Current Cryptocurrency News as of January 27, 2026: Bitcoin Remains Under Pressure Amid Expectations of the US Federal Reserve's First Meeting of the Year, Gold Reaches Record Levels 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 remains under pressure: Bitcoin failed to hold the psychological mark of $90,000, setting a negative tone for most digital assets. Investors are reducing risk positions ahead of the US Federal Reserve's first meeting of the year against a backdrop of declining global risk appetite.
External macroeconomic factors are amplifying uncertainty. The increased "hawkish" rhetoric from Fed officials and rising risks of a government shutdown in the US are pushing 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, previously positioned by some investors as "digital gold," is not living up to its status as a safe-haven asset, correlating instead with corrections in the stock market.
Bitcoin Under Pressure Before the Fed Decision
In recent days, Bitcoin (BTC) has continued its decline. In the early hours of January 26, its price dropped to approximately $87,500, nearly 30% below its all-time high (~$125,000) reached in August 2025. The first cryptocurrency has lost the $90,000 mark, reflecting the overall decline in risk appetite across global markets.
Macroeconomic risks remain a key factor for BTC. Amid a mass exodus of investors into safe assets (gold reaching historical peaks), Bitcoin is currently moving in tandem with stock indices, trading more like a risk asset than "digital gold." In the low liquidity conditions of the weekend, BTC briefly fell into the mid-range of $80,000–$90,000, but by the beginning of the week, it recovered to around $87,000, remaining under pressure.
Ethereum Also Faces Pressure
The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Ethereum (ETH), reflects the overall market correction. The price of ETH has dropped below $3,000, decreasing by about 5% over the past week. The current price (~$2,900) remains significantly lower than Ethereum's all-time high ($4,890, set in 2021); however, the network still plays a key role in the industry thanks to smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), and stablecoin issuance.
Institutional interest in Ethereum, which notably increased after the launch of the first spot ETFs for this altcoin in 2025, has somewhat cooled. In early January, ETH-based funds recorded capital outflows amid a general retreat of investors from risk assets. Nevertheless, Ethereum retains approximately 12% of the total market capitalization, confidently holding second place after Bitcoin.
Altcoins Show Mixed Dynamics
The broader market of alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) is demonstrating heterogeneous dynamics against the backdrop of declines in the market leaders. Many large altcoins from the top 10 have moderately decreased in value over the past day following Bitcoin; however, some individual 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 concentrated outside of Bitcoin.
Several altcoins continue to attract heightened attention due to fundamental factors. For instance, Ripple's token (XRP) is trading around a multi-year high of ~$2 following a spike in January, supported by positive news regarding its legal status and demand from funds. Binance Coin (BNB) remains around $600, staying in the top 5 despite legal risks surrounding the exchange of the same name. The blockchain token Solana (SOL) had previously risen above $150 on the wave of ETF approvals and has since corrected to around $130, which is significantly higher than last year's levels. Cardano (ADA) had risen to $1 by the end of 2025 in anticipation of its own ETF launch; it is currently trading slightly above $1, maintaining support from the developer community.
Institutional Investors Shifting Focus to Altcoins
Major investors have noticeably adjusted their strategies in the cryptocurrency market in the new year. After a powerful influx of capital into crypto funds in the first weeks of January 2026 (a total of over $1.2 billion), a wave of capital withdrawals followed. Investments in Bitcoin funds were hit particularly hard, with over $1 billion withdrawn from US spot BTC ETFs in the last two weeks (about $394 million just last Friday), indicating caution among "smart money." Outflows also affected Ethereum funds — according to CoinShares, around $350 million left ETH ETFs in the first weeks of the month.
Concurrently, the influx of investments is shifting towards individual altcoins. Exchange-traded funds on XRP accumulated around $1.3 billion under management by mid-January, marking the second-fastest to reach this milestone after Bitcoin ETFs. Solana is also attracting institutions: the spot ETFs launched in the fall of 2025 have already exceeded $1 billion in total assets. Notably, Wall Street's leading bank Morgan Stanley filed an application with the SEC to register several crypto ETFs (for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana) in early 2026, while Bank of America almost simultaneously allowed its clients direct investments in digital assets — these moves confirm the growing institutional demand for cryptocurrencies beyond traditional BTC and ETH.
Market Sentiments and Volatility
Investor sentiment indicators have sharply worsened. The "fear and greed" index for cryptocurrencies has dropped to ~25 points out of 100, indicating a state of "fear." This is one of the lowest readings in recent months, sharply contrasting with the "greed" mode observed in the fall. The negative news backdrop and falling prices have significantly heightened caution among players, many of whom are reducing risk positions.
