Cryptocurrency News — Wednesday, January 28, 2026: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the Digital Asset Market

Current Cryptocurrency News — Wednesday, January 28, 2026: Bitcoin Struggles to Stabilize Ahead of Fed Decision, Gold Holds at Record Levels, Institutional Investors Shift Focus to Altcoins, Top 10 Cryptocurrency Overview

As of the morning of January 28, 2026, the cryptocurrency market remains in a state of caution: Bitcoin has failed to reclaim the psychological level of $90,000, instead attempting to stay at the upper end of the $80,000 range. Investors continue to reduce risk exposure in anticipation of the outcome of the first Federal Reserve (Fed) meeting of the year amid a global decline in risk appetite.

External macroeconomic factors contribute to the uncertainty. The hawkish rhetoric from Fed officials and increased risks of a U.S. government shutdown are steering capital into safe-haven assets. Gold prices are holding near record levels of about $5,100 per ounce, highlighting a shift towards traditional "safe havens." Meanwhile, Bitcoin, which was previously considered by some investors as "digital gold," has yet to fulfill its status as a safe-haven asset, moving in tandem with corrections in the stock market.

Bitcoin: Attempting to Hold Steady Ahead of the Fed Decision

In recent days, Bitcoin (BTC) has generally been consolidating below a key level. Earlier in the week, its price fell to approximately $87,000 (almost 30% lower than its historical high of ~$125,000 set in August 2025). The leading cryptocurrency has not yet returned to the $90,000 mark, reflecting a broader decrease in risk appetite across global markets.

Macroeconomic risks remain the primary driver for BTC. With a mass movement of investors towards safe assets (against a backdrop of record-high gold prices), Bitcoin is currently trading more like a risk asset rather than "digital gold." Amid low liquidity over the weekend, BTC briefly dipped to the mid-range of $80,000–$90,000, but by the beginning of the week, it had risen back to around $88,000, still under the pressure of sellers.

Ethereum: Declining Amid Market Trends

The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Ethereum (ETH), reflects the overall downward trend of the market. The price of ETH has dropped below $3,000, losing about 5% over the past week. The current price (~$2,900) remains significantly below Ethereum's historical peak (~$4,890, reached in 2021). Nevertheless, the ETH network continues to play a crucial role in the industry thanks to smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), and stablecoin issuance.

Institutional interest in Ethereum, which notably surged after the launch of the first spot ETFs for this altcoin in 2025, has somewhat cooled at the beginning of 2026. In the first weeks of January, crypto funds focused on ETH reported capital outflows amid the general retreat of investors from risk assets. Despite this, Ethereum maintains approximately 12% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization, confidently holding the second position after Bitcoin.

Altcoins: Mixed Performance

The market for alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) shows heterogeneous movement amid the decline of the flagship cryptocurrencies. Many large coins among the top 10 have seen moderate price declines following Bitcoin, but some assets are holding 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.

A number of altcoins continue to attract heightened attention due to fundamental factors. For instance, the Ripple token (XRP) is trading around a multi-year high of ~$2.00 after a recent surge in January, driven by positive news regarding its legal status and increased demand from funds. Binance Coin (BNB) is holding steady near $600, remaining in the top 5 despite legal risks surrounding the exchange, due to its wide range of use (from paying trading fees to participating in the BNB Chain DeFi ecosystem). The blockchain token Solana (SOL) previously climbed above $150 amid the approval of ETFs, and after correction, has settled around $130, significantly higher than levels seen last year. The cryptocurrency Cardano (ADA) rose to $1 by the end of 2025 in anticipation of its own ETF launch; currently, ADA trades slightly above $1, supported by an active developer community.

Institutional Investors and Capital Flow

Large investors have notably adjusted their strategies in the cryptocurrency market in the new year. Following a powerful influx of funds into crypto funds in the early weeks of January 2026 (a total of more than $1.2 billion), there was a wave of capital withdrawal. Investments in Bitcoin funds, in particular, saw a sharp decline: over the past two weeks, more than $1 billion was withdrawn from U.S. spot BTC ETFs (around $394 million just last Friday), indicating the caution of "smart money." Ethereum funds have also been affected by the outflow, with estimates from CoinShares indicating that approximately $350 million was withdrawn from ETH ETFs in the first weeks of the month.

Simultaneously, the influx of new investments is shifting towards specific altcoins. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on XRP accumulated about $1.3 billion in assets under management by mid-January—this is the second-fastest to reach such a milestone after Bitcoin ETFs. Solana is also drawing institutional interest: the spot ETFs launched in the fall of 2025 collectively surpassed $1 billion in assets. Notably, one of Wall Street's leading banks, Morgan Stanley, filed with the SEC at the beginning of 2026 to register several crypto ETFs (for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana), while Bank of America almost simultaneously permitted its clients to engage in direct investments in digital assets. These moves underscore the rising institutional demand for cryptocurrencies beyond traditional BTC and ETH.

Market Sentiment and Volatility

Investor sentiment indicators have significantly deteriorated. The “fear and greed” index for cryptocurrencies has dropped to around 25 points out of 100, indicating a state of "fear." This marks one of the lowest values in recent months and a stark contrast to the "greed" mode observed in the fall. The negative news backdrop and price declines have greatly heightened caution among market participants, many of whom continue to reduce risk positions.

