Cryptocurrency News January 13, 2026 — Bitcoin, Altcoins, DeFi and NFT, Top-10 Overview

Latest Cryptocurrency News for Tuesday, 13 January 2026: Bitcoin, Altcoins, DeFi and NFT Market, Institutional Investments, and Review of the Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies in the World

Market Overview

• The combined market capitalisation of the global cryptocurrency market is estimated at approximately $3.2 trillion, remaining close to weekend levels. The daily trading volume has not changed significantly, reflecting a phase of consolidation following the volatility of the first week of the year.
• Bitcoin (BTC) is hovering around the $92,000 mark, slightly above the important psychological level of $90,000. The market capitalisation of Bitcoin is about $1.8 trillion, supporting its dominance at around ~58% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalisation.
• Ethereum (ETH) is trading in the range of $3,200–3,300, demonstrating modest growth following Bitcoin. ETH's capitalisation exceeds $380 billion (around 12% of the market), confirming its status as the second most significant cryptocurrency.
• Leading altcoins show mostly minor price changes within +1–3% over the past 24 hours. Coins in the top 10, such as Solana, XRP, Cardano, and others, are trading close to the levels of the previous day, signalling ongoing market stabilisation following a tumultuous start to the year.

Bitcoin: Consolidation After Growth

At the beginning of the new week, Bitcoin continues to consolidate around the $90–92 thousand range. Following a volatile start to the year, the leading cryptocurrency is striving to stay above $90,000. On January 5, BTC climbed close to $95,000 (around $94.8 thousand, a local maximum in recent months), but subsequently faced a correction, with the price briefly dipping below $90,000 on January 8. Currently, Bitcoin has retraced most of the decline, returning to ~$92,000, which is approximately 3–4% above the levels at the beginning of the year. Current quotes remain about a quarter below the historical peak (~$124,000, reached in mid-2025), but investors note Bitcoin's resilience at these heights.

Analysts point out that the $90–95 thousand range has become a new psychologically significant zone for Bitcoin. Sellers are actively taking profits when attempts are made to rise above these levels, whilst buyers support the price during declines below $90,000. Macroeconomic uncertainty (e.g., the upcoming release of inflation data in the U.S.) is currently restraining sharp price movements; however, fundamental factors for BTC remain positive. Many continue to perceive Bitcoin as "digital gold" and a safe haven asset. Recent geopolitical tensions have further intensified interest in BTC as a "safe harbour": amidst international uncertainty, investors have sought refuge in Bitcoin. Additionally, there are rumours regarding significant BTC reserves held by certain states (and potential withdrawal of some coins from circulation), which adds bullish expectations to the market.

Ethereum Retains its Position as Number Two

Ethereum (ETH), the second largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, is moving in line with overall market dynamics. As of January 13, Ether is trading at around $3,250 per coin, having slightly strengthened in recent days. In the first half of January, ETH reached ~$3,300 – a peak since last autumn. On a weekly basis, Ether has gained about 5–6%, confidently maintaining its status as the largest altcoin. Although the current price remains significantly below the historical peak (~$5,000), Ethereum demonstrates stability and continues to attract investors with its technological potential.

The current capitalisation of Ethereum is around $380 billion (approximately 12% of the total market capitalisation), which firmly secures ETH's second position in the industry. Interest in the smart contract platform remains high. In 2025, the first spot ETFs on Ether were launched, providing institutional investors with convenient access to ETH and leading to record capital inflows into related funds. Major players view Ethereum as the foundational infrastructure for a whole layer of the industry – from decentralised finance (DeFi) to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other Web3 applications. Ongoing technical development of the network (scheduled protocol upgrades, second-layer scaling solutions) combined with support from institutional investors allows for strong projections regarding Ethereum's continued prominence and potential price growth in the medium term.

Altcoins: Leaders of Growth and Correction

The altcoin market has exhibited mixed dynamics at the beginning of the week. The total market capitalisation of all alternative cryptocurrencies (excluding Bitcoin) is holding around ~$1.35 trillion. This is below the summer peaks of 2025 (~$1.7 trillion), yet still reflects lasting investor interest in digital assets beyond BTC. Many leading altcoins, after a tumultuous rally in the first half of 2025, experienced significant corrections in autumn and are now trying to find a new equilibrium at higher levels.

