Bitcoin traded above $95,000 on Wednesday, buoyed by growing institutional demand and positive sentiment from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report showing softer-than-expected core inflation in December. The cryptocurrency rose from Tuesday's open of $91,296 to a high of $96,495, lifting altcoins like Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP). Bitcoin spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) saw $753 million in inflows on Tuesday—the highest single-day amount since October—with no outflows from the nine funds. Cumulative inflows reached $57.27 billion, with net assets at $123 billion. Fidelity’s FBTC led with $351 million, followed by Bitwise’s BITB ($159 million) and BlackRock’s IBIT ($126 million).

Ethereum spot ETFs recorded $130 million in inflows for the second straight day, totaling $12.57 billion cumulatively and $19.62 billion in net assets. BlackRock’s ETHA topped with $53 million, then Grayscale’s ETH ($35 million) and Bitwise’s ETHW ($23 million). XRP ETFs attracted nearly $13 million on Tuesday, with cumulative inflows at $1.25 billion and net assets at $1.54 billion; only one outflow of $41 million occurred on January 7.

Technically, Bitcoin's MACD shows a buy signal since December 21, with potential for a breakout to $100,000 if it closes above the 100-day EMA at $95,987, though resistance looms at the 200-day EMA ($99,581). RSI at 65 risks a correction to $90,000 if it falls to 50.

Bitcoin's rally, as reported by CryptoQuant, features a surge in spot volume, negative funding rates, and a 31% drop in Binance open interest. Heavy spot buying drove prices higher toward the $94,300 area on the 15-minute BTC/USDT chart (TradingView/X), with aggregated spot volume reaching its highest in several days. Limited upper wicks indicate buyers absorbed supply without rejection, signaling real capital demand over leverage.

In contrast, derivatives traders faded the move: open interest rose with price, but funding rates turned negative, meaning shorts paid longs via perpetual contracts. This bearish leverage positioning highlights a split—spot buyers commit without liquidation risk, while derivatives express caution. The divergence suggests sustained spot-led rallies could pressure shorts if prices continue rising, as the advance isn't solely from short covering.

Binance's deleveraging saw open interest fall 31%, approaching its 180-day average while Bitcoin stabilized near $90,800 highs. CryptoQuant charts show red-shaded periods of declining open interest preceding advances or lows. Analyst Darkfost notes similar patterns near past cycle lows, often followed by stronger trends. Lower open interest reduces liquidation risk, shifting reliance to spot flows in this consolidation phase, with derivatives cooling amid supported prices.

Bitcoin surged above $95,000 on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, fueled by regulatory optimism and a strong rally in digital assets. The world's largest cryptocurrency traded at $95,148, up 3.6% in the past 24 hours, marking the first time since November it crossed this threshold. Bitcoin has gained 9% so far in 2026 but remains about 25% below its record high of over $126,000, reached in October.

Other cryptocurrencies also rose, with Ethereum increasing 6.5% to $3,335 and XRP climbing 4.1% to $2.15. The momentum stems from progress on crypto market structure legislation, including the Senate Banking Committee's Thursday review of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, whose draft was released earlier this week. The bill aims to equip "everyday Americans with the tools, information, and protections they need to safely participate in digital asset markets."

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins commented on X, stating, “Passing bipartisan market structure legislation will help us future-proof against rogue regulators, ensuring that we achieve President Trump’s goal to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world.” He added, “This is a big week for crypto.” (Photo: AFP)

Bitcoin (BTC) surged past $94,500 for the first time since November, reaching $97,447.39 and briefly exceeding $97,000 during U.S. market hours on Wednesday, amid political turmoil in Venezuela and Iran that reinforced its safe-haven status. The rally, up 3% since Tuesday, liquidated around $500 million in short positions, contributing to over $680 million in total crypto futures liquidations over 24 hours, with bearish bets hit hardest. Open interest in BTC and Ether (ETH $3,379.38) futures rose over 4%, while speculative tokens like DOGE and FARTCOIN saw 10% and 13% increases, respectively. Funding rates hovered at 10%, and implied volatility indexes for BTC and ETH declined, supporting the price gains.

