Current Cryptocurrency News as of January 27, 2026: Bitcoin Remains Under Pressure Ahead of the First FOMC Meeting of the Year, Gold Reaches Record High of $5,100 per Ounce, Institutional Investors Shift Focus to Altcoins, Top 10 Popular Cryptocurrencies
As of the morning of January 27, 2026, the cryptocurrency market continues to feel the pressure: Bitcoin has failed to hold the psychological level of $90,000, setting a negative tone for most digital assets. Investors are reducing their risk positions ahead of the first Federal Reserve (FOMC) meeting of the year, against the backdrop of a global decline in risk appetite.
External macroeconomic factors are amplifying uncertainty. An increase in hawkish rhetoric from Fed leadership and escalating risks of a U.S. government shutdown are driving capital into safe-haven assets. Gold prices have soared to a record $5,100 per ounce, highlighting the shift of funds into traditional "safe havens." Meanwhile, Bitcoin, which some investors positioned as "digital gold," has yet to fulfill its role as a safe-haven asset, correlating instead with corrections in the stock market.
Bitcoin Under Pressure Ahead of Fed Decision
In recent days, Bitcoin (BTC) has continued its decline. Late on January 26, its price fell to approximately $87,500, nearly 30% below its all-time high of around $125,000 reached in August 2025. The leading cryptocurrency has lost the $90,000 mark, reflecting a general decrease in risk appetite across global markets.
Macroeconomic risks remain a key factor for BTC. Amid a mass exodus of investors to safe assets (with gold reaching historical peaks), Bitcoin is currently trading in unison with stock indices, behaving more like a risky asset than "digital gold." In low liquidity weekend trading, BTC briefly fell into the $80,000–$90,000 range, but recovered to around $87,000 at the start of the week, still under pressure.
Ethereum Also Under Pressure
The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Ethereum (ETH), reflects the overall market correction. The price of ETH has dropped below $3,000, declining about 5% over the past week. The current price (~$2,900) remains significantly lower than Ethereum's all-time high of $4,890 reached in 2021; however, the network continues to play a key role in the industry with smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), and stablecoin issuance.
Institutional interest in Ethereum, which surged after the launch of the first spot ETFs for this altcoin in 2025, has cooled somewhat. Early in January, ETH-based funds experienced capital outflows amidst a general retreat from risk assets by investors. Nevertheless, Ethereum retains approximately 12% of the total market capitalization, firmly maintaining its position behind Bitcoin.
Altcoins Show Mixed Dynamics
The broader market for alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) displays heterogeneous dynamics against the backdrop of the flagship declines. Many large altcoins from the top 10 have seen moderate price drops in the past 24 hours following Bitcoin, while some assets have held up better than others. The total market capitalization of altcoins (excluding BTC) is estimated at around $1.2 trillion, representing a significant portion of the market outside of Bitcoin.
Several altcoins continue to attract heightened attention due to fundamental factors. The Ripple (XRP) token is trading near a multi-year high of ~$2 following a January spike, supported by positive news regarding its legal status and demand from funds. Binance Coin (BNB) is holding steady around $600, remaining in the top five despite legal risks surrounding the exchange of the same name. The Solana (SOL) blockchain token, which previously surged above $150 on the wave of ETF approvals, has corrected to around $130, significantly above last year's levels. The Cardano (ADA) cryptocurrency had appreciated to $1 by the end of 2025 in anticipation of its own ETF launch; currently, ADA is trading slightly above $1, benefiting from developer community support.
Institutional Investors Shift Focus to Altcoins
Major investors have noticeably adjusted their strategies in the cryptocurrency market this year. Following a strong influx of capital into crypto funds in the first weeks of January 2026 (totaling over $1.2 billion), a wave of capital outflows ensued. Investments in Bitcoin funds have been particularly curtailed: over the past two weeks, more than $1 billion has flowed out of U.S. spot BTC ETFs (around $394 million just last Friday), indicating increased caution among "smart money." Outflows also impacted Ethereum funds; according to CoinShares, around $350 million left ETH ETFs during the first weeks of the month.
Simultaneously, the influx of investments is shifting towards specific altcoins. Exchange-traded funds for XRP had amassed around $1.3 billion under management by mid-January — the second-fastest milestone after Bitcoin ETFs. Solana is also attracting institutional interest: spot ETFs on Solana launched in late 2025 have already collectively surpassed $1 billion in assets. Notably, leading Wall Street bank Morgan Stanley filed an application with the SEC at the beginning of 2026 to register several crypto ETFs (for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana), while Bank of America simultaneously allowed its clients direct investments in digital assets — these steps confirm the rising institutional demand for cryptocurrencies beyond traditional BTC and ETH.
Market Sentiment and Volatility
Investor sentiment indicators have sharply deteriorated. The "Fear and Greed" index for cryptocurrencies has fallen to around 25 out of 100, indicating a state of "fear." This is one of the lowest values in recent months, in stark contrast to the "greed" phase observed in the fall. A negative news backdrop and falling prices have significantly heightened caution among players, many of whom are reducing their risk positions.
