Global Cryptocurrency News, Sunday, January 11, 2026: Bitcoin Consolidates Around $90,000 After a Volatile Week, Moderate Growth in Ethereum and Major Altcoins Amid Macroeconomic Uncertainty, Institutional Interest Remains Strong, Top-10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies.
As of the morning of January 11, 2026, the cryptocurrency market has generally stabilized following notable fluctuations in recent days. Bitcoin's price is around $91,000, with the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies approximately $3.1 trillion after a brief dip midweek. Following Bitcoin, the largest altcoins, led by Ethereum, are also feeling more secure, with many of the top 10 digital assets displaying moderate growth. Investors, including institutional players, continue to show interest in the crypto market, although they are acting more cautiously amid mixed macroeconomic signals and adjusted prices. Long-term factors—such as increased regulation and the proliferation of crypto instruments on traditional financial platforms—continue to sustain interest in the sector.
Bitcoin Consolidates Around $90,000.
After a volatile start to the year, Bitcoin (BTC) is consolidating around the psychologically important level of $90,000–$91,000. In the early days of January, the leading cryptocurrency attempted to rise, reaching approximately $94,800 on January 5 (a local maximum in recent months), but subsequently underwent a correction. On the morning of January 8, BTC's price briefly dipped below $90,000, erasing gains from earlier in the week, but it has since recovered, returning to about $91,000. Current levels are around 25% lower than the all-time high (approximately $124,000 reached in August 2025), yet since the start of 2026, BTC has still shown a growth of about 3%. The market capitalization of Bitcoin is estimated at approximately $1.8 trillion, accounting for about 58% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization.
Analysts note that Bitcoin's dynamics are influenced by a conflicting news background. On one hand, expectations for a loosening of monetary policy persist: weak economic data from the U.S.—for example, the December ADP report showed an increase of only around 41,000 new jobs instead of the anticipated 50,000—has bolstered forecasts that the Federal Reserve might begin to cut interest rates in the second half of 2026. Soft monetary policy typically benefits risk assets like cryptocurrencies, supporting bullish sentiment. On the other hand, geopolitical uncertainty is keeping growth in check: investors are cautiously awaiting decisions on trade disputes and other political factors. In particular, market attention is drawn to a case in the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the legality of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, the outcome of which could affect risk appetite. In these conditions, Bitcoin demonstrates relative stability—even on the 17th anniversary of its creation (the genesis block of BTC was mined on January 3, 2009), the first cryptocurrency maintains its status as "digital gold" and a key asset in the industry.
Ethereum Maintains Second Place.
Ethereum's (ETH) price follows Bitcoin's dynamics and is trading around $3,200 as of January 11. In the early days of the new year, Ethereum rose to approximately $3,300, achieving its highest levels since the fall, and over the weekly interval at the beginning of January, ETH gained around 6%. Despite the pullback from the historical peak ($4,900 in November 2021), Ethereum confidently retains its status as the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. The current market cap of ETH is approximately $380 billion, which is roughly 12% of the total cryptocurrency market value.
Interest in the smart contract platform remains robust. In 2025, institutional investors gained a new avenue for investment in Ethereum, as the first spot ETFs on Ethereum were launched in the U.S., significantly increasing capital flows into Ethereum-related investment products to record levels. This reflects the confidence of major players in the long-term prospects of Ethereum as a foundational infrastructure for decentralized applications (DeFi, NFTs, and more). The ecosystem's technical development continues: network upgrades and scaling solutions (layer twos) strengthen Ethereum's market position. Experts note that, with a combination of technological leadership and support from institutional players, Ethereum has the potential for further price growth in the medium term.
Altcoins: Mixed Market Dynamics.
The broader altcoin market, following a tumultuous growth period in 2025, is demonstrating mixed movement at the start of 2026. Prices for most major cryptocurrencies have fluctuated slightly (within a few percent) in recent days, reflecting a phase of consolidation. The total capitalization of altcoins (excluding Bitcoin) remains around ~$1.3 trillion, significantly lower than the peak of $1.7 trillion recorded last summer, but indicating sustained interest from investors in alternative digital assets. Some major altcoins continue to trade near their multi-year highs. For instance, Ripple (XRP)—a token for cross-border payments—has managed to hold its value due to legal clarity regarding its status (following Ripple's victory over the SEC in 2025) and the emergence of ETFs based on it. XRP is currently trading above $2 (for comparison, its peak in 2025 was around $3), and its market capitalization (~$100 billion) has secured it a place in the top three. Another example is Binance Coin (BNB): despite regulatory pressures around the Binance exchange, the platform's native token is valued at around $500 (with a capitalization of about $80 billion) and remains within the top five. Although the current price of BNB is below its historical record (~$750), the coin demonstrates resilience due to its extensive applications within the exchange ecosystem and the BNB Chain blockchain.
