Global Cryptocurrency News, Sunday, January 11, 2026: Bitcoin Consolidates Around $90,000 After Volatile Week, Moderate Growth for Ethereum and Major Altcoins Amid Macro-Economic Uncertainty, Institutional Interest Persists, Top 10 Popular Cryptocurrencies
As of the morning of January 11, 2026, the cryptocurrency market has generally stabilized following notable fluctuations in the previous days. Bitcoin's price hovers around $91,000, and the overall market capitalization sits at approximately $3.1 trillion after a brief dip midweek. Following Bitcoin, major altcoins led by Ethereum have also shown more confidence, with many of the top 10 digital assets reflecting moderate growth. Investors, including institutional players, continue to participate in the crypto market, though they are acting with caution amidst mixed macroeconomic signals and corrected prices. Long-term factors—such as increased regulation and the integration of cryptocurrency products into traditional financial platforms—continue to support interest in the sector.
Bitcoin Consolidates Around $90,000
After a volatile start to the year, Bitcoin (BTC) is consolidating around the psychologically significant level of $90,000 to $91,000. In the early days of January, the first cryptocurrency attempted a rally, reaching approximately $94,800 on January 5 (a local high in recent months); however, a correction followed. By the morning of January 8, BTC's price briefly fell below $90,000, negating the week’s earlier gains, but has since recovered to around $91,000. Current levels are about 25% below the all-time high of around $124,000 reached in August 2025, though since the start of 2026, BTC has still recorded approximately 3% growth. Bitcoin's market capitalization is estimated at around $1.8 trillion, accounting for roughly 58% of the overall cryptocurrency market capitalization.
Analysts note that Bitcoin's dynamics are influenced by a mixed news backdrop. On one hand, expectations for a loosening of monetary policy remain, as weak economic data in the U.S. (for example, the December ADP report, which showed an increase of only about 41,000 new jobs instead of the expected 50,000) has intensified projections that the Federal Reserve might begin lowering interest rates in the second half of 2026. Loose monetary policy typically favors risk assets such as cryptocurrencies, supporting bullish sentiment. On the other hand, geopolitical and economic uncertainty tempers growth, with investors cautiously awaiting resolutions to trade disputes and other political factors. In particular, the market's attention has turned to the U.S. Supreme Court’s proceedings regarding the legality of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, a decision that could impact risk appetite. In this context, Bitcoin demonstrates relative resilience—even on its 17th anniversary (the genesis block of BTC was mined on January 3, 2009), the first cryptocurrency retains its status as "digital gold" and a key asset in the industry.
Ethereum Maintains Second Place
Ethereum's (ETH) price tracks Bitcoin's dynamics, trading around $3,200 as of January 11. In the early days of the new year, Ethereum rose to approximately $3,300, marking its highest price since autumn, with ETH gaining around 6% on a weekly basis. Despite pulling back from its historical peak ($4,900 in November 2021), Ethereum confidently maintains its status as the second-largest crypto asset by market capitalization. The current market cap of ETH is around $380 billion, equivalent to about 12% of the overall cryptocurrency market value.
Interest in the smart contract platform remains high. In 2025, institutional investors gained new avenues for investment in Ethereum, as the first spot ETFs based on Ethereum were launched in the U.S., leading to record capital inflows into ETH-related investment products. This reflects the confidence of major players in Ethereum's long-term prospects as a foundational infrastructure for decentralized applications (DeFi, NFTs, etc.). Technical developments within the ecosystem are ongoing: network upgrades and scaling solutions (second layers) reinforce Ethereum's market position. Experts note that due to a combination of technological leadership and institutional backing, Ethereum retains the potential for further price growth in the mid-term.
Altcoins: Mixed Market Dynamics
The broader altcoin market, after a tumultuous growth phase in 2025, is experiencing varied movements at the beginning of 2026. Prices for most major cryptocurrencies have changed minimally over the last day (within a few percentage points), reflecting a phase of consolidation. The total market cap of altcoins (excluding Bitcoin) remains around $1.3 trillion, significantly lower than the peak of $1.7 trillion recorded last summer, yet indicating sustained investor interest in alternative digital assets. Some large altcoins continue to trade near their multi-year highs. For instance, Ripple (XRP), a token for cross-border payments, has been able to maintain elevated levels due to legal clarity regarding its status (Ripple's victory over the SEC in 2025) and the emergence of ETFs based on its technology. Currently, XRP is trading above $2 (for comparison, its 2025 high was around $3), and its market cap (~$100 billion) has once again secured its place in the top three. Another example is Binance Coin (BNB): despite regulatory pressures surrounding the Binance exchange, the platform's own token is valued at around $500 (market cap of about $80 billion) and remains within the top five. Although the current price of BNB is below its all-time high (~$750), the coin demonstrates resilience due to its broad utility within the exchange ecosystem and on the BNB Chain blockchain.