Altcoins outperformed, with DASH, OP, and ENA gaining over 10%; DASH posted its largest daily move since 2021, adding 28% since midnight UTC. XRP, BNB, and SOL rose 2.5%-4.1%, while ENA ($0.2458), TIA ($0.6093), PUMP exceeded 10%, and memecoins PEPE (+12%) and BONK ($0.0₄1196, +9.5%) surged around 22:00 UTC Tuesday. ETH trading volume jumped 83% to $34 billion. However, RSI indicators show overbought conditions for BTC, ETH, BNB, and SOL, signaling potential consolidation ahead of U.S. open at 14:30 UTC. On Deribit, BTC call options at $96,000, $98,000, and $100,000 saw high activity, though puts traded at a premium medium-term.

KuCoin achieved a record $1.25 trillion trading volume in 2025, averaging $114 billion monthly, capturing peak centralized exchange market share with balanced spot and derivatives activity exceeding $500 billion each. Altcoins dominated trading, sustaining engagement despite mid-year slowdowns. Crypto equities like Strategy rose over 8%, fueled by a criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, driving haven assets including gold, silver, and BTC.

Bitcoin surged to $96,348 on Tuesday, January 14, 2026—its highest level since November—driven by cooling U.S. inflation data, massive short liquidations, and robust spot ETF inflows. Softer-than-expected inflation bolstered hopes for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts amid political uncertainty, pushing investors toward Bitcoin and gold. QCP Capital described this as a “Goldilocks environment” of stable inflation and resilient jobs data, reopening doors to risk assets. The article is an excerpt from the Unchained Daily newsletter.

In the last 24 hours, over $600 million in crypto short positions were liquidated, including $290 million in BTC shorts, per CoinGlass. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $754 million in inflows—the highest since October 7—with Fidelity’s fund leading at $351 million, followed by Bitwise and BlackRock.

Despite geopolitical tensions in Venezuela and Iran, QCP Capital noted the market has priced in much uncertainty, viewing potential escalations as “buy-the-dip” opportunities. After weeks of underperformance, traders eye a push toward $100,000 as ETF inflows rise and macro headwinds ease. Bitcoin traded at $95,000 at 5:30 am ET.

Gold and silver surged to all-time highs this week, with gold exceeding $4,600 (predicted above $5,000) and silver topping $90, its market cap crossing $5 trillion. This hard-asset dominance reflects investors fleeing sovereign debt risks amid global uncertainty. Bitcoin, dubbed "digital gold," topped $95,000 for the first time this year but lagged behind, setting up a potential catch-up rally after absorbing legacy selling pressure.

Analysts like André Dragosch, Bitwise Europe's head of research, cite Granger causality tests showing gold leads Bitcoin by 4-7 months, with the "Gold to Bitcoin Rotation" in play. Bitcoin analyst Sminston With notes historical patterns where gold bull runs precede Bitcoin breakouts, suggesting the current gold vertical phase is priming Bitcoin's explosive move. Diminishing lag times indicate a shorter window for Bitcoin to close the gap, fueled by institutional flows.

Fundamentally, Matt Hougan, Bitwise CIO, parallels gold's 2025 parabolic 65% rise—triggered by central bank buying spiking from 500 to 1,000 tonnes annually since 2022 after the US seized Russia's Treasury deposits—to Bitcoin. Since US spot ETFs launched in January 2024, they've absorbed over 100% of new supply, but long-term holders have sold. Price exhaustion of sellers will drive Bitcoin parabolic, akin to gold.

Eroding trust in the US Federal Reserve due to leadership investigations boosts safe havens like gold first, then risk-on Bitcoin. Deribit options show bullish bets: Jan. 30 $98,000 calls, February $100,000 calls, rolled to March $125,000. Analysts target $120,000-$130,000 for Bitcoin near term.

The article contrasts fiat system vulnerabilities with Bitcoin's market dynamics. It notes that countries often default on structured loans, leading to severe consequences, including clauses allowing lenders to establish military bases as a "real kicker."

Shifting to Bitcoin, the piece argues it doesn't require new believers but fewer sellers, who are vanishing. Strategies avoid selling, banks hold firm, and nation-states accumulate rather than liquidate. With major players hoarding, the key question arises: Who are they buying from? Retail holders, until supplies dwindle.

This cycle won't peak at the top but culminate in a supply shock. Bitcoin's price surges without seeking permission, driven by scarcity.

The crypto market is showing signs of recovery after months of red, aligning with a short squeeze thesis as shorters grow arrogant. Following CPI data release yesterday, which caused a brief drop before a pump, Bitcoin rose from $90,000 to $96,000, forming a higher high on the daily chart. PPI data is due today. Key supports include $91,000; targets are $100,000 to $108,000, with a break above signaling a mega cycle or potential crunch zone.