Platform tokens are also showing strong performances. Solana (SOL) rose back above $150 per coin at the beginning of January, marking its highest level since 2022. This uptick was supported by news of the launch of the first spot ETF based on this network in the U.S. at the end of 2025, as new investment access spurred growth, and Solana's capitalization is currently approaching ~$60–70 billion. Another altcoin in the top ten, Cardano (ADA), is attracting analysts' attention: at the end of last year, investment company Grayscale filed for approval to launch an ETF tied to ADA, reigniting interest in this platform. As a result, ADA has exhibited double-digit price growth at certain times (although the psychologically significant level of $1 has not yet been surpassed), confirming its status as one of the most promising projects. Notably, the meme cryptocurrency segment is showing activity: during the first week of January, there was a spike in demand for high-risk "meme coins." For instance, Dogecoin (DOGE) rose over 20% in a week, while Shiba Inu (SHIB) gained nearly 19%. The total market capitalization of meme tokens has exceeded $45 billion, reflecting active retail trader participation and growing risk appetite in select market niches.
Institutional Investors and Crypto-ETFs.
One of the key trends in recent months has been robust involvement from institutional investors in cryptocurrencies. In 2025, the first ETFs based on Bitcoin and Ethereum were approved in the U.S., providing access to digital assets for a broader range of major players via traditional stock exchanges. By the end of the year, regulators also allowed ETFs focused on certain altcoins—such as XRP and Solana—to enter the market. The introduction of these instruments marked a critical milestone, showcasing an expanding interest from the financial industry in various crypto assets.
Following the launch of new funds, the initial weeks saw record capital inflows. However, at the beginning of 2026, the dynamics shifted somewhat: according to recent data, spot crypto ETFs faced short-term outflows amid price corrections. For example, during trading on January 7–8, total outflows from U.S. Bitcoin funds amounted to around $0.5 billion, while Ethereum-based funds lost approximately $0.16 billion—marking the first series of consecutive sessions with net capital outflows since their launch. Experts interpret this trend as profit-taking following the late 2025 rally rather than a decrease in confidence: institutional investors continue to hold record volumes of crypto assets historically. Major asset management companies (BlackRock, Fidelity, etc.), hedge funds, and even pension programs have included Bitcoin and Ethereum in their portfolios, viewing them as promising asset classes for diversification. Factors supporting the interest from large capital in crypto include hedging against inflation risks, growing blockchain technology adoption, and high client demand. Currently, regulators are reviewing applications for the launch of ETFs for other cryptocurrencies (such as Cardano), indicating further expansion of institutional participation in the market in the future.
Market Sentiment and Volatility.
The autumn correction of 2025 notably cooled market participants' enthusiasm, and investor sentiment remains cautious for now. The Fear and Greed Index for cryptocurrencies has been in the "fear" zone since mid-December. As of January 8, its value was 28 out of 100 points, reflecting predominant trader apprehension and a tendency toward cautious trading. Analysts note that a prolonged period with low index values may indicate market overselling—previously, such levels often preceded local upside reversals, as the most jittery players had already vacated their positions. On the other hand, ongoing fear indicates that confidence has yet to return following the recent price crash. This divergence is also manifested in the market structure: despite the overall "fear" index, there are pockets of speculative activity (e.g., growth in meme tokens), indicating conflicting attitudes among different groups of investors. Experts recommend that market participants maintain composure and manage risks: until new fundamental drivers emerge, sudden bursts of optimism could quickly be followed by sell-offs.
Short-term volatility remains elevated. Sharp price movements at the beginning of January led to widespread liquidations of margin positions on crypto exchanges. According to Coinglass, over a 24-hour period leading to the morning of January 8, positions worth more than $460 million were liquidated, with around $415 million of that amount concerning long positions betting on market growth. As a result of the swift price pullback, over 127,000 traders were forced to close their positions. Such a “squeeze” of excessively optimistic longs has exacerbated Bitcoin's price drop, but such episodes underscore the risks for players utilizing high leverage. Over recent years, the crypto market has experienced similar volatility spikes—on October 10, 2025, for example, an unexpected macroeconomic shock resulted in record liquidations of positions totaling nearly $19 billion in a single day. This event highlighted the necessity for market participants to be prepared for sudden price swings, particularly when trading on margin.
Forecasts and Expectations.
