Cryptocurrency News 10 January 2026 - Bitcoin at $90,000, XRP Surge and Altcoin ETFs

Cryptocurrency News for Saturday, January 10, 2026: Bitcoin Holds at $90,000, Growing Interest in XRP and Altcoins, Institutional ETFs, Global Trends and Investor Expectations.

The beginning of the year on the global cryptocurrency market is characterised by a "bullish" consolidation: the total market capitalisation is around $3.1 trillion, with key indicators showing mixed dynamics. Bitcoin remains at approximately $90,000, having slightly retreated from recent highs around $92,000. At the same time, significant ETF investments in altcoins and new regulatory news are creating an interesting landscape for investors.

Market Overview

• The total market capitalisation of cryptocurrencies stands at approximately $3.1 trillion (down about 2.5% over the last 24 hours). Most of the top assets are trading near previous levels, with slight fluctuations.
• Bitcoin is trading around $90,000, having decreased approximately 2% in the last 24 hours following a brief test of $92,000. Analysts note that Bitcoin remains at the psychological boundary of $90,000, with no clear signals for a breakout of either upper or lower extremes.
• Ethereum holds steady at around $3,100 (down ~3-4%), with network capitalisation exceeding $300 billion, confirming its status as the leader in the smart contracts sector. Binance Coin (~$880) and Solana (~$135) have also experienced a slight pullback following recent rallies.
• Other major altcoins are mostly retreating: XRP at around $2.10 (-6-7%), Cardano around $0.39 (-5.5%), Dogecoin around $0.14 (-5%). An exception is TRON (~$0.295), which remains virtually unchanged over the day.
• Among the factors influencing market dynamics are macroeconomic expectations and regulatory agendas. Markets are pricing in the possibility of maintaining current interest rates by the US Federal Reserve in the near term, as well as anticipating the release of employment data in the US for December (Nonfarm Payrolls on January 10).

Bitcoin

The leading cryptocurrency continues to trade at record levels. Despite recent declines, Bitcoin has set historical highs above $90,000, driven by positive investor sentiment and a surge in institutional capital. Current trading appears consolidated: many traders are taking profits at local peaks and are evaluating new macroeconomic signals.

A crucial driver remains the Federal Reserve's policy: the US Treasury has openly called for a faster reduction in rates to support economic growth, which could increase interest in riskier assets, including Bitcoin. However, it is anticipated that at the meeting on January 31, the Federal Reserve is likely to keep rates unchanged, which could limit short-term market movements.

• Significant outflows from US spot Bitcoin ETFs have been observed in the first days of January. This may indicate profit-taking by institutional investors following December's rally.
• Investors continue to monitor the dynamics of key support/resistance levels ($90-95k). The key challenge remains to hold positions above $88-90k to restore the medium-term upward trend.

Ethereum and Other Altcoins

Ethereum (ETH) remains in second place by capitalisation and is trading at approximately $3,100, experiencing slight selling pressure. The Ethereum network is functioning steadily, and in the long term, investors are considering the development of the DeFi ecosystem and the implementation of new technical improvements. However, in the short term, ETH's price is correlated with the overall risk sentiment in the market.

Other notable altcoin projects include Solana and Cardano, which have also experienced pullbacks amid general consolidation. Solana is trading around $135, while Cardano is around $0.39. Meanwhile, rising mining difficulties for Bitcoin (-1.2%) and high electricity prices have led to expectations of reduced miner rewards, which is curbing activity in the Proof-of-Work coin market.

XRP and an Unexpected Growth Leader

The cryptocurrency XRP (Ripple) has recently grabbed attention. Following the resolution of Ripple's long-standing conflict with the SEC and the launch of the first spot XRP ETFs at the end of 2025, demand for XRP has surged. In the first days of 2026, the price of XRP increased by over 8%, allowing it to temporarily surpass Binance Coin in market capitalisation and take fourth place among the largest coins.

The situation is bolstered by the influx of institutional capital: approximately one billion dollars has been attracted to new XRP ETFs (Grayscale, Bitwise, etc.), effectively taken out of circulation, creating a supply shortage. According to exchanges, XRP "whale" activities have reached a three-month high, indicating potential for increased price volatility.