Altcoins are waking up with breakouts on high time frames, though they haven't hit new highs yet, setting up for a short squeeze. Noted pumps include Dash, ICP (20% short-term potential), Solana (breaking 6-month downtrend), and ETH (breaking flag pattern, pullback zones hot, downside at $3,100). The trader went long on Filecoin (stop loss $1.56, 2% risk, targets $1.70 and $2.00 for 10-30% moves) via Bitfunded accounts, plus eyeing ZK Sync (22-50% upside, entry 3.6-3.68 cents), AA (30-40% to mid-range, buy 73-77 cents, stop $0.71), Blockstacks, NEO protocol, and Lighter DEX for breakouts.

Bitcoin dominance pushed up yesterday but is poised to decline as alts gain. Strategy emphasizes buying breakouts, managing 2-5% risk, taking profits quickly, and avoiding chases amid fast 60-100% moves.

In 2025, Wintermute's digital asset OTC market review highlighted uneven crypto liquidity, with capital concentrating in Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and large-cap tokens, deviating from traditional cycle patterns. Trading activity became top-heavy, driven by exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and digital asset treasuries (DATs), which funneled inflows primarily into major assets rather than broader markets. This led to contracted market breadth and divergent returns, as stablecoins and direct investments lost dominance.

Altcoin rallies shortened dramatically, lasting a median of 20 days in 2025 compared to 45-60 days from 2022-2024, despite new themes like meme coin launchpads, perpetual DEXs, and the x402 narrative. These sparked brief activity but failed to sustain due to choppy macros, market fatigue, and low liquidity. Meme coins saw aggregate market cap plummet after Q1 2025, unable to recover supports; short spikes, such as the July competition between Pump.fun and LetsBonk, remained localized without broader recovery.

For 2026, Wintermute identifies three catalysts for wider recovery: ETF/DAT expansion beyond BTC/ETH, a strong BTC or ETH rally generating wealth effects, or renewed retail investor focus shifting from equities. Outcomes depend on broadening liquidity from large assets.

MicroStrategy's latest $1.3 billion Bitcoin purchase, its largest since July, propelled the cryptocurrency's price above $95,000 on Wednesday. The firm now holds 687,410 Bitcoin, acquired at an average price of $75,000, totaling $66 billion in assets with $14 billion in unrealized profits, per its SEC filing. MicroStrategy shares surged 7% on the news.

The acquisition was funded by selling over $1 billion in new shares directly to investors. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $754 million in inflows on Tuesday—the highest since October—with BlackRock’s IBIT leading at $127 million, according to DefiLlama.

While nearly 40% of the top 100 Bitcoin treasuries trade at a discount and over 60% bought at higher prices than today, MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor remains bullish. In a Monday interview with podcaster Danny Knowles, he dismissed sustainability critiques. The firm built a $1.4 billion cash reserve in December. CEO Phong Le forecasts a 2026 surge in Bitcoin buys by national treasuries amid U.S. mid-term elections, boosting bank and nation-state adoption.

Fidelity echoes this, citing Brazil and Kyrgyzstan's recent legislation for Bitcoin reserves. VP Chris Kuiper warns of competitive pressures driving more sovereign adoption.

Bitcoin surpassed $95,000 on Wednesday, reaching its highest level in about two months. At 11:15, the leading cryptocurrency rose 3.1% over 24 hours to $95,039, per CoinMarketCap data. In the US, Tuesday's announcement of December inflation slightly below consensus expectations is viewed positively for risk assets, boosting the likelihood of additional Federal Reserve (Fed) monetary policy support in 2026, according to Jeff Schulze, chief US economist and market strategist at ClearBridge Investments, a Franklin Templeton subsidiary. Rate cuts traditionally benefit risk assets like cryptocurrencies.

In crypto regulation news, France's Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) stated during Tuesday's New Year wishes that 2026 will feature the end of the MiCA ("Markets in Crypto-Assets") transition period on July 1, requiring all crypto-asset service providers to obtain a license or halt operations. The AMF will prioritize license applications and enforce shutdowns for non-compliant entities. It warned that about 30% of French crypto firms have not declared MiCA compliance intentions: only 30% have initiated procedures, 40% plan to forgo licensing, and the rest have not responded.

Other major cryptos at 11:15: Ether up 6.1% to $3,327; XRP up 4% to $2.14; BNB (Binance's token) up 3.1% to $937.1; Solana up 2.6% to $145.4.