The volatility of the cryptocurrency market remains elevated. Sharp fluctuations in Bitcoin's price in recent days have been accompanied by mass liquidations of margin positions. According to Coinglass, approximately $150 million in positions were forcibly closed in the past 24 hours, with the majority being long positions in BTC and ETH. Experts note that low trading liquidity over the weekend exacerbated the "domino effect" during the downturn: the triggering of stop orders and margin calls provoked a chain reaction of sales. Analysts urge investors to exercise caution: historically, periods of extreme fear have often preceded trend reversals and recovery phases, though there are no guarantees of a speedy rebound under current conditions.

Forecasts and Expectations

The expert community offers mixed forecasts regarding the future dynamics of the cryptocurrency market. Some analysts maintain a bullish stance, viewing the current decline as a temporary correction within an ongoing upward trend. For instance, several investment banks forecasted Bitcoin's rise to new highs within the next 12–18 months at the beginning of the year, although these estimates have been partially revised downward following recent volatility (Standard Chartered revised its forecast for BTC by year-end 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 viewpoints are gaining traction. Technical analysts warn that if support around $85,000 is breached, Bitcoin may retest last year's lows (~$74,000). Some pessimists foresee a deeper decline possibly down to $50,000 should macroeconomic conditions worsen. The coming days will be crucial for the market: the results of the Fed meeting (expected late this evening) and the financial reports of leading tech companies releasing this week will set the tone for risk asset dynamics. If regulators signal a shift towards easing rhetoric or corporate results exceed expectations, digital assets may gain momentum for recovery. Otherwise, consolidation and increased volatility may persist until signs of improved macroeconomic conditions emerge.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

1. Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $88,000, approximately 30% below its historical peak; its market capitalization is estimated at around $1.8 trillion (~60% of the total market).
2. Ethereum (ETH) — the largest altcoin and platform for smart contracts. The price of ETH is around $2,900, significantly lower than record levels; its market capitalization is around $350 billion (~12% of the market). Ethereum remains the foundation for DeFi and NFT ecosystems, confidently holding the second position.
3. Ripple (XRP) — the token for the Ripple payment network for cross-border settlements. XRP is trading around $2.00; its market capitalization is ~ $120 billion. Regulatory clarity regarding XRP's status in the U.S. and growing institutional interest have propelled this token into the market's top three.
4. 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, with its market capitalization around $150 billion; the coin consistently maintains a price of $1.00 (≈₽81.50).
5. Binance Coin (BNB) — the token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, and the native coin of the BNB Chain ecosystem. BNB is priced around $600; its market capitalization is ~ $85 billion. Despite legal pressures on Binance, this asset remains in the top 5 due to its wide range of uses (payment of fees, participation in token sales, operating dApps in the ecosystem).
6. Solana (SOL) — a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications. SOL is trading around $130 (market capitalization ~ $52 billion), having recaptured a significant portion of last year's decline. Interest in Solana is supported by the launch of ETFs for this token and the revival of projects within its ecosystem.
7. USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin, backed by reserves in U.S. dollars (issuer — Circle). The price of USDC remains at $1.00; its market capitalization is ~ $60 billion. USDC is actively used by both institutional investors and in DeFi protocols, thanks to the transparency of reserves and high reliability.
8. Cardano (ADA) — a blockchain platform evolving on a research-based approach. ADA is trading around $1.05 (market capitalization ~ $35 billion) after rising on ETF launch expectations. Cardano attracts attention with planned technical upgrades and an active community believing in the project's long-term potential.
9. TRON (TRX) — a platform for smart contracts and decentralized multimedia applications, especially popular in Asia. TRX is trading around $0.30; its market value is ~ $30 billion. TRON remains in the top 10 partly due to the widespread use of its network for issuing stablecoins (a significant portion of USDT circulates on the Tron blockchain) and its active Asian audience.
10. Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most well-known "meme" cryptocurrency, originally created as a joke. DOGE is holding around $0.18 (market capitalization ~ $27 billion), supported by a loyal community and occasional celebrity attention. Despite high volatility, this coin continues to feature in the top ten, demonstrating remarkable resilience in investors' interest in risk assets.

Cryptocurrency Market on the Morning of January 28, 2026

Current Cryptocurrency Prices:

• Bitcoin (BTC): $88,200
• Ethereum (ETH): $2,950
• XRP (XRP): $1.95
• BNB (BNB): $620
• Solana (SOL): $132
• Tether (USDT): $1.00 (≈₽81.50)

Market Indicators:

• Total Cryptocurrency Market Cap: $3.0 trillion
• Bitcoin Dominance: 58.5%
• Fear and Greed Index: 25 (Fear)

24-Hour Leaders in Change:

• Gainers: Monero (XMR) — +5%
• Losers: Dogecoin (DOGE) — -5%

Analysis: Bitcoin and Ethereum remain under pressure near current price levels, and the sentiment index is at one of its lowest values, reflecting a high level of concern in the market. The rise of Monero signals targeted investor interest in projects with unique practical value (for example, transaction privacy), while the drop in Dogecoin is attributed to capital outflows from highly speculative assets against a backdrop of declining risk appetite.