Cryptocurrency News for Saturday, January 10, 2026: Bitcoin Holding Steady at $90,000, Increased Interest in XRP and Altcoins, Institutional ETFs, Global Trends and Investor Expectations.
The start of the year in the global cryptocurrency market is characterized by a bullish consolidation mode: total market capitalization is around $3.1 trillion, and key indicators show mixed dynamics. Bitcoin is holding steady at approximately $90,000, slightly retreating from recent highs of around $92,000. Meanwhile, substantial ETF investments in altcoins and new regulatory news are creating an interesting picture for investors.
Market Overview
- The total cryptocurrency market capitalization is approximately $3.1 trillion (down about 2.5% over the past 24 hours). Most top assets are trading near previous levels, with minor fluctuations.
- Bitcoin is trading around $90,000, down about 2% over the last 24 hours after a brief test of $92,000. Analysts note that Bitcoin remains near the psychological barrier of $90,000 while there are no clear signals for breaking upper or lower extremes.
- Ethereum is holding steady at around $3,100 (down ~3-4%), with its network capitalization exceeding $300 billion, confirming its status as a leader in the smart contracts sector. Binance Coin (~$880) and Solana (~$135) have also slightly retreated after a recent rally.
- Other major altcoins are mostly retreating: XRP around $2.10 (-6-7%), Cardano around $0.39 (-5.5%), Dogecoin around $0.14 (-5%). An exception has been TRON (~$0.295), which has remained virtually unchanged over the day.
- Factors influencing market dynamics include macroeconomic expectations and regulatory agendas. Markets are factoring in the possibility of maintaining current U.S. Federal Reserve interest rates in the near term, as well as anticipating the release of employment data for the U.S. in December (Nonfarm Payrolls on January 10).
Bitcoin
The leading cryptocurrency continues to trade at record levels. Despite the recent decline, Bitcoin has reached historical highs of over $90,000, driven by positive investor sentiment and an influx of institutional capital. Current trading appears consolidated: many traders are booking profits at local peaks and assessing new macroeconomic signals.
A key driver remains the Federal Reserve's policy: the U.S. Treasury has openly called for an accelerated reduction in rates to support economic growth, which may heighten interest in risky assets, including Bitcoin. At the same time, it is anticipated that during the meeting on January 31, the Fed will likely maintain rates unchanged, which limits short-term market movements.
- Significant outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have been observed in the early days of January. This may indicate profit-taking by institutional investors following the December rally.
- Investors continue to monitor the dynamics of key support/resistance levels ($90-95,000). A crucial task remains to maintain positions above $88-90,000 to restore the medium-term bullish trend.
Ethereum and Other Altcoins
Ethereum (ETH) remains in the second position by market capitalization and is trading at about $3,100, experiencing light seller pressure. The Ethereum network is operating steadily, and in the long term, investors consider the development of the DeFi ecosystem and implementation of new technical improvements, though in the short term, ETH prices correlate with the overall risk sentiment in the market.
Other altcoins, such as Solana and Cardano, have also retreated amidst overall consolidation. Solana is trading around $135, and Cardano is around $0.39. Meanwhile, increasing mining difficulties for Bitcoin (-1.2%) and high electricity prices have led to expectations of reduced miner rewards, which holds back activity in the market for Proof-of-Work coins.
XRP and the Unexpected Growth Leader
The spotlight has shifted to the cryptocurrency XRP (Ripple). Following the resolution of Ripple's long-standing conflict with the SEC and the launch of the first spot XRP ETFs at the end of 2025, demand for XRP has surged. In the early days of 2026, the price of XRP increased by more than 8%, temporarily allowing it to surpass Binance Coin in market capitalization and secure the fourth spot among the largest coins.
This situation is supported by an influx of institutional capital: nearly a billion dollars has already been raised for new XRP ETFs (Grayscale, Bitwise, etc.), effectively taking it out of circulation and creating a scarcity effect. According to exchanges, the activity of XRP "whales" has reached a three-month high, indicating possible increased price volatility.
Additional interest in XRP is fueled by new partnerships formed by Ripple. In particular, collaborations with players such as Mastercard and Gemini allow for broader applications of XRP in cross-border payments and cryptocurrency transactions via credit cards. However, risks remain: a significant portion of XRP issuance is still controlled by Ripple, increasing the asset's centralization, while high volatility demands caution from investors.
Institutional Investments and ETFs
- Morgan Stanley has officially filed for the launch of spot ETFs for Bitcoin and Solana – marking the first instance of a leading U.S. bank engaging in the cryptocurrency market on such a scale.
- A few months after Bitcoin ETF approval, BlackRock's portfolio in these funds has approached $100 billion, becoming a key revenue stream for the company.
- Bank of America has permitted its financial advisors to recommend crypto assets to clients, acknowledging ongoing growth in institutional acceptance of digital currencies.
These developments illustrate that Wall Street is actively engaging in the crypto industry. Even the largest players in the financial market no longer regard cryptocurrencies solely as reputational risks but rather as promising sources of profit and diversification.
Regulation and Legislation
- South Korea plans to allow trading in spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2026 and tighten regulations for stablecoins (mandatory 100% reserve and guaranteed redemption of funds for users).
- U.S.: Last year, legislation (GENIUS Act) was enacted to regulate stablecoins, and the Crypto Clarity Act is expected to be approved by early 2026, which aims to establish clear operating rules for the crypto business instead of extrajudicial bans.
- Europe: The MiCA regulation has come into force, establishing unified rules for crypto operators. Major 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 more defined and often favorable for the market: governments are striving to implement rules that promote the integration of the crypto industry into financial systems rather than entirely restricting it. Nevertheless, investors should consider that new laws and their effective dates may create short-term uncertainty in the market.
The 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) — a 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 in international settlements and asset tokenization.
- Binance Coin (BNB) — the token of the Binance ecosystem; utilized for exchange fees and has applications in blockchain projects on 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 within the Ethereum ecosystem and other blockchains.
- TRON (TRX) — a cryptocurrency focused on entertainment and scalable applications, popular in Asia.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — a "meme coin" that gained fame thanks to 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 research methods.
Global Economic Factors
Low interest rates and gradual decreases in inflation continue to dominate the global macroeconomic landscape, creating a favorable environment for risk assets. Investor expectations are aligned with the upcoming U.S. employment report (January 10), which could adjust the Fed's plans for further monetary policy. In the coming year, regulators in leading economies, including the U.S. and Europe, are likely to maintain moderate conditions for the market, potentially supporting the growth of equities and cryptocurrencies.
On the flip side, geopolitical and economic instability remains a source of risk. Sudden events — from unexpected surges in oil prices to economic sanctions and political crises — can lead to heightened volatility in the cryptocurrency market. It is essential for investors to keep an eye on such events and diversify their portfolios in anticipation of possible shocks.
Market Expectations
Despite fluctuations, many experts maintain a generally optimistic outlook for 2026. Continued development of institutional products (ETFs, security tokenization) and the implementation of technologies in the real economy are expected to drive demand for crypto assets. Some analysts forecast a "supercycle of tokenization," where the total supply of digital tokens and stablecoins could double, contributing to price growth for leading coins (with some estimates indicating Bitcoin could reach $150,000 by year-end).
At the same time, volatility persists: technical factors, actions by large holders, and shifts in monetary policy can trigger sharp corrections. Investors are advised to remain vigilant, closely monitor the release of economic data, and stay updated on regulatory news that will define the trajectory of the cryptocurrency market in the coming days and months.
