Cryptocurrency News for Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Bitcoin Nears $100,000 Mark, Altcoin Growth, Institutional Investments, Regulation, and Overview of the Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies Worldwide.
As of the morning of January 21, 2026, the global cryptocurrency market is strengthening after a volatile conclusion to the previous year. Bitcoin is once again trading near the psychologically significant level of $100,000, contributing to the total capitalization of digital assets rising above $3.5 trillion (substantially higher than a year ago). Ethereum remains stable above $4,000, retaining much of its gains from last year. Following the leading coins, the major altcoins are also appreciating in value; investor optimism is supported by expectations of a looser monetary policy from the US Federal Reserve and further positive shifts in industry regulation. With the overall market volatility decreasing, some traders are shifting their focus to altcoins, many of which are holding their positions and are poised for further growth under favorable conditions.
Bitcoin: At the Psychological Barrier of $100,000
Following a rapid rally and subsequent correction in autumn, Bitcoin (BTC) is consolidating near a key level. Back in early October, BTC reached an all-time high of around $126,000, but then retraced to approximately $90,000 amid external factors (including increasing trade disputes between the US and China). By the end of 2025, selling stabilized, and currently, the largest cryptocurrency is trading around $100,000, trying to securely establish itself above this psychological barrier. The current price is about 10% higher than December lows, indicating a return of buying activity. Bitcoin's market share remains around 55-60% of the entire cryptocurrency market, confirming its status as "digital gold" and the main benchmark for the industry. Experts note that the correlation between BTC and stock indices remains elevated—a sign of the influx of traditional capital into the cryptocurrency market. Many analysts anticipate that further easing of monetary policy and the expansion of cryptocurrency ETFs in the US may give Bitcoin a fresh impetus to reach new highs in 2026.
Ethereum: Steady Growth Amid ETF Launch
Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, is showing consistent growth after the correction at the end of 2025. In early October, ETH surged to around $4,800 (close to its all-time high), but then retraced, only to confidently exceed $4,000 in January 2026. Currently, ETH trades between $4,300 and $4,400, capturing about 14% of the total market capitalization. The fundamental position of Ethereum remains strong: the network processes millions of transactions daily, serving as the backbone for thousands of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and NFT platforms. Institutional investors continue to increase their presence in Ethereum: at the end of 2025, the first spot ETF on Ethereum launched in the US, attracting significant funds to this asset. According to industry analysts, capital inflow into ETH-based funds during the first weeks of January even surpassed that of Bitcoin funds. Additionally, staking has begun to attract investor interest: due to Ethereum's transition to PoS, coin holders earn around 4-5% annual returns, enhancing the asset's appeal. Strong demand from major players and the ETF launch effect enable Ethereum to confidently maintain its levels and approach historical highs.
Altcoins: Continuing Rally in the Market
The broad market for altcoins supports the overall upward trend at the start of the year. Prices for most of the largest alternative cryptocurrencies in the top 10 increased by 3-7% over the past day. The total market capitalization of altcoins (excluding BTC) has once again exceeded $1.5 trillion, reflecting the influx of new capital into the sector. Many leading altcoins are trading near their multi-year highs. For instance, Ripple (XRP) is holding around $2.5-$3.0, close to peak values from 2017. Investors view the legal clarity regarding XRP's status in the US positively after Ripple's victory over the SEC last year, which has brought the token back into the ranks of market leaders by capitalization. Binance Coin (BNB) is nearing its all-time high: the token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance is currently priced at around $900, demonstrating growth amid the market recovery. Despite ongoing regulatory scrutiny towards Binance, the exchange's ecosystem remains one of the most active in the industry, and BNB continues to be widely used for transaction fees and in DeFi applications.