Additional interest in XRP is fuelled by new partnerships formed by Ripple. In particular, collaborations with players like Mastercard and Gemini are expanding the use of XRP in cross-border payments and cryptocurrency transactions via credit cards. However, risks remain: a significant portion of XRP's issuance is still controlled by Ripple, increasing the asset's centralisation, and high volatility requires caution from investors.

Institutional Investments and ETFs

• Morgan Stanley has officially submitted an application for the launch of spot ETFs for Bitcoin and Solana - marking the first instance of a major US bank participating in the cryptocurrency market of this scale.
• A few months after the approval of Bitcoin ETFs, BlackRock's portfolio in these funds has approached $100 billion, becoming one of the company's key revenue streams.
• Bank of America has allowed its financial advisors to recommend crypto assets to clients, acknowledging the continued growth of institutional acceptance of digital currencies.

These developments indicate that Wall Street is actively engaging with the crypto industry. Even the largest players in the financial market no longer view cryptocurrencies solely as a reputational risk but consider them promising sources of profit and diversification.

Regulation and Legislation

• South Korea intends to permit trading of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2026 and to tighten regulations for stablecoins (requiring 100% reserves and guaranteed buyback of funds by users).
• USA: last year, a law (GENIUS Act) was enacted to regulate stablecoins, with the approval of the Crypto Clarity Act expected at the start of 2026, which aims to establish clear rules for cryptocurrency businesses instead of non-judicial bans.
• Europe: the MiCA regulation has come into force, defining unified rules for crypto operators. Leading exchanges and banks are preparing to launch the first UCITS-compliant cryptocurrency ETFs to provide European investors with access to digital assets.

Overall, the global regulatory agenda is becoming more defined and often favourable for the market: governments are striving to implement rules that facilitate the integration of the crypto industry into financial systems rather than completely restricting it. However, investors should be aware that new laws and timelines for their implementation may temporarily create uncertainty in the market.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

1. Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency, viewed as digital gold and the foundation for many investment strategies.
2. Ethereum (ETH) — the leading platform for smart contracts and decentralised applications, second in capitalisation after Bitcoin.
3. Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, serving as a "safe haven" for trading cryptocurrencies.
4. XRP (XRP) — the cryptocurrency of the Ripple payment platform, actively promoted in international settlements and asset tokenisation.
5. Binance Coin (BNB) — the token of the Binance ecosystem; used for paying fees on the exchange and has applications in blockchain projects on the Binance Smart Chain.
6. Solana (SOL) — a high-speed blockchain platform with low fees, often used for decentralised applications and NFTs.
7. USD Coin (USDC) — a major stablecoin backed by the dollar, widely used in the Ethereum ecosystem and other blockchains.
8. TRON (TRX) — a cryptocurrency focused on the entertainment sector and scalable applications, popular in Asia.
9. Dogecoin (DOGE) — a "meme coin" that gained popularity due to its community and mentions by notable figures; often traded as a speculative asset.
10. Cardano (ADA) — a decentralised platform with a scientific approach to development, focusing on security and scalability through research-driven methods.

Global Economic Factors

Low interest rates and gradually declining inflation continue to dominate the global macroeconomic landscape, creating a favourable environment for risky assets. Investor expectations are linked to the upcoming employment report in the US (January 10), which may adjust the Fed's plans regarding further monetary policy. In the coming year, regulators in major economies, including the US and Europe, are likely to maintain moderate conditions for the market, potentially supporting the growth of stocks and cryptocurrencies.

On the other hand, geopolitical and economic instability remains a source of risk. Any sharp events — from unexpected oil price spikes to economic sanctions and political crises — could intensify volatility in the cryptocurrency market. Investors must closely monitor such events and diversify their portfolios in light of potential "shocks."

Market Expectations

Despite fluctuations, many experts maintain an overall optimistic outlook for 2026. Further development of institutional products (ETFs, tokenisation of securities) and the integration of technologies into the real economy are expected to stimulate demand for crypto assets. Some analysts predict a "supercycle of tokenisation," during which the total supply of digital tokens and stablecoins could double, driving up prices for leading coins (with some estimates suggesting Bitcoin could reach $150,000 by the year's end).

However, volatility persists: technical factors, actions by major holders, and changes in monetary policy may introduce sharp corrections. Investors are advised to remain vigilant, closely monitoring the publication of economic data and regulatory news that will determine the trajectory of the cryptocurrency market in the coming days and months.