Cryptocurrency News for Saturday, January 10, 2026: Bitcoin Stabilizes at $90,000, Growing Interest in XRP and Altcoins, Institutional ETFs, Global Trends and Investor Expectations.
The global cryptocurrency market starts the year in a "bullish" consolidation mode: the total capitalization hovers around $3.1 trillion, while major indicators show mixed dynamics. Bitcoin remains steady at about $90,000, having slightly retreated from recent highs near $92,000. Meanwhile, significant ETF investments in altcoins and new regulatory news are shaping an interesting landscape for investors.
Market Overview
- The total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies 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 priced around $90,000, down approximately 2% in the last 24 hours following a brief test at $92,000. Analysts note that Bitcoin remains at the psychological threshold of $90,000, with no clear signals for breaking either upper or lower extremes.
- Ethereum is holding steady at about $3,100 (a decrease 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.
- Other major altcoins are mostly declining: XRP is around $2.10 (-6–7%), Cardano is about $0.39 (-5.5%), Dogecoin is at approximately $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 future, as well as anticipating the upcoming U.S. employment data for December (Nonfarm Payrolls on January 10).
Bitcoin
The leading cryptocurrency continues to trade at record levels. Despite a recent decline, Bitcoin has marked historical highs above $90,000, driven by positive investor sentiment and inflows of institutional capital. The current trading appears consolidated, as many traders are taking profits at local peaks while assessing new macroeconomic signals.
The policies of the Federal Reserve remain an important driver: the U.S. Treasury Department has openly called for quicker rate cuts to support economic growth, which may increase interest in high-risk assets, including Bitcoin. However, it is anticipated that at the January 31 meeting, the Fed is likely to keep rates unchanged, which may limit short-term market movements.
- Significant outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have been observed in early January. This may indicate profit-taking by institutional investors following the December rally.
- Investors continue to monitor the dynamics of key support/resistance levels ($90–95k). A crucial goal remains maintaining positions above $88–90k to restore a mid-term upward trend.
Ethereum and Other Altcoins
Ethereum (ETH) remains in second place by market capitalization, trading at around $3,100, under slight selling pressure. The Ethereum network operates steadily, and in the long term, investors consider the development of the DeFi ecosystem and the implementation of new technical improvements. However, in the short term, ETH quotes correlate with the overall risk sentiment in the market.
Among other altcoins, projects such as Solana and Cardano also retreated amid the general consolidation. Solana is trading around $135, while Cardano is approximately $0.39. Concurrently, a rise in Bitcoin mining difficulty (-1.2%) and high electricity costs have led to expectations of reduced mining rewards, which stifles activity in the Proof-of-Work coin market.
XRP and an Unexpected Growth Leader
The cryptocurrency XRP (Ripple) has taken center stage. Following a resolution to the long-standing conflict between Ripple and 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 over 8%, allowing it to temporarily surpass Binance Coin in market capitalization and secure the fourth spot among the largest coins.
This situation is bolstered by institutional capital inflows: approximately one billion dollars have been raised for the new XRP ETFs (Grayscale, Bitwise, etc.), effectively removing these assets from circulation and creating a scarcity effect. Exchange data indicates that the activity of XRP "whales" has reached a three-month high, suggesting potential increased volatility in the currency's price.
Additional interest in XRP is fueled by Ripple's new partnerships. In particular, collaborations with players such as Mastercard and Gemini allow for expanded use 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, which increases the asset's centralization, and high volatility necessitates caution from investors.
Institutional Investments and ETFs
- Morgan Stanley has submitted an official application to launch spot ETFs for Bitcoin and Solana – marking the first instance of such significant participation from a major U.S. bank in the crypto market.
- Just months after the approval of Bitcoin ETFs, BlackRock's portfolio in these funds has approached $100 billion, becoming one of the company's key revenue streams.
- Bank of America has allowed its financial advisors to recommend crypto assets to clients, recognizing the further growth of institutional acceptance of digital currencies.
These events indicate that Wall Street is actively engaging with the crypto industry. Even the largest players in the financial market no longer regard cryptocurrencies solely as a reputational risk but as promising sources of profit and diversification.
Regulation and Legislation
- South Korea plans to allow trading of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2026 and tighten regulations for stablecoins (mandatory 100% collateralization and guaranteed buyback for users).
- USA: Last year, the GENIUS Act was passed to regulate stablecoins, and at the beginning of 2026, approval of the Crypto Clarity Act is expected, which should clarify rules for crypto businesses instead of imposing a non-judicial ban.
- Europe: The MiCA regulation has come into force, establishing 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 more favorable for the market: governments are seeking to implement rules that facilitate the integration of the crypto industry into financial systems rather than completely restricting it. Nevertheless, investors should be aware that new laws and their implementation timelines may temporarily create market uncertainty.
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, ranked second in capitalization after Bitcoin.
- Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, acting 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 fee payments on the exchange and applicable in various 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, 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) – a "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, focusing on security and scalability through research methods.
Global Economic Factors
On the global macroeconomic front, low-interest rates and a gradual decline in inflation continue to prevail, creating a favorable environment for risk assets. Investor expectations are tied to the upcoming U.S. employment report (January 10), which could influence the Fed's future monetary policy plans. 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 stocks and cryptocurrencies.
Conversely, geopolitical and economic instability remains a source of risk. Any sudden events – from unexpected spikes in oil prices to economic sanctions and political crises – could trigger increased volatility in the cryptocurrency market. It is essential for investors to stay alert to such developments and diversify their portfolios in light of potential "shocks."
Market Expectations
Despite fluctuations, many experts maintain a generally optimistic outlook for 2026. Further development of institutional products (ETFs, securities tokenization) and the adoption of technologies in the real economy are expected to stimulate demand for crypto assets. Some analysts predict a "supercycle of tokenization," during which the total supply of digital tokens and stablecoins could double, driving prices of leading coins up (with some estimates suggesting Bitcoin could reach $150,000 by year-end).
At the same time, volatility persists: technical factors, actions of large holders, and changes in monetary policy could introduce sharp corrections. Investors are advised to remain vigilant, closely monitor the upcoming economic data releases and regulatory news that will shape the trajectory of the cryptocurrency market in the coming days and months.