Bitcoin is trading at approximately $94,922 USD, down 0.48% daily from an opening of $95,386, with a range of $94,560–$95,760. Since early January 2026, it has stayed above recent lows of $85,000–$88,000, marking a recovery. The price has broken resistance to near $95,000, supported at $86,000–$88,000, fueled by renewed buyer interest and institutional demand, including Microstrategy's $1.25 billion purchase in January 2026, pushing momentum to $92,000–$94,000.

Altcoins show strength: Ethereum ranges $3,300–$3,500, up 5% weekly and outperforming Bitcoin; Solana stabilizes near $150, up 10–15% year-to-date in 2026. Bitcoin's dominance holds at 56%. The Federal Reserve funds rate is stable at 3.25–3.50%, with US CPI at 2.7% and softer jobs data (only 50,000 added vs. expectations) boosting rate cut hopes, historically aiding crypto rallies.

The Fear and Greed Index is in the 40–54 "fear to neutral" range, signaling rising confidence. Capital inflows exceed $120 billion since January 1, with rising stablecoin balances; total market cap is $3.05–3.18 trillion. Technicals indicate cooling overbought conditions, eyeing $94,700 resistance. Analysts project new highs by mid-2026 if support holds above $88,500–$90,000 amid ETF inflows and regulatory clarity.

Corporate Bitcoin Accumulation Outpaces Supply

On-chain data from Glassnode, disclosed Tuesday, reveals companies accumulating Bitcoin faster than new issuance. Corporate treasuries grew from 854,000 BTC to 1.11 million BTC over the past six months, adding 260,000 BTC (~43,000 BTC/month) and ~$25 billion in value. MicroStrategy dominates with 687,410 BTC, after purchasing 13,627 BTC between January 5 and January 11—its largest buy since last July. This concentration underscores how major players shape corporate holdings. MARA Holdings follows with 53,250 BTC, as miners retain significant portions of mined coins.

ETFs and Miners Tighten Supply

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted over $20 billion in flows during 2025, absorbing fresh supply and potentially locking coins long-term, amplifying corporate accumulation's impact. Miners produced ~82,000 BTC in the same period, outpaced 3:1 by corporate buying, reducing available supply if holdings persist.

Market Dynamics

Bitcoin trades near $92,000 ahead of key U.S. inflation data, with $90,000 as a psychological support. Safe-haven demand persists amid geopolitical tensions and central bank uncertainties, keeping prices range-bound while influenced by ETF flows and holder behavior.

Bitcoin ETFs have simplified crypto investing, with over a dozen options all tracking spot Bitcoin, making cost the key differentiator. In 2025, Bitcoin (BTC +4.14%) experienced high volatility but flat returns after a strong multiyear rally, allowing stabilization. As 2026 begins, Bitcoin has evolved from an alternative asset to a essential portfolio allocation, alongside stocks, bonds, gold, and real estate. Tailwinds like crypto market growth, decentralization, and AI development support building positions now.

Among ETFs, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT +3.42%) leads with over $70 billion in assets under management and a 0.25% expense ratio. However, the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC +3.32%), priced as of January 14, 2026 at 11:49 AM ET, offers the lowest fee at 0.15% and sufficient liquidity, positioning it for superior long-term returns.

Bitcoin has confirmed a breakout above the $94,000 resistance level, closing a daily candle above $95,000 for the first time in months, invalidating a months-long sideways range between $85,000–$86,000 support and $92,000–$94,000 resistance. This activates an inverse head and shoulders pattern with a price target of $103,000, an 8–9% upside from current levels. Next resistance is at $100,000 (50% Fibonacci retracement from 2025), followed by $106,000. Holding above $94,000 as new support is crucial; a break below would invalidate the breakout and target $85,000–$86,000.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw massive inflows this week, reversing last week's outflows: $116 million on Monday and $753 million on Tuesday, driven by investors via Fidelity and BlackRock, boosting buying pressure.

The US S&P 500 shows short-term bearish divergence on the 1-hour chart, potentially signaling caution for correlated Bitcoin, though longer-term bullish trends could resume. On the weekly chart, a bearish divergence persists but is nearing invalidation amid ongoing bullish relief. The 6-hour chart hints at minor bearish divergence, possibly leading to consolidation or retest of $93,000–$94,000 support.

Ethereum confirmed a breakout above a triangle pattern, targeting new highs. Solana is retesting resistance, nearing a potential breakout. Josh opened a small long Bitcoin position, planning to add on retest with stop-loss below $94,000 and partial profits at resistances.