Good dynamics are also seen in platform tokens associated with developing blockchain ecosystems. Solana (SOL) has surged in price to around $200 in recent weeks, marking a significant recovery not seen in years. The Solana project is attracting attention due to its high technology (fast transaction speeds and low fees) and news about the potential approval of the first spot ETF for SOL in the US. Additional momentum has come from Solana’s integration into traditional business; for example, Visa's payment network has started using its blockchain to process stablecoin transactions, enhancing trust in the platform. Another top 10 player, Cardano (ADA), has surpassed the psychologically significant level of $1.0 for the first time since 2022. Over the past month, ADA has increased by more than 20%, spurred by expectations of an ETF launch based on Cardano and recent network upgrades that have improved smart contract scalability. The cryptocurrency Tron (TRX) has also solidly established itself among the ten largest coins. The TRON network has become a major hub for issuing stablecoins (a significant portion of USDT circulates on its blockchain due to minimal fees). Moreover, the growth in the number of DeFi applications has bolstered the platform’s position. Investor confidence was further strengthened by the Tron Foundation’s announcement of a token buyback of up to $1 billion for its reserves—an act showcasing the team's faith in the long-term value of the asset. Chainlink (LINK) also stood out: last week, trading began in New York for the first ETF based on oracle tokens from Chainlink, sparking a surge in interest in the coin. The price of LINK rose double digits in just a few days, indicating that investors are eager to look beyond the largest crypto assets in search of promising projects.
Institutional Investments at Their Peak
One of the key trends in the current market is the increasing involvement of institutional investors. In 2025, the first cryptocurrency ETFs for Bitcoin and Ethereum appeared in the US, significantly easing access to digital assets for major players. As of early 2026, the capital inflow into these products has reached record levels. Analysts estimate that just in the first half of January, total investments in cryptocurrency funds exceeded $1.3 billion, reflecting increased risk appetite from financial institutions. Asset managers and hedge funds continue to boost the share of cryptocurrencies in their portfolios, viewing BTC and ETH as strategic assets for diversification. Notably, this interest extends beyond the two largest coins: the expansion of ETFs to include assets like Solana and Chainlink signals institutional readiness to invest in promising altcoins as well. Furthermore, public companies are also strengthening their presence in the crypto market—for example, MicroStrategy, led by Michael Saylor, has increased its reserves to a record ~210,000 BTC over the past year, serving as a barometer of long-term confidence in the corporate sector. The activity of institutional players provides the market with additional liquidity and contributes to reduced volatility, gradually transforming cryptocurrencies into a fully-fledged asset class.
Regulation: Global Shifts and Unified Rules
Last year, a clearer and more favorable regulatory environment for the crypto industry emerged worldwide, and this progress continues into 2026. In the US, the first comprehensive law on digital assets came into force, laying the groundwork for market regulation at the federal level. The document establishes strict requirements for the reserve backing of stablecoins (issuers of USD-pegged coins must hold 100% dollar backing and undergo regular audits), introduces the concept of cryptocurrency exchanges into the legal field, and outlines investor protection rules. Concurrently, US financial regulators are softening their approach to the industry: the SEC and CFTC have launched "regulatory sandboxes" for blockchain startups, and spot cryptocurrency trading has received the green light on licensed exchanges. Collectively, US policy has become significantly more favorable to digital assets, stimulating industry development on one of the largest global markets.
The European Union, for its part, has begun the phased implementation of a unified regulatory framework under MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets). This new regulation standardizes the treatment of crypto assets across all EU countries, mandating the registration of crypto companies, disclosure requirements, consumer protections, and anti-money laundering measures. The first licenses under MiCA standards have already been issued, making the European crypto market more transparent and mature. This unified regulatory framework allows for the legal provision of crypto services throughout the EU and attracts large fintech players and banks to the sector. Asia is also keeping pace: in Hong Kong, as of January, licenses for stablecoin issuers have been introduced with requirements for full reserve backing, solidifying the city’s position as a crypto hub. Other regional centers, like Singapore and the UAE, are also easing regulations in competition for attracting blockchain businesses. Meanwhile, major global corporations continue to integrate cryptocurrencies into the traditional financial system. Payment giants Visa and Mastercard are expanding their support for digital currency transactions within their networks, while platforms like PayPal already enable millions of merchants to accept payments in cryptocurrency. Such movements reinforce the connection between traditional finance and the crypto world, confirming that digital currencies have firmly entered the global financial mainstream.
