Cryptocurrency News, Thursday, January 15, 2026: Bitcoin Hits Two-Month High, Chainlink ETF Launches on NYSE
As trading begins on January 15, the cryptocurrency market is displaying optimism: the total market capitalization has surpassed $3.23 trillion, marking a rise of over 3% within the day. Below are the key market indicators:
- Bitcoin fluctuated between $91,800 and $96,500, approaching a two-month high near $96,000.
- Ethereum is trading around $3,330 (+6.0% over the day), Ripple (XRP) is about $2.15 (+3.7%), Dogecoin is approximately $0.148 (+6.0%), and Cardano is around $0.421 (+6.6%).
- Binance Coin (BNB) is priced at around $937 (+3.0%), Solana is near $145 (+2.1%), and other leading altcoins are also rising amid a general bullish sentiment.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin continues its recovery following the December correction. On Wednesday, in Asian markets, the BTC price reached $96,348, the highest since mid-November, maintaining a steady growth trend in January. As of the morning of January 15, BTC is valued at approximately $95,000, roughly 5% above the year's start. While Bitcoin is still 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 vary from $75,000–100,000 to $200,000–250,000 per coin. Geopolitical instability and low interest rates are driving increased interest in Bitcoin as "digital gold" — a hedge against the uncertainties of the global economy.
Altcoins and Other Assets
The wave of recovery has also impacted most altcoins. Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has risen to approximately $3,300 (a ~6% increase over the day) and is targeting key technical resistance levels. Other top coins are also trading above yesterday's values: XRP around $2.15 (+3.7%), Dogecoin approximately $0.15 (+6%), Binance Coin around $937 (+3%), Solana approximately $145 (+2.1%), Cardano around $0.42 (+6.6%). The market for privacy coins has shown a surge in activity: Monero (XMR) has reached a historical high, surpassing $680 per coin amid rising interest in transaction anonymity. Analysts note that the issue of privacy is becoming increasingly central 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 in the same period. The largest holder of corporate Bitcoin reserves remains MicroStrategy (with about 687,000 BTC, more than 60% of all corporate holdings) — at the beginning of January, it announced a record purchase of 13,627 BTC in one week. In addition to Bitcoin buyers, interest in crypto ETFs remains high: over the year 2025, more than $22 billion in net investments flowed into spot Bitcoin ETFs, supporting demand for this asset. For the first time, the range of such products is also expanding — on January 15, 2026, the world's first spot cryptocurrency ETF for Chainlink (ticker CLNK) will begin trading on the NYSE Arca, allowing investors to gain direct exposure to LINK without the need to hold the tokens themselves.
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. According to the initiative, non-qualified investors will be allowed to purchase cryptocurrency up to 300,000 rubles per month, and cryptocurrencies will be officially recognized as a means of payment. This law is expected to be one of the key issues in the parliament's spring session. In the US, the Senate has halted hearings on a cryptocurrency market regulation bill, indicating the need for further discussions on regulatory measures. Meanwhile, several countries, including certain European and Asian jurisdictions, are considering easing rules for cryptocurrency platforms and investors, which is generally creating a positive sentiment 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 main platform for smart contracts and DeFi applications. Ethereum supports thousands of decentralized protocols and continues to attract growth-oriented investors.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the native token of the Binance cryptocurrency exchange. BNB is used to pay fees on the platform and participate 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 ongoing legal battles with regulators.
- Solana (SOL) – a high-throughput blockchain known for low fees and fast transaction confirmations. SOL is widely used in NFT projects and gaming applications due to the network’s performance.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – a meme cryptocurrency that was originally created as a joke but has gained widespread popularity. DOGE is often used for micropayments and donations and attracts attention due to the support of well-known entrepreneurs and its 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, with its development supported by a reliable team of developers.
- Polkadot (DOT) – a multi-chain protocol that enables different blockchains to communicate with one another. DOT facilitates the exchange of data and assets between networks, expanding opportunities for 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 ability to create custom subnets, allowing the network to adapt to various business cases.
- Chainlink (LINK) – a decentralized network of oracles that transmits external data to blockchains. LINK allows smart contracts to access information about asset prices and real-world events. At the beginning of 2026, the first spot ETF based on LINK is being launched, further increasing investor interest in this cryptocurrency.
In conclusion, it can be noted that investor optimism remains strong in the global cryptocurrency market. Key drivers include institutional investments (bank funds and corporate reserves), the launch of new financial products (ETFs on altcoins), and macroeconomic factors. At the same time, regulatory initiatives in many countries are creating conditions for 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 unexpected events may cause short-term market fluctuations. Key levels to watch for market participants are the $100,000 mark for Bitcoin and the $4,000–5,000 level for Ethereum. A breakout of these levels, according to analysts, could pave the way for the next rally in the crypto space. In the current conditions, maintaining a diversified portfolio and considering long-term fundamental factors remain important strategies for investors.
