Yesterday, when we talked about why cryptocurrencies are going to be big this 2026, the price of Bitcoin rose towards $90,000, while alternatives like Ethereum and XRP outperformed as BTC’s dominance fell below 60%. This somehow caught us off guard, especially after weeks of bearish sentiment heading into January.
Rejecting the breakdown, the market is rising. Bitcoin soared with a 1% price increase, followed by Ethereum by about 3% and altcoins. XRP rose nearly 6%, easily outpacing the daily gains of major alt stocks, and sentiment reversed slightly after yesterday’s option expiration cleared the board.
Cryptocurrency Fear and Greed Index
fear
Extreme Fear Fear Neutral Greed Extreme Greed
now 38.44 Fear
yesterday 37.13 Fear
last week 32.9 Fear
Bitcoin dominance and price stabilize as rotation begins
Bitcoin’s dominance at around 59% signals the beginning of heavy rotation, just like popping popcorn. Capital is on the move, with Bitcoin price continuing to rise above $90,000 as it tracks the CME gap above a resistance level that has historically tended to close.
(Source – BTC USD, CME Gap, TradingView)
Despite its declining dominance, Bitcoin remains resilient. Although up 2.5% on a weekly basis, gold, last year’s winner, fell more than 4% after peaking at around $4,550. This divergence is a perfect example of the rotation story, as some capital is moving from traditional hedges to digital assets.
The liquidity situation also helped. The Fed injected nearly $19.5 billion through repo operations, one of the largest moves since the coronavirus era. These injections may not make headlines, but they are supporting risk assets in the background, as seen from Bitcoin’s price movement.
BREAKING: The Fed just injected another $19.5 billion into the US banking system through overnight repos.
Something big is happening in the background. pic.twitter.com/rxcKOTJxtS
— Ash Crypto (@AshCrypto) January 2, 2026
Discovered: 10+ Cryptocurrencies to Grow 100x in 2026
Ethereum price gains attention as whales place huge bets
One whale (referred to by the community as a high-hit insider whale) opened over $600 million worth of long positions in ETH, far exceeding its exposure to the Bitcoin price and Solana combined. The scale alone raises some eyebrows, but as always, the timing was perfect. With over 203,000 ETH in play, this bet hints at further upside expectations.
(Source – Hyperliquid)
Ethereum price sustained above $3,100, supported by good volume and volatility. ETH is leading this transition phase and is the first to benefit from the market as Bitcoin’s dominance declines. XRP also continued to rise steadily, and the altcoin market showed signs of vitality once again.
24 hours 7 days 30 days 1 year Always
Macro signals, UK stocks and what happens next
Apart from price trends, it is also worth paying attention to what is happening in the macro structure. British stocks have outperformed the US market since Donald Trump returned to office, challenging assumptions that US stocks will rise any time soon. British indexes are showing steady strength, while US stocks are lagging despite policy optimism, the BBC reports. Is Trump really the president the crypto industry needs?
Cryptography continues to move with its own rhythm. Bitcoin’s dominance is historically bullish at less than 60%, and it could break above key levels if the price falls further. Ethereum could lead the long-awaited altcoin season.
Discover: 16+ new and upcoming Binance listings in 2026
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Iran accepts cryptocurrency payments for arms exports
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Iran now allows foreign buyers to pay for advanced weapons using cryptocurrencies, alongside barter and local currency. Officials at the Department of Defense Export Center, known as Mindex, confirmed that digital assets are being accepted as payment for arms sales overseas. Years of sanctions and isolation from the global banking system appear to have led Iran to turn to these alternatives to continue its military exports.
Cryptocurrency added as payment option for foreign arms buyers
Mindex has updated its terms and conditions to officially include digital currencies as a payment option. The listing also allows for barter transactions and payments in Iranian rials, giving buyers more flexibility in their payment options. The changes are aimed at countering the impact of international banking regulations that make it difficult for Iran to move funds through traditional channels.
🇮🇷 NEED A MISSILE? IRAN WILL SELL YOU ONE FOR BITCOIN
Iran just opened up its weapons shop to anyone with enough digital cash, offering everything from killer drones to warships.
No banks, no questions, just crypto or a trade deal.
There’s even a chatbot to help you pick the… pic.twitter.com/sL3IAp4NNl
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 1, 2026
The Mindex website has a complete catalog of military products. These include Emad ballistic missiles, Shahid drones, Shahid Soleimani-class warships, air defense systems, cruise missiles, rockets, and small weapon. The agency said that all of these payments were made using cryptocurrencies, barter, or country’s currency.
Read the full text here.
MYX Finance Crypto reaches $7 in new year rally: Perp DEX breaks out after 3 months of resistance
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MYX Finance virtual currency exploded. In the first weekend of 2026, the price rose from $3.73 to $7. People are pointing out the V2 upgrade hype, some technical breakouts, and, let’s be honest, a little bit of FOMO. Probably everyone is updating their charts right now.
Why are we excited? MYX Finance features a zero-slippage matching pool mechanism as a crypto asset DEX. A cross-chain plan that includes big backers like Solana, Sequoia, and Consensys.
Read the full story here.
“Do more to achieve the set goals”: Vitalik Buterin’s 2026 obligation on Ethereum price
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Ethereum
0.22%
Ethereum
Ethereum
price
$3,150.94
0.22% /24 hours
24 hour volume
$10.78 billion
price 7 days
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almost always does what it promises. Nothing less, nothing more. However, ETH founder Vitalik Buterin seems to think the foundation is not doing enough.
Mr. Buterin has issued a challenge for the end of 2025, which has to do with whether ETH is moving away from its original purpose.
Read the full text here.
Crypto Market News Today, January 3: Bitcoin Advantage Drops to Less than 60% as Whales Bet on Price Pumps to Open Big Ethereum Long The post appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
