Cryptocurrency News — Monday, January 5, 2026: Bitcoin at Historical Highs and Top 10 Digital Assets

Cryptocurrency News for Monday, 5 January 2026: Bitcoin at Historical Highs, Top 10 Cryptocurrencies Dynamics, Key Market Trends, Institutional Demand and Investor Expectations in the Global Market.

Cryptocurrency Market at the Start of 2026

At the beginning of 2026, the global cryptocurrency market maintains a cautious optimism following significant growth in 2025. The total capitalisation of digital assets stands at around $3 trillion, slightly below the peak of $4 trillion reached last year. Following a period of high volatility, the market has stabilised: Bitcoin is trading close to record values, and many altcoins have recovered a portion of their previous losses.

Improving macroeconomic conditions and an increase in institutional investments support confidence in the sector. Investors are increasingly focusing on leading cryptocurrencies with strong fundamentals and real use cases, indicating a maturity in the market.

Bitcoin: Consolidation Around $90,000

Bitcoin (BTC) continues to be the focus of the cryptocurrency market. The price of the first cryptocurrency hovers around $90,000, having only slightly retreated from the historical peak reached last year (over $120,000). Throughout 2025, Bitcoin more than doubled in price, reinforcing its market share: BTC now accounts for over 50% of the total capitalisation of cryptocurrency assets.

A key driver of Bitcoin's growth has been the influx of institutional investments. The launch of the first spot Bitcoin ETFs in the USA and Europe has opened the market for major Wall Street players, ensuring a flow of new capital. Bitcoin has firmly established itself in the eyes of investors as "digital gold" and a hedge against inflation. Moreover, a number of countries have begun to consider BTC as part of their national reserves, highlighting its increased global status.

• Limited Supply: Approximately 19.5 million of the maximum possible 21 million BTC have already been mined — the scarcity of coins continues to support Bitcoin's value in the long term.
• Institutional Demand: In 2025, public companies and funds accumulated over 5% of the total Bitcoin issuance. By the beginning of 2026, approximately $110 billion is allocated in spot Bitcoin ETFs. Despite recent minor outflows from these funds, their emergence has been a significant driver of market growth.
• Macro Factors: Expectations of a loosening monetary policy in the USA in 2026 (amid potential Fed rate cuts) fuel interest in risk assets, including BTC. Simultaneously, record-high gold prices (over $4,500 per ounce) reflect demand for safe-haven assets, indirectly supporting Bitcoin as a digital counterpart.
• High Volatility: Sharp price fluctuations persist. Analysts do not rule out a correction for Bitcoin to the range of $70,000 to $75,000 in the event of worsening liquidity in the markets. However, a confident breakthrough above ~$94,000 to $95,000 could restore bullish momentum and attract a new wave of buyers.

Ethereum and Major Altcoins

Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by capitalisation, has strengthened its role as the foundational platform for decentralised applications. In 2025, Ethereum successfully underwent several updates that enhanced network scalability (including the implementation of sharding and zk-rollups technologies). By the end of the year, the price of ETH remains around $3,000 — below record levels (close to $5,000 at the market peak); however, Ethereum consistently retains its second position thanks to a vast DeFi and NFT ecosystem. Institutional investors are also showing interest in Ethereum, considering staking opportunities and the growth potential of the network. In 2025, the first spot ETFs on Ethereum emerged, attracting additional capital to the ETH market.

Among the largest altcoins are Binance Coin (BNB), XRP, Solana, and Cardano. BNB, as the internal token of the Binance exchange ecosystem, maintains a high market capitalisation due to its wide range of applications within that ecosystem (from fee payments to decentralised applications). XRP has significantly recovered following the removal of legal uncertainty in the USA, reigniting banks' interest in using the token for cross-border payments. Solana (SOL) has overcome the technical challenges of previous years and has attracted attention due to its growth in the tokenisation of real-world assets on its high-speed blockchain platform. Cardano (ADA) continues to develop its protocol in a phased manner, relying on scientific research, and maintains a place among the top 10 due to its committed community and regular network updates.

Also among the top ten are Tron (TRX) and Dogecoin (DOGE). Tron attracts users with low fees and high transaction speeds, becoming one of the main networks for issuing and moving stablecoins. Dogecoin, which began as a meme coin, remains in the top ten due to its active community support and periodic attention from well-known entrepreneurs.

DeFi and Web3: A New Growth Cycle

The decentralised finance (DeFi) sector is experiencing a new upswing. By the end of 2025, the total value locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols exceeded $160 billion, increasing by over 40% year-on-year. This growth is largely due to technical enhancements: the Ethereum ecosystem has implemented layer two solutions (such as zk-rollups) to speed up transactions and reduce fees, while alternative blockchains like Solana have improved their network reliability and throughput. DeFi applications provide investors with new income opportunities — from liquid staking to crypto-lending — attracting both retail and institutional market participants.

Concurrently, the concept of Web3 — decentralised internet services based on blockchain — continues to evolve. In 2025, the influx of users into Web3 applications persisted: decentralised exchanges, play-to-earn gaming projects, metaverses, NFT marketplaces, and other services have become more accessible thanks to improvements in user experience. The tokenisation of real-world assets (RWA) is gaining momentum: digital counterparts of traditional financial instruments are appearing on blockchain platforms, expanding the application of crypto technologies in the real world. Additionally, integration with artificial intelligence technologies has intensified: AI algorithms are being used to optimise trading and asset management, while blockchain projects are implementing AI elements to enhance efficiency and security.

