Bitcoin and major cryptocurrencies kicked off 2026 on a positive note during the Asian morning hours on Friday, with Cardano’s ADA leading the gains among large-cap tokens as traders returned from the holiday break and market risk appetite improved.
Bitcoin saw an increase of about 1%, trading close to $88,700, while Ether also rose approximately 1%, hovering around $3,010, as it continued its gradual recovery from the lows of late December.
ADA surged by 7%, surpassing the broader market’s movements, while Solana, XRP, and BNB also experienced upward trends. This price movement suggests a selective positioning by traders rather than the onset of a widespread altcoin surge.
Analysts at crypto payments firm B2BINPAY noted in an email that capital flows remain focused on major liquid cryptocurrencies as investors commence the year with a priority on capital preservation.
“Investors are not fully rotating out of Bitcoin and Ethereum into the altcoin market,” the firm stated, highlighting that the Altseason Index, currently around 16, still indicates Bitcoin dominance and limited market-wide participation.
They believe that the capital inflows into a few large caps like Solana and XRP appear more like targeted investments than a signal of an impending altseason.
The modest recovery in the crypto market coincided with a global shift towards risk-taking.
Asian stock markets rose by 0.8%, led by technology shares, with a regional tech index reaching a new high. Nasdaq 100 futures increased by 0.6%, outdoing the gains in S&P 500 contracts as traders focused on the AI and chip sectors to kick off the year.
Precious metals also made gains, building on a strong 2025. Spot gold approached $4,350 per ounce, and silver increased by over 1% as traders positioned themselves for potential U.S. interest rate cuts and a weakening dollar in 2026.
Despite this, some analysts cautioned about potential short-term pressures due to portfolio rebalancing following last year’s rally.
“We expect about 13% of the total open interest in Comex silver markets to be sold in the next two weeks, resulting in a significant price reassessment downwards,” wrote TD Securities strategist Daniel Ghali.
In the crypto realm, the cross-asset situation remains supportive yet precarious.
A weaker dollar and improving equity market sentiments are beneficial; however, traders remain cautious following a period of thin liquidity and rapid profit-taking seen in late 2025.
Currently, Bitcoin maintaining in the high-$80,000s and Ether stabilizing above $3,000 are seen as early indicators that dip-buying activity is returning, even as the market awaits stronger conviction beyond the most liquid assets.