Among the largest altcoins, Ripple (XRP) stands out. The token of the Ripple payment network confidently holds above $2.00 following an impressive surge of about 25% in the early days of January. The main drivers of XRP’s growth have been the legal clarity surrounding the token's status (Ripple's victory over the SEC in court in 2025) and the launch of the first ETFs on XRP. The market capitalisation of XRP is estimated at around $110 billion, which once again brings it into the top three market leaders. Institutional interest in XRP has noticeably increased due to the emergence of opportunities to invest in the asset through regulated funds, bolstering a long-term positive sentiment among market participants.

Another notable player is Binance Coin (BNB), the native token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance. Despite the regulatory difficulties surrounding Binance in the past year, BNB is trading around $500 (with a capitalisation of about $80 billion) and remains in the top five cryptocurrencies. The current price is below the historical maximum (~$750); however, the token demonstrates resilience due to its broad area of application. BNB is actively used for paying trading fees on the exchange, participating in token sales, and facilitating transactions within decentralised applications on the BNB Chain (in DeFi protocols, games, etc.). This utility value allows the token to maintain its demand even under regulatory pressure.

Significant activity is also observed among platform tokens within the smart contract ecosystem. Solana (SOL) has surpassed the $150 mark per coin at the beginning of January for the first time since 2022. The news about the launch of the first spot ETF on Solana in the U.S. at the end of 2025 has boosted the growth of this cryptocurrency, stimulating capital inflow. The capitalisation of Solana has now reached ~$60 billion. The revival of the project ecosystem based on Solana – from DeFi applications to NFT marketplaces – supports investor optimism regarding SOL's future prospects.

Cardano (ADA), another major platform, is attracting analysts' attention with plans for launching an ETF based on its token. At the end of last year, the investment company Grayscale submitted an application in the U.S. for the creation of an ETF linked to the ADA token, triggering a surge of interest in this cryptocurrency. Currently, Cardano is trading around $0.70 (capitalisation of about $23 billion) after a correction from recent local highs. The key psychological level of $1.00 has yet to be breached, but ADA remains one of the most promising platforms in terms of technological development. The project team follows a research-oriented approach, and the active community of supporters continues to believe in Cardano's long-term growth.

A special mention goes to the segment of so-called memecoins. In the first week of January, there was a spike in demand for high-risk "meme coins" among retail traders. For instance, Dogecoin and Shiba Inu rose by approximately 15–20% over the past seven days, lifting the total capitalisation of niche memetokens above $45 billion. This phenomenon indicates a sustained appetite for risk in certain corners of the market, despite the overall cautious sentiment among investors. However, such rallies in low-liquidity assets are usually short-lived. By the end of the past weekend, the growth of memecoins started to slow down. Experts warn that such volatile assets can just as quickly retrace, so participation in them should be approached with caution.

DeFi and NFT: Development of Industry Segments

The decentralised finance (DeFi) sector continues to grow and integrate more deeply with the traditional financial system. Major DeFi platforms are now comparable to centralised exchanges in terms of turnover; for instance, the emerging exchange Hyperliquid is gaining recognition, processing hundreds of billions in trading volumes and competing with giants like Binance for derivatives. More institutional and professional traders are getting involved in DeFi, although regulators are paying increased attention to this segment. In the coming years, greater legal clarity regarding issues such as KYC procedures and token holder rights is expected, as DeFi becomes a more influential part of the financial market. Despite potential regulatory hurdles, the growth trajectory of decentralised finance remains upward – this sector has already "earned a seat at the table" of major capital and, judging by trends, will only gain weight.

Meanwhile, the non-fungible token (NFT) market is experiencing a maturity stage after explosive growth and subsequent cooling. The boom of 2021–2022 has given way to a more measured period: many large brands that experimented with NFTs have reassessed their strategies and reduced activity in the sphere of digital collectible tokens. However, the NFT ecosystem continues to thrive and find new areas of application beyond art and collecting. Virtual items in the form of NFTs are actively used in blockchain games and metaverses, loyalty and membership programmes are being implemented based on NFTs, and cases of using tokens for digital identity and community management are emerging. Although the mass hype surrounding NFTs has subsided, active communities of collectors and enthusiasts remain, and a potential new uptrend in the cryptocurrency market could rekindle interest in the most well-known NFT collections. Overall, the NFT segment is moving from hype to more practical and utilitarian applications, indicating its gradual maturation.