Market Outlook: Expectations and Risks
As we approach the second half of the decade, investors are cautiously optimistic about the prospects of the crypto market. On one hand, the factors that drove growth last year—easing monetary policy, inflows of institutional money, and technological innovations—continue to operate. If the macroeconomic situation remains favorable, many forecast that in 2026, Bitcoin and major altcoins could approach their all-time highs, or even reset them. On the other hand, events from late 2025 have reminded us of the existing risks. A possible downturn in economic conditions (due to global slowdown or geopolitical instability, for instance) could temper investor appetite for risk temporarily. A new wave of speculative frenzy outside the crypto market (for instance, surrounding tech stocks) might also divert some capital. Nevertheless, the industry enters 2026 in a more mature state: the participation of large corporations, progress in regulation, and successful implementation examples in DeFi provide confidence that even in the event of short-term shocks, the cryptocurrency market is capable of relatively quickly recovering and attracting even more investments. Overall, the balance of expectations remains positive, although experts advise investors to maintain moderate caution amidst the still high volatility of this asset class.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is currently trading around $100,000 after recovering from December lows; its market capitalization exceeds $2.0 trillion (≈57% of the total market).
- Ethereum (ETH) — the leading altcoin and platform for smart contracts. The price of ETH is approximately $4,200, significantly higher than the end of 2025 levels; its capitalization is around $500 billion (≈14% of the market). Ethereum maintains its second position by capitalization, strengthening its foothold through broad application in DeFi and continuous network development.
- Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar (1:1). USDT is widely used for trading and settlements in the crypto market, with a capitalization of about $170 billion; the coin consistently holds a price near $1.00, providing high liquidity for entering and exiting volatile positions.
- Ripple (XRP) — the token of the Ripple payment network for cross-border transactions. XRP is trading around $2.7, with a market capitalization of about $140 billion. Legal clarity regarding XRP's status in the US after the SEC ruling has restored confidence in the token, returning it to the ranks of market leaders.
- Binance Coin (BNB) — the coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and the native token of the BNB Chain. The current price of BNB is around $900, nearing its all-time high; its capitalization is approximately $130 billion. Despite regulatory pressures on Binance, the token remains in the top 5 due to its wide range of applications within the exchange ecosystem and DeFi services.
- Solana (SOL) — a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications. SOL is trading around $200 per coin (capitalization ~$85 billion), recovering to levels not seen since 2022. Interest in Solana is bolstered by expectations of an ETF launch for this asset and growth in the ecosystem of projects based on it (including Solana’s integration with global payment systems).
- USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin backed by US dollar reserves (issued by Circle). The price of USDC is maintained at $1.00, with a capitalization of around $65 billion. USDC is widely used by institutional investors and in DeFi protocols due to the transparency of its reserves and increased trust from regulators.
- Cardano (ADA) — a blockchain platform with a scientific approach to development. ADA is trading at approximately $1.15 (capitalization ~$40 billion) following a recent price spike. Cardano is drawing attention with plans for launching its own ETF and an active community that believes in the project’s long-term growth, despite ongoing volatility.
- TRON (TRX) — a smart contract and multimedia dApp platform, particularly popular in Asia. TRX is around $0.35; its market valuation is approximately $32 billion. TRON has entered the top 10 largest coins for the first time due to the success of its stablecoin ecosystem (its blockchain is used for issuing and quick transfers of USDT) and the growth of DeFi applications. An additional boost to confidence came from the announcement of a significant TRX buyback to replenish the foundation's reserves.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most well-known meme cryptocurrency, initially created as a joke. DOGE is trading around $0.22 (capitalization ~$33 billion) and is backed by a loyal community as well as periodic attention from celebrities. Although Dogecoin has no supply limit and maintains high volatility, it remains among the top ten coins, showcasing remarkable resilience in investor interest.
