $88-90k to restore a mid-term upward trend.
Ethereum and Other Altcoins
Ethereum (ETH) remains in second place by market capitalization and trades around $3,100, experiencing light selling pressure. The Ethereum network operates steadily, and in the long term, investors are considering the development of the DeFi ecosystem and the implementation of new technical improvements. However, in the short term, ETH quotes correlate with overall risk sentiment in the market.
Other notable altcoins include projects like Solana and Cardano, which also retreated amid broad consolidation. Solana is trading around $135, and Cardano around $0.39. Meanwhile, the increase in Bitcoin mining difficulties (-1.2%) and high electricity prices have led to expectations of reduced miner rewards, which hinders activity in the Proof-of-Work market.
XRP and the Unexpected Growth Leader
The cryptocurrency XRP (Ripple) has captured attention. Following the resolution of Ripple's protracted conflict with the SEC and the launch of the first spot XRP ETFs at the end of 2025, demand for XRP surged sharply. In the early days of 2026, XRP's price increased by more than 8%, temporarily allowing it to surpass Binance Coin in market capitalization and secure the fourth position among the largest coins.
The situation is buoyed by a flow of institutional capital: approximately a billion dollars has already been raised for new XRP ETFs (Grayscale, Bitwise, etc.), which effectively removes it from circulation, creating a sense of scarcity. According to exchanges, XRP "whale" activity has reached a three-month high, indicating potential enhanced volatility in its price.
Additional interest in XRP is fueled by new partnerships established by Ripple. In particular, collaborations with players like Mastercard and Gemini enable broader use of XRP in cross-border payments and cryptocurrency transactions via credit cards. However, risks remain: a significant share of XRP release is still controlled by Ripple, increasing the asset's centralization, and high volatility requires caution from investors.
Institutional Investments and ETFs
- Morgan Stanley has filed an official application to launch spot ETFs on Bitcoin and Solana, marking the first instance of a major American bank participating in the cryptocurrency market on this scale.
- A few months after the approval of Bitcoin ETFs, BlackRock's portfolio in these funds has approached $100 billion, becoming one of the company’s key income sources.
- Bank of America has allowed its financial advisors to recommend crypto assets to clients, acknowledging the continued growth of institutional acceptance of digital currencies.
These developments indicate that Wall Street is actively engaging with the crypto industry. Even the largest players in the financial market no longer perceive cryptocurrencies solely as a reputational risk but are now seen as promising sources of profit and diversification.
Regulation and Legislation
- South Korea plans to allow trading of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2026 and tighten rules for stablecoins (requiring 100% reserving and guaranteed buyback by users).
- The U.S.: Last year, the GENIUS Act was passed to regulate stablecoins, and the start of 2026 is expected to see the approval of the Crypto Clarity Act, which aims to establish clear operational rules for the crypto business in lieu of extrajudicial bans.
- Europe: the MiCA regulation came into effect, defining unified rules for crypto operators. Leading exchanges and banks are preparing to launch the first UCITS-compliant cryptocurrency ETFs to provide European investors access to digital assets.
Overall, the global regulatory agenda is becoming clearer and often favorable for the market: governments are striving to implement rules that facilitate the integration of the crypto industry into financial systems rather than completely restricting it. Nevertheless, investors should remember that new laws and their implementation timelines can create short-term uncertainties in the market.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency, perceived as digital gold and the foundation for many investment strategies.
- Ethereum (ETH) — the leading platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications, second in capitalization after Bitcoin.
- Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, serving as a "safe haven" for cryptocurrency trading.
- XRP (XRP) — the cryptocurrency of the Ripple payment platform, actively promoted for international settlements and asset tokenization.
- Binance Coin (BNB) — the token of the Binance ecosystem; used for exchange fees and applicable in blockchain projects within the Binance Smart Chain.
- Solana (SOL) — a high-speed blockchain platform with low fees, often used for decentralized applications and NFTs.
- USD Coin (USDC) — a major stablecoin backed by the dollar and widely used in the Ethereum ecosystem and other blockchains.
- TRON (TRX) — a cryptocurrency focused on the entertainment sector and scalable applications, popular in Asia.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — the "meme coin" that gained fame through community support and mentions by celebrities; often traded as a speculative asset.
- Cardano (ADA) — a decentralized platform with a scientific approach to development, emphasizing security and scalability through R&D methods.
Global Economic Factors
In the global macroenvironment, low interest rates and a gradual decline in inflation still dominate, creating a favorable setting for risk assets. Investor expectations are tied to the upcoming employment report in the U.S. (on January 10), which may adjust the Fed's future plans regarding monetary policy. In the coming year, regulators in major economies, including the U.S. and Europe, are likely to maintain moderate market conditions, potentially supporting growth in both stocks and cryptocurrencies.
Conversely, geopolitical and economic instability remains a source of risks. Any sudden events — from unexpected oil price spikes to economic sanctions and political crises — could intensify volatility in the cryptocurrency market. Investors must remain vigilant for such events and diversify their portfolios considering potential "shocks."
Market Expectations
Despite fluctuations, many experts maintain an overall optimistic view for 2026. Continued development of institutional products (ETFs, tokenization of securities) and the incorporation of technologies into the real economy are expected to drive demand for crypto assets. Some analysts forecast a "super cycle of tokenization," where the overall supply of digital tokens and stablecoins could double, contributing to price increases for leading coins (with some estimates suggesting Bitcoin could reach $150,000 by year-end).
However, volatility persists: technical factors, actions by large holders, and changes in monetary policy could bring about sharp corrections. Investors are advised to stay alert and closely monitor the publication of economic data and regulatory news that will determine the trajectory of the cryptocurrency market in the upcoming days and months.
