Cryptocurrency News, Thursday, January 15, 2026: Bitcoin Hits Two-Month High, Chainlink ETF Launches on NYSE
As trading opens on January 15, the cryptocurrency market shows optimism: total capitalization has surpassed $3.23 trillion, marking a growth of over 3% in the past day. Below are the key market indicators:
- Bitcoin fluctuated in the range of $91,800–$96,500, nearing a two-month high of approximately $96,000.
- Ethereum is trading around $3,330 (+6.0% in 24 hours), Ripple (XRP) at about $2.15 (+3.7%), Dogecoin at ~$0.148 (+6.0%), Cardano at ~$0.421 (+6.6%).
- Binance Coin (BNB) is priced around $937 (+3.0%), Solana at approximately $145 (+2.1%), while other leading altcoins also experience growth amid overall bullish sentiment.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin continues its recovery following December's correction. On Wednesday, BTC reached $96,348 on Asian markets, the highest since mid-November, maintaining steady growth in January. As of the morning of January 15, BTC is valued at around $95,000, approximately 5% above the year's starting level. Despite still being about 27% lower than its all-time high of $126,000 (October 2025), experts remain optimistic. They estimate that depending on macroeconomic dynamics, the potential price range by the end of 2026 could be between $75,000–100,000 and $200,000–250,000 per coin. Geopolitical instability and low interest rates enhance Bitcoin's appeal as "digital gold" – a hedge against uncertainty in the global economy.
Altcoins and Other Assets
The wave of recovery has also affected most altcoins. Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has risen to ~$3,300 (up ~6% in the past day) and aims to overcome key technical resistance levels. Other top coins are also trading above yesterday's values: XRP at approximately $2.15 (+3.7%), Dogecoin at ~$0.15 (+6%), Binance Coin at ~$937 (+3%), Solana at ~$145 (+2.1%), and Cardano at ~$0.42 (+6.6%). A noticeable increase in activity is observed in the market for privacy coins: Monero (XMR) has reached a historical high, exceeding $680 per coin amid growing interest in transaction anonymity. Analysts note that the theme of privacy is coming to the forefront in the crypto industry.
Institutional Trends
Institutional players and large funds are actively increasing their positions in cryptocurrencies. According to analysts, corporate hedge funds and public companies have purchased an additional 260,000 BTC over the past six months – nearly three times the amount mined during the same period. The largest holder of corporate Bitcoin reserves remains MicroStrategy (approximately 687,000 BTC, accounting for over 60% of all corporate holdings) – early January marked a record purchase of 13,627 BTC in one week. In addition to Bitcoin buyers, interest in crypto ETFs remains strong: in 2025, more than $22 billion in net inflows entered spot Bitcoin ETFs, supporting demand for this asset. For the first time, the range of such products is expanding – on January 15, 2026, the world's first cryptocurrency spot ETF on Chainlink (ticker CLNK) will begin trading on the NYSE Arca, enabling investors to gain direct exposure to LINK without the need for self-custody of tokens.
Regulation and Legislation
Active discussions are ongoing in various countries regarding the legal status of cryptocurrencies. In Russia, the State Duma is preparing a bill that will remove digital assets from "special regulation" and equate them with standard financial instruments. The initiative allows non-qualified investors to purchase cryptocurrency worth up to 300,000 rubles per month, with crypto officially recognized as a means of payment. This law is expected to be one of the main issues during the spring parliamentary session. In the U.S., the Senate has paused hearings on cryptocurrency regulation legislation, indicating the need for further discussion on regulatory measures. Meanwhile, several countries, including some European and Asian jurisdictions, are considering easing regulations for cryptocurrency platforms and investors, which generally creates a positive outlook for the market.
Top 10 Popular Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC) – the first and most well-known cryptocurrency. Bitcoin has the largest market capitalization and is viewed by investors as "digital gold," serving as a hedge against inflation.
- Ethereum (ETH) – the second largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and the leading platform for smart contracts and DeFi applications. Ethereum facilitates the operation of thousands of decentralized protocols and continues to attract investors focused on industry growth.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the native token of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. BNB is used for paying fees on the platform as well as participating in projects on the Binance Smart Chain blockchain, making it a popular tool within the Binance ecosystem.
- Ripple (XRP) – the token of the Ripple payment network designed for fast international transfers. XRP is characterized by high transaction speeds and is supported by financial institutions, despite current legal disputes with regulators.
- Solana (SOL) – a high throughput blockchain known for low fees and fast confirmation of transactions. SOL is widely used in NFT projects and gaming applications because of the network's performance.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – a meme cryptocurrency originally created as a joke project but has gained widespread popularity. DOGE is often used for micropayments and donations and attracts attention due to support from well-known entrepreneurs and a growing community.
- Cardano (ADA) – a next-generation blockchain with a Proof-of-Stake consensus, based on scientific research. ADA is designed for scalable and energy-efficient applications, and its development is supported by a reliable team of developers.
- Polkadot (DOT) – a multi-chain protocol that enables different blockchains to interact with each other. DOT facilitates data and asset exchange between networks, expanding the possibilities of decentralized finance and cross-chain applications.
- Avalanche (AVAX) – a blockchain platform with high speed and customizable architecture. AVAX is actively used in DeFi projects and offers the possibility to create custom subnets, allowing the network to be tailored to various business cases.
- Chainlink (LINK) – a decentralized oracle network that transmits external data to blockchains. LINK enables smart contracts to obtain information about asset prices and real-world events. In early 2026, the first spot ETF based on LINK will launch, further increasing investor interest in this coin.
In conclusion, it can be noted that optimism prevails among investors in the global cryptocurrency market. Key drivers include institutional investments (bank funds and corporate reserves), the launch of new financial products (altcoin ETFs), and macroeconomic factors. At the same time, regulatory initiatives in many countries create conditions for a broader adoption of cryptocurrencies in the economy. However, investors should be prepared for volatility: decisions by the Federal Reserve regarding interest rates, news about global inflation, and other unforeseen events may trigger short-term market fluctuations. Key levels to watch are the $100,000 mark for Bitcoin and the $4,000–5,000 range for Ethereum. Breaking these levels, analysts believe, could pave the way for the next rally in the crypto space. In the current environment, maintaining a diversified portfolio and accounting for long-term fundamental factors remain important strategies for investors.
