Asia Market Overview: Bitcoin Surges Above $92K, Stocks Rise While Oil Faces Volatility

As Asian markets officially commenced the first complete trading week of 2026, Bitcoin has rebounded above $92,000 on Monday. This comes alongside advancements in equities and fluctuating oil prices following a significant U.S. operation in Venezuela, which has altered global risk perceptions.

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin has risen to $92,947, gaining 1.2% amidst a wider cryptocurrency market recovery.
The U.S. has taken temporary control of Venezuela following the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro, impacting global oil markets.
Energy prices have seen volatility, with Brent crude initially dropping over 1% before stabilizing.
Asian stock markets demonstrate resilience, particularly in Japan, with major indexes showing marked improvements.
Cryptocurrency markets are benefiting from renewed institutional interest, particularly through cryptocurrency ETFs.

Bitcoin

Market Snapshot

Bitcoin: $92,947, up 1.2%
Ether: $3,163, up 0.4%
XRP: $2.12, up 3.1%
Total Crypto Market Cap: $3.23 trillion, up 0.9%

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. has placed Venezuela under temporary American control after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. officials have stated that Maduro, along with his wife, Cilia Flores, was transported to New York and charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, among other charges. The indictment claims that drug trafficking has financially empowered Venezuela's political and military elites.

Oil Markets React to Venezuela Developments

The sudden rise in geopolitical tensions impacted the energy markets early on. Brent crude oil prices dropped more than 1% before recovering somewhat, currently at around 0.25% lower. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate saw a decline of approximately 0.4%, as traders assessed the potential supply disruptions from Venezuela, home to the largest proven crude oil reserves globally.

Venezuela, a founding OPEC member, possesses around 303 billion barrels of oil, which constitutes about 17% of global reserves. This underscores why oil prices are reacting quickly to the latest developments.

Asian Equities Show Resilience Amidst Recovery

Despite the turbulent energy outlook, Asian-Pacific shares generally embraced risk. The MSCI index of shares outside Japan increased by about 1.2%, while S&P 500 e-mini futures climbed by 0.1%, hinting at a cautiously optimistic transition for Wall Street.

Leading this growth was Japan, where the Nikkei index surged 2.8%, nearing a record high achieved two months ago. This upward trend followed positive manufacturing data from December, which indicated a stabilization after five months of decline.

In addition, South Korea's Kospi and Taiwan's benchmark witnessed growth exceeding 2% each, reaching new record levels. Conversely, Hong Kong stocks remained relatively flat, with a 0.1% increase, stifled by declines in energy shares which dropped 3.1%. Australian shares saw a modest uptick of 0.1%.

Cryptocurrency Market Gains Momentum With Institutional Interest

In contrast to traditional markets, crypto traders viewed the recent geopolitical turmoil as a potential opportunity. The cryptocurrency rebound signals a growing interest in alternative assets as investors shift their risk allocations.

Akshat Siddhant, lead quant analyst at Mudrex, stated that the broader trend in digital assets has moved noticeably upward following the Venezuelan developments.

He noted, “The recent rally has been bolstered by a strong resurgence of institutional interest, with crypto ETFs recording approximately $646 million in net inflows on the first trading day of the year after significant selling in December.”

Siddhant added that market sentiment is shifting positively, as the Fear-Greed Index has turned neutral for the first time since October. With Bitcoin trading near $92,800, a close above $93,700 could propel momentum towards $100,000, with key support identified around $88,500.