Global Cryptocurrency Market January 12, 2026 - Bitcoin at $92,000, Ethereum and Top 10 Cryptocurrencies, Institutional Investments

Latest Cryptocurrency News for Monday, January 12, 2026: Bitcoin Holds Steady Around $92,000, Ethereum and Major Altcoins Rise Amid Expectations of U.S. Inflation Data, Institutional Interest Persists, Top 10 Popular Cryptocurrencies.

Market Overview

• The total market capitalization of the cryptocurrency market is estimated at approximately $3.2 trillion, remaining close to weekend levels. Over the past 24 hours, the overall market volume has changed slightly, reflecting a consolidation phase following recent fluctuations.
• Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around the $92,000 mark, slightly above the psychologically significant level of $90,000. The market capitalization of BTC is approximately $1.8 trillion, sustaining a dominance of around 58% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization.
• Ethereum (ETH) hovers around $3,200–$3,300, displaying moderate growth in line with Bitcoin. The market cap of ETH exceeds $380 billion (about 12% of the market), reaffirming its status as the second most important cryptocurrency.
• Most major altcoins show slight price increases within the range of 1–3%. Coins like Solana, XRP, Cardano, and others in the top-10 are trading close to the levels of the previous day, signaling ongoing market stabilization after a volatile start to the year.

Bitcoin: Consolidation and Growth Boundaries

Bitcoin enters the new week continuing to consolidate around the $90,000–$92,000 mark. Following a volatile start to the year, the first cryptocurrency is attempting to secure a position above $90,000: on January 5, BTC briefly surged to around $94,800 (a local maximum in recent months), followed by a correction where the price fell below $90,000 on January 8. Currently, Bitcoin has regained much of its decline and returned to around $92,000, approximately 3–4% higher than the beginning of the year. The current quotations remain around 25% below the historical maximum (~$124,000, reached in August 2025), yet investors are noting the resilience of BTC at these heights.

Analysts point out that the $90,000–$95,000 range has become a new psychological resistance zone for Bitcoin: sellers are actively taking profits upon attempts to rise above these levels, while buyers are supporting the price during pullbacks. Macroeconomic uncertainty (including upcoming inflation data) is dampening sharp movements, but fundamental factors remain positive. Bitcoin continues to be perceived by many as "digital gold" and a safe-haven asset. Recent geopolitical events have increased interest in BTC as a safe harbor: amid international tensions, investors have sought refuge in Bitcoin, and rumors regarding substantial reserves of BTC held by certain states (and the possibility of their removal from circulation) have added bullish expectations to the market.

Ethereum Maintains Its Second Position

Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, is moving in line with overall market dynamics. As of January 12, Ethereum is trading around $3,250 per coin, showing slight strengthening in recent days. In early January, ETH reached approximately $3,300, marking a high since the fall of last year. Over the week, Ethereum has gained around 5–6%, confidently holding its position as the largest altcoin. Although the current price is significantly lower than the historical record (~$4,900 in November 2021), Ethereum demonstrates stability and attracts investors with its technological potential.

The market capitalization of Ethereum currently stands around $380 billion (approximately 12% of the total market cap), once again securing its second position in the industry. Interest in the smart contract platform remains high: the launch of the first spot ETFs on Ethereum in 2025 opened convenient access for institutional investors to ETH, ensuring a record influx of capital into related funds. Major players view Ethereum as foundational infrastructure for decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and other Web3 applications. Ongoing technical development of the network (protocol upgrades, layer two scaling solutions) combined with institutional support provides grounds for expecting strong positions to be maintained by Ethereum and potential growth of its value in the medium term.

Altcoins: Mixed Dynamics

The altcoin market at the beginning of the week shows mixed dynamics. The total market capitalization of all alternative cryptocurrencies (excluding Bitcoin) remains around ~$1.35 trillion, down from peak values last summer (~$1.7 trillion), but still reflects ongoing interest from investors in digital assets outside of Bitcoin. Many leading altcoins that experienced rapid growth in the first half of 2025 went through a correction in the fall and are now trying to find new equilibrium.

Among the largest altcoins, Ripple (XRP) stands out. The token of the Ripple payment network is holding above $2.00, strengthening its position thanks to legal clarity surrounding its status (Ripple's court victory over the SEC in 2025) and the launch of the first ETFs on XRP. The market capitalization of XRP is estimated at around $110 billion, once again placing it among the top three market leaders. Interest from institutional investors in XRP has significantly increased since opportunities to invest in this asset through ETFs emerged, reinforcing a long-term positive outlook for it.

Another notable player is Binance Coin (BNB), the native token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance. Despite regulatory challenges surrounding Binance last year, BNB is trading around $500 (market cap approximately $80 billion) and remains in the top five cryptocurrencies. The current price is below the historical maximum (~$750), but the coin demonstrates resilience due to its wide range of applications: BNB is actively used for paying fees on the exchange as well as in projects on the BNB Chain blockchain (in DeFi, gaming applications, etc.). This enables the token to maintain demand even in a regulatory pressure environment.

