Cryptocurrency News for Wednesday, 21 January 2026: Bitcoin Nears $100,000, Altcoin Growth, Institutional Investments, Regulation and Overview of the Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies in the World.
As of the morning of 21 January 2026, the global cryptocurrency market is strengthening following a volatile finish to the previous year. Bitcoin is trading once again near the psychologically significant mark of $100,000, which has propelled the total market capitalisation of digital assets above $3.5 trillion (substantially higher than a year ago). Ethereum maintains a stable position above $4,000, retaining much of the gains accumulated over last year. Following the leading cryptocurrencies, the largest altcoins are also experiencing price increases; investor optimism is buoyed by expectations of a relaxation in US Federal Reserve monetary policy and further positive shifts in regulation within the industry. As overall market volatility decreases, some traders are shifting their focus to altcoins, many of which are holding their positions and are poised for further growth under favourable conditions.
Bitcoin: Approaching the Psychological Barrier of $100,000
After a rapid rally and subsequent correction in the autumn, Bitcoin (BTC) is once again consolidating near a key level. Back in early October, BTC reached a historical high of around $126,000, but then retreated to approximately $90,000 amid external factors (including escalating trade disputes between the US and China). By the end of 2025, selling had stabilised, and now the leading cryptocurrency is trading around $100,000, attempting to firmly establish itself above this psychological barrier. The current price is approximately 10% higher than the December lows, indicating a return of purchasing activity. Bitcoin's market share remains around 55-60% of the entire cryptocurrency market, reinforcing its status as “digital gold” and a primary benchmark for the sector. Experts note that the correlation of BTC with stock indices remains elevated, signalling an influx of traditional capital into the cryptocurrency market. Many analysts expect that further easing of monetary policy and an expansion of the cryptocurrency ETF lineup in the US could provide Bitcoin with new momentum to revisit its highs in 2026.
Ethereum: Steady Growth Amidst ETF Launch
Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, is demonstrating robust growth following the correction of late 2025. In early October, ETH climbed to around $4,800 (close to its record level), before pulling back; however, by January 2026, it had confidently surpassed $4,000. Currently, ETH is trading in the range of $4,300 to $4,400, representing about 14% of the total market capitalisation. The fundamental position of Ethereum remains strong: the network processes millions of transactions daily, maintaining its role as the backbone for thousands of decentralised finance (DeFi) applications and NFT platforms. Institutional investors continue to increase their presence in Ethereum; at the end of 2025, the first spot ETF based on Ethereum was launched in the US, which attracted significant capital to this asset. According to industry analysts, the capital inflow into ETH-based funds in the early weeks of January even exceeded that of Bitcoin funds. The yield on staking further enhances investor interest: with Ethereum's transition to PoS, coin holders receive about 4-5% annual returns, increasing the asset's attractiveness. Sustained demand from large players and the impact of the ETF launch enable Ethereum to firmly hold its attained levels and approach historical peaks.
Altcoins: Continuing Rally in the Market
The broader altcoin market supports the overall upward trend at the start of the year. Prices for most of the largest alternative cryptocurrencies in the top 10 have increased by 3-7% over the last 24 hours. The total market capitalisation of altcoins (excluding BTC) has once again exceeded $1.5 trillion, reflecting the influx of new capital into the sector. Many prominent alternative coins are trading close to their multi-year highs. For instance, Ripple (XRP) is holding around the $2.5-3.0 mark, near the peak values seen in 2017. Investors are positively assessing the legal clarity of XRP's status in the US following last year's victory for Ripple against the SEC, which has propelled the token back among the market leaders by capitalisation. Binance Coin (BNB) is nearing its historical maximum: the coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance is currently priced at around $900, showing growth amid the overall market revival. Despite ongoing regulatory scrutiny of Binance, the exchange's ecosystem remains one of the most active in the industry, and BNB is still widely used for fee payments and in DeFi applications.