Market participants' perspectives on the prospects for 2026 are divided. Some analysts believe that following the tumultuous growth of the previous year, the market may continue to cool. They point to historical cyclicality: in the past, after a year of record highs (as was the case in 2025), periods of decline often followed. Risks from external factors support this scenario—some experts warn that a potential bursting of the "bubble" surrounding AI hype or other macroeconomic shocks could trigger another decline in cryptocurrency prices during the first half of 2026. Moreover, a significant portion of long-term holders of BTC and ETH is still in profit following the rally, and continued profit-taking could create pressure on the market. Analysts from CryptoQuant note that the exit of short-term speculators and "weak hands" during the autumn sell-offs cleared the way for more sustainable dynamics, but they do not rule out the possibility of another correction phase.
Conversely, other experts are more optimistic. They believe that given unprecedented institutional participation and the integration of cryptocurrencies into the global economy, traditional four-year cycles may soften—expectations suggest that even if a bear trend persists, it will be less prolonged and severe than previous "crypto winters." Forecasts indicate that following the current consolidation phase, the market may return to growth as early as the second half of 2026, particularly if the external macroeconomic environment becomes more favorable (such as a slowdown in inflation or interest rate cuts). Some scenarios propose a wave-like development: for instance, notable price drops may occur in the summer (June–July), followed by a new upswing by the end of the year. Certain months, as strategists evaluate, might become particularly successful for cryptocurrencies—April and the period from October to December 2026 are regarded as potentially strong intervals, during which the market could recover its losses.
Overall, the consensus indicates that the fundamental drivers of industry growth have not dissipated. Cryptocurrencies continue to expand their areas of application, while blockchain technologies are being implemented in finance, supply chains, and other sectors, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. This longer-term trend is positive for the market. Thus, even in the event of further corrections, many investors view them as an opportunity to accumulate assets at lower prices. With institutional interest maintaining and without new shocks, the majority of analysts anticipate that cryptocurrency market capitalization will gradually resume growth in the second half of the year, potentially reaching the record highs of 2025 within the next 12–18 months. As for long-term targets, major financial firms continue to maintain bullish forecasts. Several Wall Street banks uphold target levels for Bitcoin significantly above current levels—ranging up to $150,000–$200,000 in the coming years—based on limited BTC supply and rising demand. Whether these predictions will materialize remains to be seen as global economic developments unfold.
Top-10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies.
As of January 11, 2026, the ten most popular cryptocurrencies by market capitalization are as follows:
- Bitcoin (BTC) — The first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $91,000 after recent volatility, with a market cap of approximately $1.8 trillion (≈ 58% of the entire market).
- Ethereum (ETH) — The leading altcoin and smart contract platform. ETH is trading at around $3,200, which is significantly below its historical highs, with a market cap of about $380 billion (≈ 12% of the market).
- Tether (USDT) — The largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 ratio. USDT is widely used for trading and transactions, with a market cap of around $170 billion; the coin consistently maintains a price of $1.00 due to its reserves.
- Ripple (XRP) — A token for the Ripple payment network for cross-border settlements. XRP is currently trading around $2.00, with a market capitalization of approximately $110 billion. The legal clarity surrounding XRP's status in the U.S. (following the court ruling in 2025) and the launch of an ETF for this token have strengthened investor confidence, allowing XRP to regain its place among market leaders.
- Binance Coin (BNB) — The coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and the native token of the BNB Chain. BNB is valued at approximately $500 (with a capitalization of around $80 billion). Despite regulatory challenges surrounding Binance, the token remains in the top 5 due to its wide range of applications on the exchange and in the DeFi segment.
- Solana (SOL) — A high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications (dApps). SOL is trading around $150 per coin (with a market cap of ~$60 billion), having recovered a significant portion of the decline from the fall of 2025. Interest in Solana is fueled by the launch of the first ETF based on this asset and the growth of the project ecosystem built on it.
- USD Coin (USDC) — The second-largest stablecoin backed by reserves in U.S. dollars (issued by Circle). USDC maintains a price around $1.00, with a market cap of approximately $60 billion. USDC is actively used by institutional investors and in DeFi protocols due to its transparency and regular auditing of reserves.
- Cardano (ADA) — A blockchain platform focusing on a scientific approach to development. ADA is currently priced around $0.70 (with a market cap of ~$23 billion) following a correction from local highs. Cardano is attracting attention with plans to launch an ETF tied to this token and its engaged community that believes in the project's long-term growth.
- TRON (TRX) — A platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications, particularly popular in Asia. TRX is trading around $0.25; its market value is approximately $22 billion. TRON remains in the top 10, partly due to its widespread use for issuing stablecoins (a significant portion of USDT circulates on the TRON blockchain).
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — The most well-known meme cryptocurrency, originally created as a joke. DOGE is around $0.14 (with a market cap of ~$21 billion), sustained by community loyalty and occasional celebrity attention. Dogecoin's volatility remains high, but it continues to rank among the top ten coins, demonstrating remarkable resilience in investor interest.
