Global Cryptocurrency News, Sunday, January 11, 2026: Bitcoin Consolidates Around $90K After a Volatile Week, Moderate Growth of Ethereum and Major Altcoins Amid Macroeconomic Uncertainty, Institutional Interest Remains, Top 10 Popular Cryptocurrencies
As of the morning of January 11, 2026, the cryptocurrency market has generally stabilized following noticeable fluctuations in previous days. Bitcoin’s price is holding around $91,000, and the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies is approximately $3.1 trillion after a short-term dip in the middle of the week. Following Bitcoin, major altcoins led by Ethereum are feeling more confident, with many of the top 10 digital assets showing moderate growth. Investors, including institutional ones, remain present in the cryptocurrency market, albeit with a cautious approach amidst mixed macroeconomic signals and corrected prices. Long-term factors such as increased regulation and the spread of crypto instruments in traditional financial markets continue to support interest in the sector.
Bitcoin Consolidates Around $90K
After a volatile start to the year, Bitcoin (BTC) is consolidating around the psychologically significant level of $90,000 to $91,000. In the early days of January, the leading cryptocurrency attempted to rally: on January 5, the price peaked at approximately $94,800 (the local maximum in recent months), but then a correction followed. On the morning of January 8, the price momentarily dropped below $90,000, negating the early-week gains, but Bitcoin has since recovered and returned to around $91,000. Current levels are about 25% below the historical high (around $124,000, reached in August 2025), yet since the start of 2026, BTC has shown a growth of about 3%. Bitcoin's market capitalization is estimated at around $1.8 trillion, comprising about 58% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization.
Analysts note that Bitcoin's dynamics are influenced by a contradictory news backdrop. On the one hand, expectations for a softening monetary policy persist: weak economic data in the US (for instance, the December ADP report, which showed a gain of only approximately 41,000 new jobs instead of the expected 50,000) have intensified predictions that the Federal Reserve may start lowering interest rates in the second half of 2026. Soft monetary policy usually benefits risk assets like cryptocurrencies, supporting bullish sentiments. On the other hand, geopolitical uncertainty restrains growth: investors are cautiously awaiting decisions on trade disputes and other political factors. In particular, the ongoing Supreme Court process in the US regarding the legality of tariffs introduced by Donald Trump has drawn market attention, with its outcome potentially affecting risk appetite. In this context, Bitcoin exhibits relative resilience – even on the 17th anniversary of its creation (the genesis block of BTC was mined on January 3, 2009), the leading cryptocurrency maintains its status as 'digital gold' and a key asset in the sector.
Ethereum Maintains Second Place
Ethereum (ETH) follows Bitcoin’s dynamics and is trading around $3,200 as of January 11. In the early days of the new year, Ether reached approximately $3,300, marking a high since autumn, and over the weekly interval at the beginning of January, ETH gained about 6%. Despite a pullback from its 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 around $380 billion, equivalent to about 12% of the total cryptocurrency market value.
Interest in the smart contract platform remains high. Institutional investors in 2025 gained a new way to invest in Ether – the first spot ETFs on Ethereum were launched in the US, resulting in record capital inflows into ETH-related investment products. This reflects confidence among major players in Ethereum's long-term prospects as a fundamental infrastructure for decentralized applications (DeFi, NFTs, etc.). The technical development of the ecosystem is ongoing: network updates and scaling solutions (layer twos) bolster Ethereum's market position. Experts note that due to a combination of technological leadership and institutional support, Ethereum retains potential for further price growth in the medium term.
Altcoins: Mixed Market Dynamics
The broader altcoin market is displaying mixed performance at the start of 2026 after a tumultuous rise in 2025. Prices for most major cryptocurrencies have changed only slightly over the past 24 hours (within a few percent), indicative of a consolidation phase. The total market capitalization of altcoins (excluding Bitcoin) remains at around ~$1.3 trillion, reflecting considerably lower levels than the peak of $1.7 trillion recorded last summer, yet indicating sustained investor interest in alternative digital assets. Some major altcoins continue trading close to their multi-year highs. For instance, Ripple (XRP) – a token for cross-border payments – has managed to maintain high levels due to legal clarity regarding its status (following Ripple's victory over the SEC in 2025) and the emergence of exchange-traded funds based on it. XRP is currently trading above $2 (for comparison, the 2025 peak was about $3), and its market capitalization (~$100 billion) has secured it a spot in the top three again. Another example is Binance Coin (BNB): despite regulatory pressure surrounding the Binance exchange, the platform's own token is valued at approximately $500 (market cap of around $80 billion) and ranks in the top five. Although the current price of BNB is below its historical peak (~$750), the coin shows resilience due to its extensive use in the exchange ecosystem and on the BNB Chain blockchain.
