Cryptocurrency News for Saturday, January 10, 2026: Bitcoin Holds at $90,000, Growing Interest in XRP and Altcoins, Institutional ETFs, Global Trends, and Investor Expectations.
The global cryptocurrency market is beginning the year in a "bullish" consolidation mode: the total market capitalization is hovering around $3.1 trillion, while key indicators are showing mixed dynamics. Bitcoin remains near the ~$90,000 level, having slightly retreated from recent highs of around $92,000. At the same time, substantial ETF investments in altcoins and new regulatory news are painting an interesting picture for investors.
Market Overview
- The total cryptocurrency market capitalization is approximately $3.1 trillion (down about 2.5% over the last 24 hours). Most of the top assets are trading near previous levels, with slight fluctuations.
- Bitcoin is trading around the $90,000 mark, down about 2% over the last 24 hours after a brief test of $92,000. Analysts note that Bitcoin remains at the psychological level of $90,000, with no clear signals for breaking upper or lower extremes.
- Ethereum is holding steady at around $3,100 (a drop of ~3-4%), with the network's capitalization exceeding $300 billion, confirming its status as the leader in the smart contracts sector. Binance Coin (~$880) and Solana (~$135) have also slightly retreated after a recent rally.
- Most major altcoins are retreating: XRP 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 agendas. Markets are pricing in the likelihood of current interest rates from the US Federal Reserve being maintained in the near future, as well as anticipating the release of US employment data for December (Nonfarm Payrolls on January 10).
Bitcoin
The leading cryptocurrency continues to trade at record levels. Despite recent declines, Bitcoin has recorded historical highs above $90,000, driven by positive investor sentiment and inflows of institutional capital. Current trading appears consolidated: many traders are locking in profits at local peaks and assessing new macroeconomic signals.
The policy of the Federal Reserve remains a key driver: the US Treasury has openly called for accelerating rate cuts to support economic growth, which could enhance interest in risk assets, including Bitcoin. At the same time, it is expected that at the upcoming meeting on January 31, the Fed will likely keep rates unchanged, which may limit short-term market movements.
- Significant outflows from US spot Bitcoin ETFs have been observed in the early days of January. This may indicate profit-taking by institutional investors following December's rally.
- Investors continue to monitor the dynamics of key support/resistance levels ($90-95k). A crucial task is to maintain positions above $88-90k to restore the medium-term upward trend.
Ethereum and Other Altcoins
Ethereum (ETH) remains in second place by market capitalization, trading at around $3,100, facing slight selling pressure. The Ethereum network operates stably, and in the long term, investors consider the development of the DeFi ecosystem and the introduction of new technical improvements. However, in the short term, ETH quotes correlate with the overall risk sentiment in the market.
Other altcoin projects such as Solana and Cardano have also retreated amidst overall consolidation. Solana is trading around $135, while Cardano is around $0.39. Meanwhile, rising mining difficulties in Bitcoin (-1.2%) and high electricity prices have led to expectations of reduced miner rewards, which curtails activity in the Proof-of-Work coin market.
XRP and an Unexpected Growth Leader
The cryptocurrency XRP (Ripple) has come into the spotlight. Following the resolution of Ripple's long-standing conflict with the SEC and the launch of the first XRP spot ETFs at the end of 2025, demand for XRP surged. In the early days of 2026, the price of XRP rose by more than 8%, allowing it to temporarily surpass Binance Coin in market capitalization and claim the fourth position among the largest coins.
The situation is bolstered by influxes of institutional capital: approximately one billion dollars has already been attracted to the new XRP ETFs (Grayscale, Bitwise, etc.), effectively removed from circulation, creating a scarcity effect. Exchange data indicate that XRP "whale" activity has reached a three-month high, suggesting potential increased volatility in the price.
Additional interest in XRP is fueled by new partnerships from Ripple. In particular, collaboration with players such as Mastercard and Gemini allows for expanded usage of XRP in cross-border payments and cryptocurrency transactions via credit cards. However, risks remain: a significant portion of the XRP supply 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 applied to launch spot ETFs on Bitcoin and Solana, marking the first instance of a major American bank entering the cryptocurrency market at such scale.
- Several months after the approval of Bitcoin ETFs, BlackRock's portfolio in these funds has approached $100 billion, becoming a key revenue line for the company.
- Bank of America has allowed its financial advisors to recommend crypto assets to clients, recognising the ongoing growth of institutional adoption of digital currencies.
These developments indicate that Wall Street is actively engaging in the crypto industry. Even the largest players in the financial market no longer view cryptocurrencies solely as a reputational risk but see them 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% reserves and guaranteed buybacks for users).
- US: Last year, legislation (GENIUS Act) was passed to regulate stablecoins, and the beginning of 2026 anticipates the approval of the Crypto Clarity Act, which aims to provide clear operational rules for the crypto business instead of extra-judicial prohibitions.
- Europe: The MiCA regulation has come into effect, establishing uniform rules for crypto operators. Leading exchanges and banks are preparing to launch the first UCITS-compliant cryptocurrency ETFs to provide European investors with access to digital assets.
Overall, the global regulatory landscape is becoming more defined and often favorable for the market: governments are seeking to implement rules that promote the integration of the crypto industry into financial systems rather than completely restricting it. Nonetheless, investors should keep in mind that new laws and the timing of their implementation may temporarily create uncertainty in the market.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC) – The first and largest cryptocurrency, perceived as digital gold and a 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 US dollar, serves 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 paying fees on the exchange and has applications in Binance Smart Chain blockchain projects.
- 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 with widespread use in the Ethereum ecosystem and other blockchains.
- TRON (TRX) – A cryptocurrency focused on the entertainment sector 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
On the global macro front, low interest rates and a gradual decrease in inflation continue to dominate, creating a favorable environment for risk assets. Investor expectations are tied to the upcoming employment report in the US (January 10), which may adjust the Fed's plans regarding monetary policy. In the coming year, regulators in leading economies, including the US and Europe, will likely maintain moderate conditions for the market, which could potentially support the growth of stocks and cryptocurrencies.
On the other hand, geopolitical and economic instability remains a source of risks. Any sudden events—from unexpected oil price spikes to economic sanctions and political crises—could trigger increased volatility in the cryptocurrency market. It is crucial for investors to monitor such events and diversify their portfolios considering possible "shocks."
Market Expectations
Despite fluctuations, many experts maintain an overall optimistic outlook for 2026. Further development of institutional products (ETFs, security tokenization) and the implementation of technologies in the real economy are expected to stimulate demand for crypto assets. Some analysts predict a "supercycle of tokenization," during which the overall supply of digital tokens and stablecoins may double, driving up prices for leading coins (with some estimates suggesting Bitcoin could reach $150,000 by the end of the year).
At the same time, volatility persists: technical factors, actions of large holders, and changes in monetary policy may lead to sharp corrections. Investors are advised to stay vigilant, closely monitor the release of economic data, and regulatory news that will determine the trajectory of the cryptocurrency market in the coming days and months.