Market volatility remains elevated. Sharp movements in Bitcoin's quotes in recent days have been accompanied by mass liquidations of margin positions. According to Coinglass, approximately $230 million in positions were forcibly closed in just the past 24 hours, the majority of which were long positions in BTC and ETH. Experts note that the low liquidity in weekend trading amplified the "domino" effect during the downturn: triggering of stop orders and margin calls led to a chain reaction of sales. Analysts advise investors to exercise caution: historically, extreme fear periods in the market have often preceded reversals and recovery phases, but there are no guarantees of a quick rebound under current conditions.
Forecasts and Expectations
Experts are divided in their opinions regarding the future dynamics of the market. Some analysts maintain a bullish outlook, viewing the current decline as a correction within an ongoing upward trend. For instance, several investment banks at the start of the year had predicted Bitcoin's rise to new highs within the next 12–18 months, although these forecasts were adjusted in light of recent volatility (Standard Chartered revised its BTC year-end forecast from $300,000 to $150,000). Proponents of an optimistic scenario point to the ongoing institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies and potential easing of monetary policy in the second half of 2026 — these factors could restore capital inflows into the market.
At the same time, cautious and bearish forecasts are gaining traction. Technical analysts warn that if support around $85,000 is breached, Bitcoin could retest last year's lows (approximately $74,000). Some pessimists suggest a deeper decline down to $50,000 if macroeconomic conditions worsen. The upcoming days will be critical for the cryptocurrency market: the outcomes of the FOMC meeting and financial reports from leading tech companies expected this week are likely to set the tone for risk assets. If regulators soften their rhetoric or corporations exceed forecasts, digital assets could gain momentum for recovery. Conversely, consolidation and heightened volatility may persist until signs of an improving macroeconomic landscape emerge.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $88,000, about 30% below its all-time high; market capitalization of approximately $1.8 trillion (≈60% of the total market).
- Ethereum (ETH) — leading altcoin and smart contract platform. ETH price is around $2,900, significantly below record levels; market capitalization around $350 billion (~12% of the market). Ethereum remains the base for DeFi and NFT issuance, confidently holding the second position.
- Ripple (XRP) — token of the Ripple payment network for cross-border transactions. XRP is trading around $2.00; market capitalization ~ $120 billion. Regulatory clarity regarding XRP's status in the U.S. and increasing institutional interest have propelled the token back into the top three market leaders.
- Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar 1:1. USDT is widely used for trading and transactions, with a market capitalization of approximately $150 billion; the coin maintains a stable price of $1.00 (≈₽81.50).
- Binance Coin (BNB) — coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and native token of the BNB Chain ecosystem. BNB is valued around $600; market capitalization ~ $85 billion. Despite legal pressure on Binance, the token remains in the top five due to its wide applicability in trading and DeFi.
- Solana (SOL) — high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications. SOL is trading around $130 (market capitalization ~ $52 billion), recovering a significant portion of last year's decline. Interest in Solana is bolstered by ETF launches and the growth of the project ecosystem.
- USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin backed by reserves in U.S. dollars (issuer — Circle). USDC price is maintained at $1.00, market capitalization ~ $60 billion. USDC is widely used by institutional investors and in DeFi due to its transparent reserves and reliability.
- Cardano (ADA) — blockchain platform with a scientific approach to network development. ADA is priced around $1.05 (market capitalization ~ $35 billion) following a rise in anticipation of ETF launch. Cardano is attracting attention with its upgrade plans and an active community believing in the project's long-term potential.
- TRON (TRX) — a platform for smart contracts and multimedia dApps, popular in Asia. TRX is trading around $0.30; market value ~ $30 billion. TRON maintains its top 10 position partly due to widespread use of the network for stablecoin issuance (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 $0.18 (market capitalization ~ $27 billion), supported by a loyal community and occasional attention from celebrities. Despite high volatility, Dogecoin remains among the top ten coins, demonstrating an astonishing resilience of investor interest.
The Cryptocurrency Market as of the Morning of January 27, 2026
Major Cryptocurrency Prices:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $87,680
- Ethereum (ETH): $2,920
- XRP (XRP): $1.92
- BNB (BNB): $610
- Solana (SOL): $130
- Tether (USDT): $1.00 (≈₽81.50)
Market Metrics:
- Cryptocurrency market capitalization: $3.0 trillion
- Bitcoin's market share: 58.3%
- Fear and Greed Index: 25 (fear)
Leaders in Change Over the Past Day:
- Growth: Chainlink (LINK) — +4%
- Decline: Shiba Inu (SHIB) — -8%
Analysis: Bitcoin and Ethereum remain under pressure near current levels, while the sentiment index has fallen to extremely low levels, reflecting a sharp increase in market caution. The leader in growth, LINK, indicates selective interest from investors in projects with solid fundamental value, while the decline of SHIB can be attributed to capital outflows from highly speculative assets amid a waning risk appetite.
