ASIA, 16 January 2026 — Cryptocurrency markets continued to trade on solid footing, with Bitcoin extending gains toward the US$100,000 psychological level and Ethereum holding steady above US$3,300, supported by institutional interest and positive market sentiment early this year.
Bitcoin was trading in the US$95,000–US$97,000 range as of Friday, underpinned by renewed ETF inflows and short-covering, with traders keeping a close eye on whether the flagship crypto can break past the six-figure mark. Investors are cautiously optimistic about the potential milestone, though derivatives markets suggest only a moderate probability of a breakthrough in the near term.
Meanwhile, Ethereum consolidated around US$3,300, reflecting a balanced sentiment that blends short-term profit-taking with confidence in the network’s fundamentals. Staking activity on Ethereum has hit new highs, signalling long-term belief in the platform’s growth prospects, while withdrawals from major exchanges point to tightening supply.
Overall sentiment in digital assets is neutral to cautiously optimistic, with institutional allocators remaining active, although regulatory debates, especially in the United States, continue to add uncertainty to near-term adoption timelines. Macro stability and clarity on regulations are seen as key drivers for broader market confidence heading into the first quarter of 2026.
