The first full trading week of 2026 begins with broadly positive momentum across the crypto market. Over the past week, prices moved higher across most major assets, reversing part of the weakness seen through December. Trading conditions normalized after the holiday period, with participation gradually increasing.
Despite ongoing geopolitical developments and a cautious macro backdrop, crypto prices have shown resilience, with gains extending into the start of the new year.
Read also: Crypto in 2025: A Year of Highs, Crashes, and Long-Term Shifts
Bitcoin And Ethereum
Bitcoin gained around 5% over the past week and is up another 1.3% today, trading close to $93,000. The move places Bitcoin near the upper end of its recent range and reflects steady buying rather than a sharp breakout.
Ethereum also recorded a strong weekly performance, rising roughly 6.5%. Today, ETH is up 0.7% and is trading above $3,150. Price action remains constructive, with Ethereum holding above key psychological levels as the market enters January.
Read also: From Panic to Peak: Ethereum’s 2025 Story
Altcoins And Memecoins
Altcoins outperformed Bitcoin and Ethereum over the past week. XRP rose more than 14%, reclaiming the $2 level and overtaking BNB in market capitalization. It now ranks as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency, behind Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether.
Other major altcoins also traded higher, while the memecoin sector saw renewed activity. Several leading memecoins posted double-digit weekly gains, suggesting a return of speculative interest after a prolonged period of underperformance in late 2025. The total crypto market capitalization increased by around 1% today and stands at approximately $3.15T.
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Market Sentiment
Market sentiment remains cautious despite recent price gains. The Fear and Greed Index currently reads 26, indicating fear, though this is slightly higher than recent extreme fear levels. The CoinMarketCap sentiment index shows a more balanced picture, with a neutral reading of 42.
Overall, sentiment has improved marginally, but confidence remains restrained after more than a month of consistently fearful readings.
Read also: Crypto Sentiment at Record Low: Fear and Greed Index Hits 10 for Second Day
Broader Market Context
Recent geopolitical developments involving Venezuela had limited impact on crypto markets. The events occurred over the weekend, and digital assets showed little reaction, continuing their upward trend. Traditional markets also appeared to absorb the news without major disruption, though commodities such as oil and precious metals saw more noticeable movement.
As the year begins, attention is shifting toward upcoming U.S. economic data, particularly labor market releases, which are expected to influence interest rate expectations and broader risk sentiment across financial markets.
Read also: 2026 Is Here: New Year, New Risks, New Opportunities
Looking Ahead
Crypto enters 2026 with improved short-term momentum but a still-cautious sentiment backdrop. The coming weeks will likely be shaped by macroeconomic data, liquidity conditions, and whether recent gains can be sustained as trading volumes continue to normalize after the holidays.
