Cryptocurrency News for Sunday, 18 January 2026: Bitcoin Surpasses $100,000, Altcoin Rally Strengthens, Institutional Inflows, Regulation and Investor Outlook
As of the morning of 18 January 2026, the global cryptocurrency market maintains an upward momentum following recent gains. Bitcoin has surpassed the psychologically significant milestone of $100,000 for the first time, establishing a new historical record for the cryptocurrency market. The dominance of the leading cryptocurrency remains around 60% of the total market capitalisation, which has reached approximately $3.3 trillion, reflecting predominantly optimistic investor sentiment.
The situation continues to be influenced by favourable macroeconomic conditions (slowing inflation and softened interest rate forecasts), as well as hopes for clearer industry regulations—these factors are supporting the current rally in digital assets. Ethereum holds above $3,400 per coin after a recent network upgrade in early January, while major altcoins are also predominantly increasing in line with the market leader.
Below are the key market indicators for the morning of 18 January:
- The total market capitalisation of all digital assets is estimated to be around $3.3 trillion.
- Bitcoin (BTC) is trading above the historic mark of $100,000, primarily fluctuating in the range of $100,000–105,000. Bitcoin's share is approximately 60–61% of the total capitalisation, reaffirming its status as the "digital gold" of the market.
- Ethereum (ETH) remains above $3,400, having added around 5% over the past week. The market capitalisation of Ethereum exceeds $400 billion (about 12% of the market), confirming its second position in importance.
- Major altcoins predominantly demonstrate positive dynamics. Top 10 coins such as Binance Coin (BNB), XRP, and Solana have gained approximately 4–6% in the last week, while Cardano (ADA) and Dogecoin (DOGE) have increased by about 7–8%.
Bitcoin Surpasses $100,000
Bitcoin (BTC) continues to lead the market and remains the driving force behind the current growth of the cryptocurrency market. By mid-January, its price is confidently holding above the significant mark of $100,000, with an increase of around 7% in recent days. This has strengthened Bitcoin's position following a correction at the end of 2025 and marks a new record in value.
Additional momentum for the largest cryptocurrency comes from institutional capital inflows. Analysts estimate that in one of the recent trading sessions, Bitcoin ETF products attracted around $843 million, and the total inflow of funds since the beginning of the year has already exceeded $1.7 billion. Investor confidence is bolstered by significant corporate purchases: MicroStrategy has increased its reserves by more than 13,600 BTC (around $1.25 billion) in January, taking advantage of lowered prices to accumulate assets.
Among traders, expectations for further growth are rising after surpassing the psychological barrier of $100,000—a confident consolidation above this threshold could trigger a new phase of the rally. In the short term, the task of maintaining the price above this new level is crucial; otherwise, a consolidation of quotes at achieved levels before a new growth attempt may occur.
Ethereum and Leading Altcoins
Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, strengthens its position following Bitcoin's rise. In early January, an important hard fork (BPO protocol upgrade) took place in the Ethereum network, aimed at optimising parameters and enhancing transaction efficiency. Following this upgrade, Ethereum confidently holds above $3,400 per coin. The active development of Layer-2 solutions and the growth of the decentralised finance (DeFi) ecosystem continue to augment investment demand for ETH, with the market capitalisation of the network approaching $400 billion, reinforcing Ethereum's status as a key platform for smart contracts.
Leading altcoins generally support the upward trend of the market. Binance Coin (BNB) and XRP have gained approximately 5% over the past week, while Cardano (ADA) and Dogecoin (DOGE) have risen around 7%. Additionally, positive news has attracted investor attention: the launch of the world's first spot ETF on the Chainlink token (ticker: CLNK) on 15 January has increased demand for LINK (its price has risen by more than 8% in recent days). The combination of these factors supports the positive dynamics of major alternative cryptocurrencies.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency, market leader. Price around $102,000, capitalisation over $2 trillion.
- Ethereum (ETH) — leading blockchain platform for smart contracts. Price approximately $3,400, market capitalisation around $420 billion.
- Tether (USDT) — largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar 1:1. Widely used by traders for operations on cryptocurrency exchanges.
- Binance Coin (BNB) — native token of the Binance exchange, providing discounts on fees and participating in ecosystem services. Price around $1,000, capitalisation around $160 billion.
- USD Coin (USDC) — second largest stablecoin, backed by the US dollar. Actively used in DeFi and cryptocurrency payments.