Platform tokens are also showing strong performance. Solana (SOL) has risen above $150 per coin in early January for the first time since 2022. Support for SOL has come from news about the launch of the first spot ETF based on this network in the US at the end of 2025 – the access to new investments has provided a boost to growth, and Solana’s market cap is approaching ~$60–70 billion. Another altcoin in the top ten, Cardano (ADA), has caught the attention of analysts: at the end of last year, the investment firm Grayscale submitted an application to launch an ETF related to ADA, which sparked interest in this platform. As a result, ADA has shown double-digit price growth at certain points (though the psychologically significant $1 mark has not yet been breached), confirming its status as one of the most promising projects. The meme cryptocurrency segment is also worth noting: in the first week of January, there was a surge in demand for high-risk 'meme coins.' For example, Dogecoin (DOGE) rose by more than 20% over seven days, while Shiba Inu (SHIB) increased by nearly 19%. The total capitalization of the meme token market surpassed $45 billion, indicating active participation from retail traders and a growing appetite for risk in certain market niches.
Institutional Investors and Crypto ETFs
One of the key trends over the past few months has been the high engagement of institutional investors in cryptocurrencies. In 2025, the first exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on Bitcoin and Ethereum were approved in the US, granting broad access to digital assets for a wide range of major players via traditional stock exchanges. By the end of the year, regulators also allowed ETFs for some altcoins, including XRP and Solana. The introduction of these instruments has marked a significant milestone, demonstrating the growing interest from the financial industry in various crypto assets.
Following the launch of new funds, the initial weeks of their operation brought in record capital inflows. However, by early 2026, dynamics shifted somewhat: according to recent data, spot crypto ETFs faced a short-term outflow of funds amid price corrections. For example, during trading on January 7–8, the total outflow from US Bitcoin funds amounted to approximately $0.5 billion, while Ethereum-based funds lost around $0.16 billion – marking the first series of consecutive sessions with net capital outflow since their launch. Experts view this trend as profit-taking after the rally at the end of 2025 rather than a decline in trust: institutional players still hold record volumes of crypto assets historically. Major management companies (BlackRock, Fidelity, etc.), hedge funds, and even pension programs have included Bitcoin and Ethereum in their portfolios, considering them promising asset classes for diversification. Factors supporting large money interest in crypto include hedging against inflation risk, increased adoption of blockchain technology, and rising 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 significantly dampened market participants' enthusiasm, and investor sentiment remains cautious. The Fear and Greed Index for cryptocurrencies has been in the 'fear' zone since mid-December. As of January 8, its value stood at 28 out of 100 points, reflecting predominant trader apprehension and a tendency towards cautious trading. Analysts note that a prolonged period of low index values may indicate market overselling – previously, similar levels often preceded local upward reversals, as the most anxious players had already exited their positions. On the other hand, ongoing fear suggests that confidence has yet to return following the recent price crashes. Such divergence is also evident in market structure: despite the overall 'fear' index, pockets of speculative activity (such as the rise of meme tokens) indicate conflicting sentiments among different groups of investors. Experts recommend that market participants remain patient and manage risks: until new fundamental drivers emerge, sharp surges of optimism could quickly be followed by sell-offs.
Short-term volatility continues to be elevated. Sharp price movements in early January led to mass liquidations of margined positions on cryptocurrency exchanges. According to Coinglass, over the 24 hours leading up to the morning of January 8, positions totaling more than $460 million were liquidated; around $415 million of this sum was from long positions betting on market growth. As a result of the rapid price drop, over 127,000 traders had their positions forcibly closed. Such 'squeezes' of overly optimistic longs exacerbate Bitcoin's price decline, but similar episodes highlight risks for players using high leverage. Over the years, the crypto market has experienced similar surges in volatility – for instance, on October 10, 2025, an unexpected macroeconomic shock led to a record liquidation of positions totaling around $19 billion in a single day. This case demonstrated that market participants should be prepared for sudden price spikes and dips, especially when trading on margin.