Platform tokens are also showing high activity. Solana (SOL) surpassed the $150 mark again in early January for the first time since 2022. News about the launch of the first spot ETF on Solana in the U.S. at the end of 2025 provided momentum for the rise of this cryptocurrency, stimulating investment inflow. Solana's market cap reached ~$60 billion, and the revival of the ecosystem of projects based on Solana (DeFi applications, NFT marketplaces, etc.) supports optimism among investors regarding its prospects.

Cardano (ADA), another major platform, is attracting attention from analysts over plans to launch an ETF based on it. At the end of last year, investment firm Grayscale submitted an application in the U.S. to create an ETF related to ADA, which triggered a surge of interest in the token. Currently, Cardano is trading around $0.70 (market cap approximately $23 billion) after a correction from local highs. Although the key psychological barrier of $1.00 has not yet been breached, ADA remains one of the most promising platforms in terms of technological development, thanks to the research-oriented approach of its team and an active community of supporters.

Notably, the segment of so-called meme cryptocurrencies has seen a surge in demand for high-risk "meme coins" among retail traders in the first week of January. For instance, Dogecoin and Shiba Inu rose by 15–20% over the past seven days, lifting the total market capitalization of niche meme tokens above $45 billion. This phenomenon indicates a sustained appetite for risk in certain corners of the market, even amid an overall cautious sentiment. However, such rallies in low-liquidity assets typically have a short-term character: by the end of the weekend, the rise of meme coins began to slow down. Experts warn that such volatile assets can just as quickly retract, advising caution in participation.

Institutional Investments and ETF Launches

• High Institutional Engagement: Major financial organizations continue to actively participate in the crypto market. In 2025, U.S. regulators approved the first spot ETFs on Bitcoin and Ethereum, opening doors for investments from banks, hedge funds, and even pension funds. As of early 2026, institutional investors collectively own record amounts of crypto assets, viewing them as a promising class for portfolio diversification.
• New ETFs and Applications: In late 2025, exchange-traded funds emerged for certain altcoins – primarily XRP and Solana – marking a significant milestone for the market. In early 2026, the lineup of crypto ETFs continues to expand: financial giant Morgan Stanley has officially filed for the launch of spot funds on Bitcoin and Solana. This marks the first instance of a major Wall Street bank directly initiating a crypto fund launch, seen as a signal of growing trust in digital assets.
• Inflow and Outflow of Capital: Following the launch of new ETFs on Bitcoin and Ethereum at the beginning of the year, funds attracted billions of dollars within the first days of trading. However, amid price corrections in recent days, a short-term outflow of funds was observed: during the period of January 7-8, approximately $0.5 billion was withdrawn from U.S. Bitcoin funds, and about $0.16 billion from Ethereum funds. Experts believe that these outflows are related to profit-taking after the rally at the end of 2025 and do not reflect a loss of trust. Overall inflow over recent weeks still exceeds outflows, and major players are not strategically reducing their positions.
• Traditional Companies Embrace Crypto: Beyond financial institutions, cryptocurrencies are increasingly being integrated into the corporate sector. For example, one of the largest U.S. banks, Bank of America, began advising its clients in January to include Bitcoin up to 4% in investment portfolios, acknowledging its significance as an asset. Notably, retail giant Walmart announced the start of accepting cryptocurrency payments (BTC and ETH) through its OnePay Cash app. This move theoretically offers over 150 million Walmart customers the opportunity to pay with digital currencies for goods and services, marking an important step in mainstream cryptocurrency adoption.

Regulation and Global Trends

• Softening Positions in Major Economies: Worldwide, efforts continue to establish unified rules for operating with cryptocurrencies. In the U.S., following legal precedents established in 2025 (such as the Ripple vs. SEC case), calls for clear legislation in the digital asset space have intensified. Lawmakers and regulators are developing new norms that would enable legal investment in crypto assets without fear of status uncertainty. A discussion of a federal law on stablecoins and digital assets is anticipated in Congress in 2026, potentially laying the groundwork for further industry growth.
• Europe Implements MiCA Rules: The European Union is implementing the MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulatory framework aimed at standardizing approaches to cryptocurrencies across EU member states. This enhances market transparency and requirements for crypto companies while simultaneously providing institutional investors with greater confidence. Unified rules in Europe are expected to attract new crypto startups and investments to the region as legal clarity becomes a competitive advantage.
• Asian Markets Opening Up: In Asia, there is active movement towards the crypto industry. South Korean authorities have declared their intent to allow trading of spot Bitcoin ETFs on national exchanges in 2026 while tightening requirements on stablecoins (mandating a 100% reserve backing for issued stablecoins with real assets). Financial hubs in the region, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, are implementing licensing for crypto exchanges and services, aiming to become hubs for global crypto investments. These steps indicate a trend where, despite differing approaches, major economies are increasingly integrating cryptocurrencies into their financial-legal systems.