Platform tokens associated with emerging blockchain ecosystems are also showcasing positive dynamics. Solana (SOL) has risen in price to around $200 over the past few weeks, marking a level not seen in several years. The Solana project is gaining attention due to its high-tech capabilities (fast transaction speeds and low fees) and news of the potential approval of the first spot ETF on SOL in the US. An additional driver has been Solana's integration into traditional businesses; for example, the payment network Visa has begun utilising its blockchain for processing stablecoin transactions, thereby enhancing trust in the platform. Another top 10 representative, Cardano (ADA), has surpassed the psychologically significant level of $1.0 for the first time since 2022. Over the past month, ADA has surged by more than 20%, encouraged by expectations of an exchange-traded fund based on Cardano and recent network updates that have improved the scalability of smart contracts. The Tron (TRX) cryptocurrency has also firmly established itself among the top ten coins. The TRON network has become one of the main hubs for issuing stablecoins (a significant portion of USDT circulates on its blockchain due to minimal fees); moreover, the rise in the number of DeFi applications has solidified the platform's position. Investor confidence received an additional boost from the Tron Foundation's announcement of a buy-back of TRX tokens worth up to $1 billion for its reserves — a move that demonstrates the team's faith in the asset's long-term value. Chainlink (LINK) also made headlines: last week in New York, trading began for the first ETF based on Chainlink's oracle tokens, sparking a surge of interest in the coin. LINK's price rose substantially over a few days, indicating that investors are willing to look beyond the largest crypto assets in search of promising projects.
Institutional Investments at New Highs
One of the key trends of the current market remains the increasing engagement of institutional investors. In 2025, the first exchange-traded cryptocurrency funds (ETFs) for Bitcoin and Ethereum surfaced in the US, significantly easing access for large players to digital assets. As of early 2026, the capital influx into these products has reached record levels. Analysts estimate that in the first half of January alone, total investments in cryptocurrency funds exceeded $1.3 billion, reflecting an increased appetite for risk among financial institutions. Asset managers and hedge funds continue to expand their cryptocurrency holdings, viewing BTC and ETH as strategic assets for diversification. Notably, interest extends beyond the two largest coins: the expansion of the ETF range to 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 cryptocurrency market — for instance, MicroStrategy, led by Michael Saylor, increased its reserves to a record ~210,000 BTC over the past year, serving as an indicator of long-term confidence within the corporate sector. The activity of institutional players provides the market with additional liquidity and helps reduce volatility, gradually transforming cryptocurrencies into a full-fledged asset class for investment.
Regulation: Global Shifts and Unified Rules
Over the past year, a clearer and more favourable regulatory environment for the crypto industry has formed globally, and this progress continues into 2026. In the US, the first comprehensive law on digital assets has come into effect, laying the groundwork for federal-level market regulation. This document sets stringent requirements for stablecoin backing (issuers of USD-pegged coins must hold 100% dollar reserves and undergo regular audits), introduces the concept of cryptocurrency exchanges into the legal framework, and outlines rules for investor protection. Concurrently, US financial regulators are adopting a more lenient approach towards the industry: the SEC and CFTC have launched "regulatory sandboxes" for blockchain startups, and trading of spot cryptocurrencies has been greenlit on licensed exchanges. Collectively, US policy has become significantly more favourable to digital assets, stimulating the industry's development in one of the world's largest markets.