Strong performances are also evident among platform tokens. Solana (SOL) rose above $150 per coin in early January, marking the first time since 2022. The support for SOL came from news about the launch of the first spot ETF based on this network in the U.S. at the end of 2025—access to new investments gave impetus to its growth, and Solana's market cap now approaches ~$60-70 billion. Another top-10 altcoin, Cardano (ADA), attracts analysts' attention: at the end of last year, investment firm Grayscale applied to launch an ETF connected to ADA, stimulating interest in this platform. As a result, ADA exhibited double-digit percentage price growth at certain points (although the psychologically significant level of $1 is yet to be surpassed), affirming its status as one of the most promising projects. Notably, the segment of meme cryptocurrencies saw a surge in demand: during the first week of January, there was a spike in interest for high-risk "meme coins." For instance, Dogecoin (DOGE) rose more than 20% over a week, while Shiba Inu (SHIB) increased nearly 19%. The total market capitalization for meme tokens surpassed $45 billion, indicating active participation from retail traders and a growing appetite for risk in specific market niches.
Institutional Investors and Crypto ETFs
One of the key trends in recent months has been high involvement from institutional investors in cryptocurrencies. In 2025, the first Bitcoin and Ethereum-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were approved in the U.S., granting access to digital assets for a broad range of large players via traditional stock exchanges. By the end of the year, regulators also allowed ETFs for some altcoins, including XRP and Solana, to enter the market. The introduction of these instruments marked an important milestone, demonstrating an expansion of interest from the financial industry toward various crypto assets.
Following the launch of new funds, the first weeks of their operation brought record capital inflows. However, as of the start of 2026, the dynamics have shifted somewhat: recent data indicates that spot crypto ETFs faced short-term outflows amid price corrections. For instance, during trading on January 7-8, the cumulative outflow from U.S. Bitcoin funds amounted to approximately $0.5 billion, while Ethereum-based funds saw a loss of around $0.16 billion—this was the first series of consecutive sessions with net capital outflow since their launch. Experts interpret this trend as profit-taking after the late 2025 rally rather than a loss of confidence; institutional players still hold record amounts of crypto assets historically. Major asset management firms (BlackRock, Fidelity, and others), hedge funds, and even pension programs included Bitcoin and Ethereum in their portfolios, viewing them as promising asset classes for diversification. Factors supporting institutional interest in crypto include hedging against inflation risks, the increasing adoption of blockchain technology, and client demand. Currently, regulators are reviewing applications for ETFs related to other cryptocurrencies (e.g., Cardano), indicating further expansion of institutional participation in the market in the future.
Market Sentiment and Volatility
The autumn correction of 2025 notably tempered the enthusiasm of market participants, and investor sentiment remains cautious. The Fear and Greed Index for cryptocurrencies has been residing in the "fear" territory since mid-December. As of January 8, its value stood at 28 out of 100 points, reflecting traders' predominant caution and an inclination toward cautious trading. Analysts note that a prolonged period of low index values may indicate market oversold conditions—previously, similar levels have often preceded local upward reversals, as the most nervous players have exited their positions. Conversely, persistent fear indicates that confidence has yet to return after the recent price crash. This mixed sentiment is also reflected in market structure: despite the overall "fear" index, pockets of speculative activity (e.g., the growth of meme tokens) indicate contradictory attitudes among different groups of investors. Experts recommend that market participants maintain composure and manage risks: until new fundamental drivers appear, sharp bursts of optimism may quickly be followed by sell-offs.
Short-term volatility remains elevated. The sharp price movements at the beginning of January resulted in mass liquidations of margin positions on crypto exchanges. According to Coinglass data, this led to liquidations totaling over $460 million within 24 hours by the morning of January 8; approximately $415 million of this was attributed to long positions betting on market growth. As a result of the rapid price drop, over 127,000 traders' transactions were forcibly closed. Such "long squeeze" of excessively optimistic positions exacerbated the decline in Bitcoin prices, but similar episodes underscore the risks for players utilizing high leverage. In recent years, the crypto market has experienced similar spikes in volatility: for instance, on October 10, 2025, an unexpected macroeconomic shock led to the record liquidation of positions totaling around $19 billion in one day. This incident demonstrated that market participants should be prepared for sudden price spikes and drops, especially when trading on margin.