Market volatility remains high. Sharp price movements of Bitcoin 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 last 24 hours, with most being long positions in BTC and ETH. Experts note that low trading liquidity over the weekends has intensified the "domino effect" during the decline: the triggering of stop orders and margin calls caused a chain reaction of selling. Analysts recommend that investors exercise caution: historically, periods of extreme fear in the market have often preceded reversals and recovery phases, though 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 example, several investment banks at the beginning of the year had forecasted Bitcoin's rise to new highs in the next 12-18 months, though these estimates have been adjusted in light of recent volatility (Standard Chartered bank revised its BTC year-end forecast down from $300,000 to $150,000). Proponents of the optimistic scenario point to the ongoing institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies and the potential easing of monetary policy in the second half of 2026 — these factors could bring a capital inflow back into the market.
At the same time, cautious and bearish forecasts are gaining momentum. Technical analysts warn that if support around $85,000 is broken, Bitcoin could re-test last year's lows (~$74,000). Some pessimists allow for a deepening decline down to $50,000 if macroeconomic conditions worsen. The coming days will be crucial for the cryptocurrency market: the results of the Fed meeting and financial reports from major tech companies expected this week will set the tone for risk assets. If regulators soften their rhetoric or corporations exceed expectations, digital assets could gain momentum for recovery. Conversely, consolidation and heightened volatility may persist until signs of improvement in macroeconomic conditions emerge.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC) - the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC trades around $88,000, approximately 30% below its all-time high; market capitalization is about $1.8 trillion (≈60% of the total market).
- Ethereum (ETH) - the leading altcoin and platform for smart contracts. ETH price is around $2,900, significantly lower than record highs; market capitalization is around $350 billion (~12% of the market). Ethereum remains the base for DeFi and NFT issuance, confidently occupying second place.
- Ripple (XRP) - the token of the payment network Ripple for cross-border payments. XRP trades around $2.00; market capitalization is ~ $120 billion. Regulatory clarity regarding XRP's status in the US and growing institutional interest have brought the token back into the top three market leaders.
- Tether (USDT) - the largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar 1:1. USDT is widely used for trading and settlements, with its market capitalization around $150 billion; the coin maintains a stable price of $1.00 (≈₽81.50).
- Binance Coin (BNB) - the token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and the native token of the BNB Chain ecosystem. BNB is valued at around $600; market capitalization is ~ $85 billion. Despite legal pressures on Binance, the token remains in the top 5 due to its wide application in trading and DeFi.
- Solana (SOL) - a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications. SOL trades around $130 (market capitalization ~ $52 billion), recovering significantly from last year's decline. Interest in Solana is supported by the launch of ETFs and the growth of its project ecosystem.
- USD Coin (USDC) - the second-largest stablecoin, backed by reserves in US dollars (issuer - Circle). USDC's price is maintained at $1.00, with a market capitalization of ~ $60 billion. USDC is widely used by institutional investors and in DeFi due to its transparent reserves and reliability.
- Cardano (ADA) - a blockchain platform with a scientific approach to network development. ADA is priced at around $1.05 (market capitalization ~ $35 billion) after rising in anticipation of ETF launch. Cardano attracts attention with plans for updates and an active community that believes in the project's long-term potential.
- TRON (TRX) - a platform for smart contracts and multimedia dApps, popular in Asia. TRX trades around $0.30; market value ~ $30 billion. TRON retains its position in the top 10 partly due to its widespread use for stablecoin issuance (a significant proportion of USDT circulates on the Tron blockchain).
- Dogecoin (DOGE) - the most well-known meme cryptocurrency, originally created as a joke. DOGE holds around $0.18 (market capitalization ~ $27 billion), supported by a loyal community and occasional celebrity attention. Despite high volatility, Dogecoin remains among the largest coins, showing remarkable resilience in investor interest.
Cryptocurrency Market as of January 27, 2026
Key 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 indicators:
- Cryptocurrency market capitalization: $3.0 trillion
- Bitcoin's market share: 58.3%
- Fear and greed index: 25 (fear)
Leaders in daily change:
- Growth: Chainlink (LINK) — +4%
- Decline: Shiba Inu (SHIB) — -8%
Analysis: Bitcoin and Ethereum remain under pressure near current levels, while the sentiment index has dropped to extremely low values, reflecting a sharp increase in market caution. The leader of growth LINK indicates selective interest from investors in projects with strong fundamental value, while the decline of SHIB is explained by capital outflows from highly speculative assets amid lowered risk appetite.