Institutional Investments and ETF Launches

• High Institutional Engagement: Major financial organisations continue to increase their presence in the cryptocurrency market. In 2025, U.S. regulators approved the first spot ETFs on Bitcoin and Ethereum, opening the door for investments from banks, hedge funds, and even pension funds. By the beginning of 2026, institutional investors collectively own record volumes of crypto assets, viewing them as a promising class for portfolio diversification.
• New ETFs and Applications: At the end of 2025, exchange-traded funds on some altcoins – primarily on XRP and Solana – entered the market, marking an important milestone for the industry. In early 2026, the range of crypto ETFs continues to expand: financial giant Morgan Stanley has officially submitted an application to the SEC for launching spot funds on Bitcoin and Solana. This marks the first instance of one of Wall Street's largest banks directly initiating the launch of a crypto fund, which is seen as a signal of growing confidence in digital assets.
• Capital Inflows and Outflows: Following the emergence of new ETFs on Bitcoin and Ethereum in the early days of January, the corresponding funds attracted billions of dollars. However, amidst the recent price correction, short-term outflows have also been recorded: on January 7-8, approximately $0.5 billion was withdrawn from U.S. Bitcoin funds, and about $0.16 billion from Ethereum funds. Experts estimate that these outflows are related to profit-taking after the rally at the end of 2025 and do not indicate a loss of confidence. Overall, the capital inflow over the past weeks still surpasses the outflows, and major players are strategically not reducing their positions.
• Companies Accept Cryptocurrencies: Beyond financial institutions, cryptocurrencies are increasingly infiltrating the corporate sector. For instance, in January, Bank of America officially recommended its clients include Bitcoin up to 4% in their investment portfolios, essentially acknowledging its significance as an asset. Furthermore, the retail giant Walmart announced the commencement of cryptocurrency payments (BTC and ETH) through its OnePay Cash app. This step offers more than 150 million Walmart customers the ability to pay for goods and services with digital currencies, marking an important milestone towards the mass adoption of crypto assets.

Regulation and Global Trends

• Softening Positions in Major Economies: Worldwide, efforts to establish unified rules for cryptocurrency operations continue. In the U.S., following important judicial precedents of 2025 (including the Ripple vs. SEC case), calls for clear legislation regarding digital assets have intensified. Legislators and regulators are developing new norms that will allow legal investments in crypto assets without concerns over their status. In 2026, discussions in the U.S. Congress regarding federal laws on stablecoins and digital assets are anticipated – this could lay the groundwork for further industry growth in the country.
• Europe Introduces MiCA Regulations: The European Union is implementing a comprehensive regulatory framework known as MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets), aimed at standardising the approach to cryptocurrencies across all EU countries. The new rules enhance market transparency and establish unified requirements for crypto companies, while simultaneously providing institutional investors with greater confidence. It is expected that uniform rules in Europe will attract new crypto startups and capital, as legal certainty becomes a competitive advantage.
• Asian Markets Opening Up: In Asia, there is ongoing proactive movement towards the crypto industry. South Korean authorities have announced plans to allow trading of spot Bitcoin ETFs on national exchanges as early as 2026, while simultaneously tightening requirements on stablecoins (implementing mandatory 100% collateral backing for issued stablecoins with real assets). Financial centres in the region, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, are introducing licensing for crypto exchanges and services, aspiring to become hubs for global crypto investments. These steps indicate an overall trend: despite differing approaches, the world's largest economies are increasingly integrating cryptocurrencies into their financial-legal systems.

Market Sentiment and Outlook

Following the rapid growth in the first half of 2025 and the subsequent sharp decline in autumn, sentiment in the cryptocurrency market at the beginning of 2026 remains cautious. The "fear and greed" index for cryptocurrencies has been in the fear zone since mid-December; as of January 8, it stood at around 28 points out of 100, reflecting prevailing investor anxiety. Prolonged periods of low index values are often viewed as a sign of market oversold conditions – previously similar levels have often preceded upward reversals, as the most nervous participants have already exited their positions. However, the continued dominance of "fear" indicates that confidence has not yet fully recovered following the recent downturn.