Forecasts and Expectations
Market participants' views on the prospects for 2026 are divided. Some analysts believe that after the turbulent growth of the past year, the market may continue to cool. They point to historical cyclicality: in the past, following a year of new highs (as occurred in 2025), periods of decline often followed. Risks from external factors favor this scenario—for example, some experts warn that a possible bursting of the "bubble" surrounding the hype of artificial intelligence or other macroeconomic shocks could trigger a new decline in cryptocurrency prices in the first half of 2026. Additionally, a significant portion of long-term holders of BTC and ETH remains in profit since the rally, and continuing profit-taking could create market pressure. Analysts at CryptoQuant note that the exit of short-term speculators and "weak hands" during the autumn sell-offs has largely cleared the path for more stable dynamics but do not rule out the possibility of another correction phase.
Conversely, another group of experts holds a more optimistic outlook. They suggest that increased institutional participation and the integration of cryptocurrencies into the global economy may temper traditional four-year cycles; even if a bearish trend continues, it is expected to be less prolonged and intense than previous "crypto winters." They forecast that after the current consolidation phase, the market could return to growth in the second half of 2026, particularly if the external macroeconomic landscape becomes more favorable (e.g., deceleration of inflation, interest rate declines, etc.). Some scenarios propose a wave-like development: notable declines could occur in the summer (June-July), followed by a new rise toward the end of the year. Certain months are anticipated to be particularly fruitful for cryptocurrencies; specifically, April and the period from October to December 2026 are considered potentially strong segments, during which the market could recover losses.
Overall, the consensus is that the fundamental drivers of growth in the industry have not disappeared. Cryptocurrencies continue to expand their spheres of application, and blockchain technologies are being adopted in finance, supply chains, and other sectors, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. This is positively supportive for the market in the long run. Therefore, even in the event of further corrections, many investors view them as opportunities to accumulate assets at lower prices. With institutional interest remaining and the absence of new shocks, most analysts anticipate that the cryptocurrency market capitalization will gradually begin to recover in the latter half of the year, potentially reaching new highs seen in 2025 within 12-18 months. Speaking of long-term goals, major financial firms still hold bullish forecasts. For instance, several Wall Street banks maintain target prices for Bitcoin substantially above current levels—potentially reaching $150,000 to $200,000 in the coming years—based on limited BTC supply and growing demand. Whether these forecasts materialize will depend on time and the continuing evolution of the global economy.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
As of January 11, 2026, the top ten most popular cryptocurrencies by market capitalization are as follows:
- Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $91,000 after recent volatility, with a market cap of approximately $1.8 trillion (≈58% of the total market).
- Ethereum (ETH) — the leading altcoin and smart contract platform. The price of ETH is around $3,200, significantly below historical highs, with a market cap of about $380 billion (≈12% of the market).
- Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 ratio. USDT is widely used for trading and settlements, with a market cap of approximately $170 billion; the coin consistently maintains a price of $1.00 due to reserve backing.
- Ripple (XRP) — a token for the Ripple payment network for cross-border settlements. XRP is currently trading around $2.00, with a market capitalization of ~ $110 billion. Legal clarity regarding XRP's status in the U.S. (following a court ruling in 2025) and the launch of ETFs based on this token have reinforced investor confidence, allowing XRP to regain its position among market leaders.
- Binance Coin (BNB) — the coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, and the native token of the BNB Chain. BNB is valued at approximately $500 (market cap of about $80 billion). Despite regulatory challenges surrounding Binance, the token remains in the top five due to its broad utility on the exchange and in the DeFi segment.
- Solana (SOL) — a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications (dApps). SOL is trading around $150 per coin (market cap ~ $60 billion), having regained significant losses from the autumn of 2025. Interest in Solana has been fueled by the launch of the first ETF based on this asset and the growth of its project ecosystem.
- USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin backed by reserves in U.S. dollars (issued by Circle). The price of USDC is maintained at $1.00, with a market cap of around $60 billion. USDC is actively used by institutional investors and in DeFi protocols due to its transparency and regular audits of reserves.
- Cardano (ADA) — a blockchain platform emphasizing a scientific approach to development. ADA currently trades at around $0.70 (market cap ~$23 billion) after correcting from local highs. Cardano is drawing attention due to plans for an ETF launch related to this token and an active community believing in the project's long-term growth.
- TRON (TRX) — a platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications, particularly popular in Asia. TRX trades around $0.25; the market value is ~ $22 billion. TRON maintains its top-10 presence in part due to the extensive use of its network for issuing stablecoins (a significant share of USDT circulates on the TRON blockchain).
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most well-known meme cryptocurrency, originally created as a joke. DOGE is hovering around $0.14 (market cap ~$21 billion), supported by community loyalty and occasional celebrity attention. Dogecoin remains highly volatile, yet continues to make its way into the top ten, demonstrating remarkable resilience and investor interest.