- XRP (Ripple) — token of the Ripple payment network for fast international transactions. Price around $2.30, market capitalisation ~ $150 billion.
- Solana (SOL) — high-performance blockchain platform for decentralised applications. Price around $155, capitalisation approximately $75 billion.
- Cardano (ADA) — next-generation blockchain with a Proof-of-Stake algorithm. Price around $0.45, capitalisation around $37 billion.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — meme cryptocurrency that gained notoriety due to community support. Current price around $0.17, capitalisation ~ $22 billion.
- TRON (TRX) — blockchain platform focused on the entertainment and content industry. Price around $0.32, market capitalisation around $25 billion.
Institutional Investments and ETFs
Institutional interest in cryptocurrencies remains high at the beginning of 2026. By mid-January, Bitcoin ETFs are recording record inflows: on separate days, the volume of investments reaches $800–900 million, while the total inflow since the start of the year is around $1.7 billion. Such a scale of purchases significantly boosts confidence in the market: major companies and investment funds are actively increasing their positions in digital assets.
In addition to investments through funds, interest in direct ownership of cryptocurrencies remains robust. For example, MicroStrategy announced the purchase of around 13,600 BTC (approximately $1.25 billion) during January—one of the largest transactions from a public company. Moreover, new products aimed at attracting institutional capital are being introduced to the market: on 15 January, trading began on NYSE Arca for the first spot ETF on the Chainlink token (CLNK), providing investors direct exposure to the LINK cryptocurrency. Analysts believe that the growth of such fund volumes and increased corporate investments are creating fundamental prerequisites for further price growth in digital assets.
Regulation and Legislation
In the realm of cryptocurrency regulation, initiatives are evolving that will largely determine the "rules of the game" in 2026. In the US, a bill has been introduced to delineate oversight responsibilities among various regulators and to establish which tokens are considered securities and which are commodity assets. It is anticipated that discussions on this document will help to establish clearer rules for crypto companies in the American market.
Similar steps are being taken in other countries. In Russia, a law is being considered that could legalise retail transactions with cryptocurrencies by mid-2026, while in the European Union, the MiCA regulation is nearing implementation, integrating digital assets under the supervision of financial authorities.
Technological Updates and Innovations
The technological infrastructure of the cryptocurrency market continues to improve. Within the Bitcoin ecosystem, a scaling solution, Lightning Network, is developing—the total capacity of this network has surpassed 10,000 BTC for the first time, significantly expanding possibilities for fast and cheap micropayments.
In the stablecoin segment, oversight and accountability are noticeably increasing. Issuers are taking proactive measures against abuses; for instance, Tether has frozen over $180 million USDT on addresses suspected of fraudulent activity. Concurrently, Western Union and Klarna have confirmed the development of their own regulated stablecoins for international payments. These steps reflect a global trend towards heightened security and compliance with regulatory requirements, thereby increasing institutional investors' trust in digital assets.
Global Markets and Macroeconomics
The global macroeconomic environment continues to influence demand for cryptocurrencies. Global stock indices are rising, reflecting a sustained risk appetite. In the US, the Federal Reserve is signalling a potential easing of monetary policy amid cooling inflation—this supports capital inflows into high-risk assets and simultaneous dollar weakening. Additionally, fresh economic data from China have exceeded forecasts, bolstering investor confidence in global growth. Against this backdrop, some investors are increasingly using cryptocurrencies for hedging and diversification, intensifying capital inflows into the digital asset market.
Outlook and Predictions
Experts remain generally optimistic regarding the further development of the cryptocurrency market. An increase in institutional demand and progress in regulation are creating fundamental conditions for continued growth. The key benchmark remains the $100,000 mark for Bitcoin: analysts believe that a confident hold above this level could attract new capital inflows and open the next phase of the rally. Some forecasts allow for Bitcoin's price to rise to $150,000–200,000 by the end of the year if current trends persist.
At the same time, market participants remind us of the continued high volatility. Short-term corrections are still probable, especially with changes in global financial conditions or negative news emerging. Among the main drivers of growth, improvements in the regulatory climate and further integration of crypto assets into the traditional financial system (via new ETFs, central bank digital currencies, and other initiatives) are highlighted. The return of mass interest from retail investors, which is currently relatively subdued, could provide the market with additional momentum. Given favourable developments, the mid-term trend is likely to remain bullish; however, analysts advise investors to adhere to a diversified strategy and carefully assess risks.