Forecasts and Expectations
Views among market participants regarding the prospects for 2026 are divided. Some analysts believe that after the explosive growth of the previous year, the market may continue to cool down. They point to historical cyclicality: in the past, after a year of hitting new highs (as in 2025), a period of decline often followed. Risks from external factors also support this scenario – for example, some experts warn that a possible burst ‘bubble’ around AI hype or other macroeconomic shocks could trigger a new drop in cryptocurrency prices in the first half of 2026. Moreover, a significant portion of long-term holders of BTC and ETH is still in profit after the rally, and ongoing profit-taking could create downward pressure on the market. Analysts at CryptoQuant note that the departure of short-term speculators and 'weak hands' during the autumn sell-off has largely cleared the path for more stable dynamics, but they do not rule out the possibility of another correction phase.
Conversely, another group of experts holds a more optimistic view. Thanks to unprecedented institutional involvement and the integration of cryptocurrencies into the global economy, the traditional four-year cycles may soften – it is expected that even if a bearish trend continues, it will be less prolonged and deep than previous 'crypto winters'. They forecast that after the current phase of consolidation, the market may return to growth by the second half of 2026, particularly if the external macroeconomic environment becomes more favorable (slowing inflation, interest rate reductions, etc.). Certain scenarios suggest a wave-like development: for example, notable dips may occur in the summer (June–July), followed by a new upswing towards the end of the year. Some months, according to strategists, could be particularly successful for cryptocurrencies – specifically, April and the period from October to December 2026 are viewed as potentially strong segments during which the market could recover its losses.
Overall, the consensus suggests that the fundamental drivers of industry growth have not disappeared. Cryptocurrencies continue to expand their use cases, and blockchain technologies are being implemented in finance, supply chains, and other sectors, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. This is positively viewed for the market in the long term. Thus, even in the event of further corrections, many investors are interpreting them as opportunities to accumulate assets at lower prices. With sustained institutional interest and the absence of new shocks, most analysts expect that the total cryptocurrency market capitalization will gradually resume growth in the second half of the year, potentially reaching new highs compared to 2025 within 12 to 18 months. In terms of long-term targets, major financial companies continue to issue bullish forecasts. A number of Wall Street banks maintain price targets for Bitcoin significantly above current levels – as high as $150–200K in the coming years – based on the limited supply of BTC and growing demand. Ultimately, whether these predictions prove to be accurate will depend on the timeline and further developments in the global economy.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
As of January 11, 2026, the following digital assets are among the top ten cryptocurrencies by market capitalization:
- Bitcoin (BTC) – the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $91,000 after recent volatility, with a market cap of about $1.8 trillion (≈58% of the entire market).
- Ethereum (ETH) – the leading altcoin and smart contract platform. ETH is holding around $3,200, significantly below historical highs, with a market cap of about $380 billion (≈12% of the market).
- Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the US dollar. USDT is widely used for trading and payments, with a market cap of around $170 billion; the coin consistently maintains a price of $1.00 backed by reserves.
- Ripple (XRP) – the payment network token for cross-border settlements. XRP is currently trading around $2.00, with a market cap of approximately $110 billion. Legal clarity regarding XRP's status in the US (after the court ruling in 2025) and the launch of ETFs based on this token have bolstered investor confidence, allowing XRP to reclaim its place among market leaders.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and the native token of the BNB Chain network. BNB is valued at approximately $500 (market cap around $80 billion). Despite regulatory challenges surrounding Binance, the token remains in the top 5 due to its wide usage in the exchange and DeFi segments.
- Solana (SOL) – a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications (dApps). SOL is trading around $150 per coin (market cap ~$60 billion), having recovered a significant portion of its fall from autumn 2025. Interest in Solana has been boosted by the launch of the first ETF based on this asset and the growth of its project ecosystem.
- USD Coin (USDC) – the second-largest stablecoin backed by US dollar reserves (issued by Circle). USDC maintains a price level of $1.00, with a market cap of around $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 emphasizing a scientific approach to development. ADA is currently priced at about $0.70 (market cap ~$23 billion) following a correction from local highs. Cardano has attracted attention with plans to launch an ETF linked to this token and an active community believing 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 maintains its presence in the top 10, partly due to the extensive use of its network 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 hovering around $0.14 (market cap ~$21 billion), supported by community loyalty and occasional celebrity attention. Dogecoin's volatility remains high, but it still ranks among the top ten coins, demonstrating remarkable investor interest resilience.