The European Union, on its part, has begun the phased implementation of the unified MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulatory framework. This new regulation standardises the circulation of crypto assets across all EU member states, requiring mandatory registration for crypto companies, disclosure requirements, consumer protection, and anti-money laundering measures. The first licenses under MiCA standards have already been issued, making the European cryptocurrency market more transparent and mature. The unified regulatory framework allows for the legal provision of crypto services throughout the EU and attracts large fintech players and banks into the sector. Asia is also keeping pace: in Hong Kong, as of January, licensing for stablecoin issuers with full backing requirements has been introduced, bolstering the city’s position as a crypto hub. Other regional centres, such as Singapore and the UAE, are also loosening regulations in competition for attracting blockchain business. Meanwhile, major global corporations continue to integrate cryptocurrencies into the traditional financial system. Payment giants Visa and Mastercard are expanding support for digital currency transactions within their networks, while platforms like PayPal already enable tens of millions of merchants to accept payments in cryptocurrency. Such steps strengthen 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 investors approach the second half of the decade, they cautiously assess the prospects for the cryptocurrency market. On one hand, the factors that sparked growth last year – easing monetary policy, the influx of institutional funds, technological innovations – continue to act. If macroeconomic conditions remain favourable, many anticipate that in 2026, Bitcoin and major altcoins could approach or even surpass their historical highs. On the other hand, the events of late 2025 served as a reminder of persistent risks. A potential deterioration in the economic climate (for example, due to global slowing or geopolitical instability) could temporarily dampen investors' appetite for risk. A new wave of speculative frenzy outside the crypto market (such as regarding technology sector stocks) might also divert some capital. Nonetheless, the industry enters 2026 more mature: the participation of large corporations, progress in regulation, and successful examples of DeFi implementation instil confidence that even in the event of short-term disruptions, the cryptocurrency market is capable of relatively quick recovery and attracting even more investments. Overall, the balance of expectations remains positive, although experts advise investors to maintain a degree of caution in light of 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; market capitalisation exceeds $2.0 trillion (≈57% of the total market).
- Ethereum (ETH) — the leading altcoin and smart contract platform. The price of ETH is approximately $4,200, significantly higher than the levels seen at the end of 2025; capitalisation around $500 billion (≈14% of the market). Ethereum retains its second position by capitalisation, bolstered by widespread application in DeFi and steady network development.
- Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar (1:1). USDT is widely used for trading and settlements in the cryptocurrency market, with a capitalisation around $170 billion; the coin maintains a stable 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 capitalisation of approximately $140 billion. The legal clarity surrounding XRP’s status in the US after the SEC case has restored trust in the token, returning it to the rank of market leaders.
- Binance Coin (BNB) — the coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, and the native token of the BNB Chain. BNB is currently priced at around $900, nearing its historical maximum; capitalisation stands at approximately $130 billion. Despite regulatory pressure on Binance, the token remains in the top 5 due to its broad application within the exchange ecosystem and DeFi services.
- Solana (SOL) — a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralised applications. SOL is trading around $200 per coin (capitalisation ~$85 billion), having recovered to levels not seen since 2022. Interest in Solana is driven by expectations of an ETF launch for the asset and the growth of the ecosystem of projects built upon it (including Solana's integration into global payment systems).
- USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin backed by US dollar reserves (issuer — Circle). The price of USDC is maintained at around $1.00, with a capitalisation of approximately $65 billion. USDC is widely used by institutional investors and in DeFi protocols due to its reserve transparency and enhanced regulatory trust.
- Cardano (ADA) — a blockchain platform with a scientific approach to development. ADA is trading at about $1.15 (capitalisation ~$40 billion) following a recent price surge. Cardano is attracting attention due to plans for launching its own ETF and an active community believing in the project’s long-term growth, despite ongoing volatility.
- TRON (TRX) — a platform for smart contracts and multimedia dApps, particularly popular in Asia. TRX is holding around $0.35; market value ~ $32 billion. TRON has entered the top 10 largest coins due to the success of its stablecoin ecosystem (the TRON blockchain is used for issuing and fast transfers of USDT) and the growth of DeFi applications. The announcement of a significant TRX buy-back to replenish project reserves has further boosted investor confidence.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most well-known meme cryptocurrency, created as a joke. DOGE is around $0.22 (capitalisation ~$33 billion) and is supported by a dedicated community as well as periodic celebrity attention. Although Dogecoin has unlimited issuance and exhibits high volatility, it remains in the top ten largest coins, demonstrating remarkable investor interest resilience.