Regulation and Institutional Interest

The past year was marked by significant changes in cryptocurrency regulation and a surge in interest from traditional finance. In the USA, the first specialised law on stablecoins (GENIUS Act) was passed in the summer of 2025, establishing rules for issuers of dollar-pegged tokens and allowing licensed companies to offer clients yield-bearing products based on stablecoins. Analysts estimate that this innovation could divert some liquidity from the banking system: large banks warn that the growth of the stablecoin market could withdraw hundreds of billions of dollars from deposits, particularly in developing countries. In the European Union, the MiCA regulation came into effect, establishing uniform rules for crypto assets and providing companies with clearer operational conditions. Many countries around the world are seeking a balance between supporting innovation and managing risks: some nations are simplifying access for citizens to cryptocurrencies, while others are launching their own central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in response to the proliferation of private crypto assets.

Meanwhile, institutional investors are increasingly entering the crypto market. Major asset managers and banks — from BlackRock and Fidelity to JPMorgan — highlight the growing role of cryptocurrencies in their strategic forecasts for 2026. Here are some examples of their positions:

• Fidelity: notes that several countries are already adding Bitcoin to their state reserves (for example, Brazil and Kyrgyzstan recently permitted BTC purchases at the national level).
• JPMorgan: suggests that despite the decline in total capitalisation from $4 trillion to $3 trillion in 2025, the industry retains growth potential due to more lenient regulations in the USA and the emergence of legal investment products.
• Coinbase: predicts an increase in demand for anonymous cryptocurrencies (Monero, Zcash) amid heightened attention to data privacy in the digital space.

Overall, 2025 demonstrated that cryptocurrencies are conclusively transitioning from experimental assets to mainstream elements of the global financial system.

Stablecoins: From Niche to Mainstream

In 2025, stablecoins have firmly established themselves as a key component of the crypto economy. The total issuance volume of stablecoins exceeded $300 billion, with leading dollar tokens Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) accounting for the bulk of this capitalisation. Initially serving as a means to facilitate cryptocurrency trading, stablecoins are now actively used beyond exchanges. In countries with unstable national currencies, digital "dollars" in the form of stablecoins have become a popular means of savings and payments. International transfers in stablecoins allow for significant savings on fees and accelerate transactions compared to traditional banking channels.

Fintech giants have also entered this space: for example, PayPal launched its own stablecoin, while payment networks Visa and Mastercard are testing operations using stable digital currencies. The expanding application of stablecoins is drawing regulatory attention, as their scale is beginning to touch the traditional financial system. Nevertheless, stablecoins have become an indispensable liquidity tool for the cryptocurrency market, bridging the gap between fiat money and digital assets. Their widespread adoption in 2025 vividly demonstrates how quickly innovations are being integrated into everyday financial practices around the globe.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

Despite the existence of thousands of digital coins, the market leaders remain the largest and most recognized cryptocurrencies. Below are the ten most popular crypto assets by market capitalisation at the start of 2026:

1. Bitcoin (BTC) — approximately $90,000. The first and largest cryptocurrency, often referred to as "digital gold." It sets the direction for the entire market; its capitalisation makes up about half of the total cryptocurrency market capitalisation.
2. Ethereum (ETH) — approximately $3,000. The second-largest crypto asset and leading platform for smart contracts. The Ethereum ecosystem supports DeFi and NFT ecosystems, providing infrastructure for thousands of decentralised applications.
3. Tether (USDT) — ~$1 (stablecoin). The largest stablecoin, pegged to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio. Widely used for trading and payments, it serves as a link between fiat currencies and the crypto market.
4. Binance Coin (BNB) — approximately $400. The internal token of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and its blockchain ecosystem. Used for fee payments, participation in DeFi applications, and access to various services within the Binance ecosystem.
5. XRP (XRP) — approximately $0.80. A cryptocurrency developed by Ripple for fast international payments. After the removal of regulatory restrictions in the USA, it is regaining popularity among banks and payment systems.
6. USD Coin (USDC) — ~$1 (stablecoin). The second most popular dollar stablecoin, issued by the Centre consortium (Circle and Coinbase). Known for its transparency of reserves and actively used in trading and the DeFi space.
7. Solana (SOL) — approximately $180. A high-performance blockchain, one of the main alternatives to Ethereum. It boasts high transaction speeds; the DeFi application ecosystem and tokenised assets are growing on the Solana platform.
8. Tron (TRX) — approximately $0.10. A blockchain platform focused on entertainment content and decentralised applications. Distinguished by low fees and high throughput; widely used for the issuance and movement of stablecoins.
9. Dogecoin (DOGE) — approximately $0.07. The most famous meme token, which began as a joke but has grown into an asset with a multi-billion dollar capitalisation. The popularity of DOGE is supported by an energetic community and the attention of well-known entrepreneurs.
10. Cardano (ADA) — approximately $0.45. A blockchain platform developed based on scientific research. It offers smart contracts and aims for high reliability; it has a dedicated community of users and consistently ranks among the largest cryptocurrencies.

Market Prospects

Thus, the cryptocurrency market enters 2026 more resilient and mature. Institutional participation, thoughtful regulation, and technological innovations form the foundation for further growth in the industry. Despite potential periods of volatility, the overall trend remains positive: the influx of new capital through ETFs and other investment products, along with the expansion of real use cases for blockchain, will continue to support demand for key crypto assets. Experts believe that in 2026, cryptocurrencies will further solidify their role in the global financial system, continuing their journey towards becoming fully mainstream.

At the same time, sharp price surges may not occur in the coming weeks, and volatility remains an inherent characteristic of this market. Accordingly, caution and a well-considered strategy remain essential for investors globally entering the new year.