Market Sentiments and Volatility

Following an explosive growth and subsequent decline in the second half of 2025, sentiments in the cryptocurrency market remain cautious. The "fear and greed" index for cryptocurrencies has remained in the fear zone since mid-December: as of January 8, it stood at 28 points out of 100, reflecting prevailing investor apprehensions. A prolonged period of low index values is often seen as a sign of market oversold conditions—historically, similar levels have often preceded upward reversals, as the most nervous participants have exited positions. Nevertheless, the ongoing fear indicates that confidence following the recent crash has yet to fully recover.

Volatility in the market remains elevated. Sharp price movements in early January triggered a wave of liquidations of margin positions. On January 8, over $450 million worth of positions were liquidated in a single day, with most of this amount coming from long positions oriented towards growth. The sudden price drop compelled around 120,000 traders to close trades at a loss. This episode serves as a reminder of the risks for players using high leverage: overly optimistic bets on growth can lead to “compression” of long positions and exacerbation of price declines. The history of the crypto market has seen similar instances (for example, in October 2025, one-day liquidations reached a record $19 billion), highlighting the need for caution.

Experts advise investors to remain patient and carefully manage risk. Until new fundamental drivers for growth (such as an improving macroeconomic situation or revolutionary technological breakthroughs) emerge, any bursts of optimism could quickly be followed by profit-taking. The mixed sentiments—from cautious fear overall to localized bursts of excitement around individual tokens—signal a transitional phase in the market. Many analysts believe that the current consolidation may continue in the coming weeks. However, long-term investors remain optimistic: the fundamental development factors of the industry (increasing adoption of blockchain technology, institutional interest, improved regulation) have not disappeared. In the absence of new shocks, the market is capable of gradually regaining its upward momentum in the second half of 2026. In any case, market participants are advised to closely monitor economic data and news as they will determine the trajectory of the cryptocurrency market in the near future.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

1. Bitcoin (BTC) — The first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $92,000 following recent fluctuations, with a market capitalization of approximately $1.8 trillion (≈58% of the total market). Investors perceive Bitcoin as "digital gold" and a foundational asset for many investment strategies in the crypto industry.
2. Ethereum (ETH) — The leading altcoin and smart contract platform. The ETH price remains around $3,300, significantly below historical highs, yet Ethereum confidently holds the second spot by market capitalization (~$390 billion, ≈12% of the market). Ethereum serves as the backbone for the DeFi and NFT ecosystems, continuing to attract developers and investors.
3. Tether (USDT) — The largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 ratio. USDT is widely used by traders for transactions and capital storage between trades. Its market cap is approximately $170 billion; due to full reserve backing, the coin consistently holds the price of $1.00, acting as a sort of "safe haven" in a volatile market.
4. Ripple (XRP) — The token of the Ripple payment network for cross-border transactions. XRP is currently trading around $2.00, with a market capitalization of about $110 billion. Legal clarity around XRP's status in the U.S. following the 2025 court ruling and the launch of ETFs on this token have bolstered investor confidence. XRP has regained its position among market leaders, remaining attractive for payments and asset tokenization.
5. Binance Coin (BNB) — The coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, and the native token of the BNB Chain. The price of BNB is around $500 (market cap ~ $80 billion). Despite regulatory challenges surrounding Binance, the token remains in the top five due to its wide range of applications: BNB is used for paying exchange fees, participating in token sales, and operating decentralized applications within the Binance ecosystem.
6. Solana (SOL) — A high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications (dApps). SOL trades around $150 per coin (market cap ~ $60 billion), recovering significant ground from the fall of 2025. Interest in Solana is supported by the launch of the first ETF on this asset and the development of projects built on its platform, restoring its position as one of the technological leaders.
7. USD Coin (USDC) — The second-largest stablecoin backed by reserves in U.S. dollars (issued by Circle). USDC consistently maintains a $1.00 price due to regular audits of reserves, with a market capitalization of approximately $60 billion. The coin is actively used by institutional investors and in DeFi protocols, offering transparency and trust in the stablecoin segment.
8. Cardano (ADA) — A blockchain platform with a research-oriented approach to development. ADA is currently worth around $0.70 (market cap ~ $23 billion) after a correction from recent highs. Cardano attracts attention with planned ETF launches based on its token and ongoing network development. The project's community believes in long-term growth, and its focus on scientific grounding in decision-making distinguishes ADA among competitors.
9. TRON (TRX) — A platform for smart contracts and decentralized entertainment, particularly popular in Asia. TRX is trading around $0.25 (market cap ~ $22 billion). TRON maintains its presence in the top 10 partly due to the widespread use of its network for stablecoin issuance (a significant portion of USDT is traded on the Tron blockchain) and its active Asian user base.
10. Dogecoin (DOGE) — The most famous "meme cryptocurrency," created as a joke. DOGE is holding around $0.14 (market cap ~ $21 billion), supported by an active community and periodic celebrity attention. Although Dogecoin's volatility remains high, this coin continues to be among the top ten, demonstrating remarkable resilience in investor interest towards high-risk assets.