Volatility in the crypto market remains high. Sharp price movements in the early days of January led to a wave of liquidations of margin positions. For instance, on January 8 alone, positions worth over $450 million were forcibly closed, with the majority of this amount attributable to long (buying) positions. The rapid price decline forced approximately 120,000 traders to close their trades at a loss. This episode serves as a reminder of the risks for players using high leverage: overly optimistic bets on continued growth may result in the "squeezing" of long positions and amplifying the scale of the downturn. Such cases have already occurred in the history of the crypto market (for example, in October 2025, one-day liquidations reached a record $19 billion), highlighting the need for caution.

Experts advise investors to maintain composure and carefully manage risks. Until new fundamental growth drivers emerge (such as notable improvements in the macroeconomic situation or breakthrough technological updates), any surges in optimism may quickly be followed by profit-taking. The divergence in market sentiment – from the overall cautious "fear" to local bursts of enthusiasm around specific tokens – indicates a transitional phase. Many analysts believe that the current price consolidation may continue for several more weeks.

Nevertheless, long-term investors maintain optimism: the fundamental growth factors of the industry (expanding adoption of blockchain technologies, institutional interest, gradual improvement of regulation) have not vanished. In the absence of new shocks, the market has a chance to gradually regain an upward momentum in the second half of 2026. In any case, market participants are advised to closely monitor economic data and news — they will largely determine the trajectory of the cryptocurrency market in the near future.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

1. Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $92,000 after recent fluctuations, with a market capitalisation of approximately $1.8 trillion (≈58% of the entire market). Bitcoin is perceived by investors as "digital gold" and a foundational asset for many investment strategies in the crypto industry.
2. Ethereum (ETH) — the leading altcoin and smart contract platform. The price of ETH is around $3,300, significantly lower than historical highs; however, Ether confidently retains second place by capitalisation (~$390 billion, ≈12% of the market). Ethereum serves as the foundation for the DeFi and NFT ecosystem, continuing to attract developers and investors.
3. Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin, pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 ratio. USDT is widely used by traders for transactions and capital storage between trades, with a capitalisation of around $170 billion; due to its full reserve backing, the coin reliably maintains a price of $1.00 acting as a "safe haven" in a volatile market.
4. Ripple (XRP) — the token of the Ripple payment network for cross-border payments. XRP is currently trading around $2.00 with a market capitalisation of approximately $110 billion. The legal clarity of XRP's status in the U.S. following the court decision in 2025 and the launch of ETFs on this token has strengthened investor confidence. XRP has regained its place among market leaders, remaining attractive for rapid payments and the tokenisation of various assets.
5. Binance Coin (BNB) — the coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and the native token of the BNB Chain. The value of BNB is around $500 (capitalisation ~ $80 billion). Despite regulatory challenges surrounding Binance, the token remains in the top five thanks to its broad area of application: BNB is used for paying fees on the exchange, participating in token sales, and facilitating transactions in decentralised applications within the Binance ecosystem.
6. Solana (SOL) — a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralised applications (dApps). SOL is trading around $150 per coin (capitalisation ~ $60 billion), recovering a significant portion of the decline from autumn 2025. Interest in Solana is supported by the launch of the first ETF on this asset and the revival of projects based on it, returning the platform to its position as one of the technological leaders in the industry.
7. USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin backed by reserves in U.S. dollars (issued by Circle). USDC consistently maintains a price of $1.00 thanks to regular audits of reserves, with a market capitalisation of about $60 billion. The coin is actively used by both institutional investors and in DeFi protocols, offering transparency and a high level of trust in the stablecoin segment.
8. Cardano (ADA) — a blockchain platform with a research-driven approach to development. ADA is currently priced at approximately $0.70 (capitalisation ~ $23 billion) following a correction from recent highs. Cardano is attracting attention with the planned launch of an ETF based on its token and ongoing technical improvements within the network. The project's community believes in the long-term growth of ADA, and its focus on scientific reasoning in decisions favourably distinguishes this platform among competitors.
9. TRON (TRX) — a platform for smart contracts and decentralised entertainment, especially popular in Asia. TRX is trading around $0.25 (capitalisation ~ $22 billion). TRON holds its place in the top ten partly due to the widespread use of its network for issuing stablecoins (a significant portion of USDT is in circulation on the TRON blockchain), as well as an active Asian user base.
10. Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most famous "meme cryptocurrency," originally created as a joke. DOGE is currently priced around $0.14 (capitalisation ~ $21 billion), supported by an active community and occasional celebrity attention. Although Dogecoin's volatility remains high, this coin continues to stay in the top ten, demonstrating remarkable resilience to investors' interest in high-risk assets.