Why Is Crypto Up Today? – January 15, 2026

The cryptocurrency market is showing positive momentum today, with a market capitalization increase of 1.1% to $3.37 trillion. Out of the top 100 cryptocurrencies, 60 have gained in value over the past 24 hours. Bitcoin (BTC) has been a standout performer, while some coins have experienced declines.

Key Takeaways

The total cryptocurrency market capitalization has risen to $3.37 trillion, a 1.1% increase.
Bitcoin (BTC) has appreciated by 2.2% from yesterday, trading at $97,053.
Ethereum (ETH) saw a 1.1% rise, reaching $3,367.
Provenance Blockchain (HASH) is the top-performing coin, up 20.5%.
The market is witnessing significant institutional investment, which is driving prices more than retail enthusiasm.

Why Is Crypto Up Today

Cryptocurrency Market Overview

Today, the cryptocurrency market is experiencing growth, with its total market capitalization increasing by 1.1% to $3.37 trillion. As of now, 60 out of the top 100 cryptocurrencies have shown price increases over the last 24 hours, and the total trading volume has reached $166 billion.

Top Coin Performances

In the top 10 cryptocurrencies based on market capitalization, eight have shown price gains as of Thursday morning (UTC).

Bitcoin (BTC) has risen by 2.2%, currently priced at $97,053, marking the highest increase among the top cryptocurrencies.
Ethereum (ETH) has grown by 1.1%, now trading at $3,367, making it the second-best performer in its category.
Solana (SOL) held the lowest increase at 0.1%, now priced at $145.

Conversely, Dogecoin (DOGE) and XRP (XRP) have experienced price drops. DOGE has decreased by 2.4%, bringing its price to $0.1447, while XRP has fallen by 1.6%, now priced at $2.11.

Among the wider top 100 cryptocurrencies, only 60 are rising today, down from 95 yesterday. Notably, two cryptocurrencies have seen double-digit increases.

Provenance Blockchain (HASH) is outperforming the pack with a remarkable 20.5% increase, trading at $0.02652. It is followed by Internet Computer (ICP), which has appreciated by 11.2%, now standing at $4.21. Other cryptocurrencies have seen smaller gains of around 2% or less.

On the downside, Canton (CC) has experienced the largest decline, down 8.3% to $0.1301. Following closely is Pepe (PEPE), which has fallen by 8.1%, sitting at $0.000006108.

Institutional Interest in Bitcoin

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, recently predicted that Bitcoin could reach new all-time highs in 2026. He noted that Bitcoin struggled in 2025 due to a lack of liquidity, even as gold and the Nasdaq rose. Hayes believes that "dollar liquidity must expand" for Bitcoin to thrive.

Arthur Hayes' Insights

Bitcoin Takes the Spotlight

Antonio Di Giacomo, a Senior Market Analyst at XS.com, reported Bitcoin’s significant bullish move, soaring to the $97,800 mark, its highest level in almost two months. Di Giacomo emphasized the renewed positive sentiment among investors even amid mixed performances in risk assets.

He attributes the rally mainly to a significant acquisition of 13,600 BTC by Strategy, marking the largest purchase since July 2025. This move underscores institutional confidence in Bitcoin as a leading asset.

Despite the price strength, Di Giacomo pointed out that retail demand, particularly in the United States, seems relatively subdued. He indicated that current price movements are more influenced by institutional strategies than by public sentiment.

If these institutional investments persist, Bitcoin may show resilience during consolidation phases. Nonetheless, a resurgence of retail participation could be necessary to drive further price increases, historically a key factor in major rallies.

Monitoring Price Levels and Key Events

As of Thursday morning, BTC is at $97,053. It began the day with a low of $94,736 and swiftly rose to $97,704. Over the past week, Bitcoin has noted a 7.7% appreciation, fluctuating between $89,799 and $97,538.

Maintaining the $95,700–$95,200 demand zone is crucial for sustaining the bullish trend. A breakthrough past $98,800 could set the stage for Bitcoin to approach the psychologically significant $100,000 mark.

BTC Trading Levels

Ethereum’s trading has been more volatile. It began at $3,367, experiencing a low of $3,281 and peaking at $3,386 before retreating. Over the past week, Ethereum has gained 8.4%, outperforming Bitcoin. It has been trading between $3,068 and $3,379.

If Ethereum can hold its current levels, it may be on track to revisit $3,500 and aim for $4,000.

Market sentiment is shifting positively, as indicated by the crypto fear and greed index, which has risen to 54 from 52, reflecting a growing optimism among investors after several days of relatively low prices.

Crypto Market Sentiment

On Wednesday, the US Bitcoin spot ETFs experienced three consecutive days of positive inflows, totaling $843.62 million, marking the highest level since early October. This brings total net inflows to $58.12 billion, with eight of twelve ETFs reporting inflows.

Notably, BlackRock topped the list with $648.39 million in inflows, followed by Fidelity with $125.39 million.

ETF Inflows

The US Ethereum ETFs also recorded inflows, amounting to $175 million, bringing total net inflows to $12.74 billion. Six out of nine funds reported inflows.

ETH ETF Inflows

Regulatory Challenges in the US

Vlad Tenev, CEO of Robinhood, recently called on US lawmakers regarding the inaccessibility of staking in four states. Staking is a highly desired feature for Robinhood users that remains unavailable due to legislative gridlock. Tenev expressed support for Congress's ongoing efforts to navigate regulations in favor of cryptocurrency trading and features.

Closing Thoughts

The cryptocurrency market has demonstrated a slight increase in the last day, contrasting with the downward trend in the US stock market. As investors continue to digest new economic data, today's gains may be modest. However, given the current consolidation period, fluctuations in market prices remain likely.