Bitcoin Rises 5% Since the Start of the Year. What Happened in the Crypto Market

RBK-cryptoPublished on 2026-01-12Last updated on 2026-01-12

Abstract

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $91.4K, up 1% in 24 hours and 5% since the start of the year. It reached a 2026 high of $94.4K on January 5th before a brief pullback. Ethereum (ETH) is near $3.13K, gaining 1.3% in a day and 6.6% year-to-date, after also hitting a yearly peak of $3.3K. The total crypto market cap grew 0.66% to $3.12 trillion. Among top assets, Solana (SOL) rose 4%, while XRP fell 1.8. Story (IP) led the top 100 with a 27% surge, while Polygon (POL) dropped 14%. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen a net outflow of $209 million in 2026, continuing a three-month trend of withdrawals. In contrast, Ethereum ETFs attracted nearly $106 million, with Solana and XRP ETFs also seeing inflows of $50.7M and $51.6M, respectively. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index is at 27 (Fear), indicating a prevailing bearish sentiment among market participants, though it briefly improved to a neutral 44 earlier in January.

The price of Bitcoin (BTC) is fluctuating around $91.4k, as of 11:00 Moscow time. Over the past 24 hours, the leading cryptocurrency has risen in price by 1%, and by 5% since the beginning of the year.

The maximum level that BTC managed to reach this year—$94.4k—was recorded on January 5th. After this peak, the coin fell to $89k, but then began to rise again, exceeding $92k on the morning of Monday, January 12th.

Ethereum (ETH) is fluctuating around $3.13k. The altcoin has risen in price by 1.3% over the past day. ETH's peak in 2026 was set on the night of January 5th-6th at the $3.3k mark. After that, the asset also pulled back but then began to rise again. Since the start of the year, Ethereum has gained 6.6%.

The total market capitalization of the cryptocurrency market has increased by 0.66% over the past 24 hours, to $3.12 trillion. Among other top-10 coins, Solana (SOL) saw the strongest 24-hour gain—up 4%. The price of XRP (XRP) from Ripple decreased by 1.8%.

Out of the top 100 cryptocurrencies, about 30 coins showed growth over the past day. Story (IP) saw the strongest increase, up 27%. The largest decline was seen by Polygon (POL, formerly MATIC)—down 14%.

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US have recorded a net capital outflow of $209 million since the beginning of 2026, according to information from SoSoValue. Investor withdrawals have continued for the third consecutive month. An outflow of $3.48 billion was recorded in November, and $1.09 billion in December.

The situation is different for Ethereum funds: since the beginning of January, nearly $106 million has flowed into them. Solana ETFs attracted $50.7 million during this time, and XRP ETFs added $51.6 million.

The Crypto Fear and Greed Index is in the "fear" zone, at 27 points out of 100. At the beginning of the year, the indicator showed 20 points; on January 6th, it soared to a neutral 44 points for the first time in two months, but then crashed back down and continues to indicate that market participants are more inclined to sell cryptocurrencies than to buy.

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Related Questions

QWhat was the price and year-to-date performance of Bitcoin as of the reporting time?

AAs of 11:00 Moscow time, the Bitcoin (BTC) price was fluctuating around $91.4 thousand. It had increased by 1% over the last 24 hours and was up 5% since the beginning of the year.

QWhich cryptocurrency in the top 10 by market cap showed the strongest 24-hour price increase, and by how much?

ASolana (SOL) showed the strongest 24-hour price increase among the top 10 cryptocurrencies, rising by 4%.

QWhat is the current state of capital flows for US spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2026 according to the article?

AUS spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen a net capital outflow of $209 million since the start of 2026, with investors withdrawing funds for the third consecutive month.

QWhat does the Crypto Fear and Greed Index indicate about current market sentiment?

AThe Crypto Fear and Greed Index is in the 'fear' zone with a score of 27 out of 100, indicating that market participants are more inclined to sell cryptocurrencies than to buy them.

QHow has the mining difficulty for Bitcoin changed recently?

AThe mining difficulty for Bitcoin has fallen for the fourth time in two months.

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What is $BITCOIN

DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): A Comprehensive Analysis Introduction to DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a blockchain-based project operating on the Solana network, which aims to combine the characteristics of traditional precious metals with the innovation of decentralized technologies. While it shares a name with Bitcoin, often referred to as “digital gold” due to its perception as a store of value, DIGITAL GOLD is a separate token designed to create a unique ecosystem within the Web3 landscape. Its goal is to position itself as a viable alternative digital asset, although specifics regarding its applications and functionalities are still developing. What is DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a cryptocurrency token explicitly designed for use on the Solana blockchain. In contrast to Bitcoin, which provides a widely recognized value storage role, this token appears to focus on broader applications and characteristics. Notable aspects include: Blockchain Infrastructure: The token is built on the Solana blockchain, known for its capacity to handle high-speed and low-cost transactions. Supply Dynamics: DIGITAL GOLD has a maximum supply capped at 100 quadrillion tokens (100P $BITCOIN), although details regarding its circulating supply are currently undisclosed. Utility: While precise functionalities are not explicitly outlined, there are indications that the token could be utilized for various applications, potentially involving decentralized applications (dApps) or asset tokenization strategies. Who is the Creator of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? At present, the identity of the creators and development team behind DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) remains unknown. This situation is typical among many innovative projects within the blockchain space, particularly those aligning with decentralized finance and meme coin phenomena. While such anonymity may foster a community-driven culture, it intensifies concerns about governance and accountability. Who are the Investors of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? The available information indicates that DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) does not have any known institutional backers or prominent venture capital investments. The project seems to operate on a peer-to-peer model focused on community support and adoption rather than traditional funding routes. Its activity and liquidity are primarily situated on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), such as PumpSwap, rather than established centralized trading platforms, further highlighting its grassroots approach. How DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) Works The operational mechanics of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) can be elaborated on based on its blockchain design and network attributes: Consensus Mechanism: By leveraging Solana’s unique proof-of-history (PoH) combined with a proof-of-stake (PoS) model, the project ensures efficient transaction validation contributing to the network's high performance. Tokenomics: While specific deflationary mechanisms have not been extensively detailed, the vast maximum token supply implies that it may cater to microtransactions or niche use cases that are still to be defined. Interoperability: There exists the potential for integration with Solana’s broader ecosystem, including various decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. However, the details regarding specific integrations remain unspecified. Timeline of Key Events Here is a timeline that highlights significant milestones concerning DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): 2023: The initial deployment of the token occurs on the Solana blockchain, marked by its contract address. 2024: DIGITAL GOLD gains visibility as it becomes available for trading on decentralized exchanges like PumpSwap, allowing users to trade it against SOL. 2025: The project witnesses sporadic trading activity and potential interest in community-led engagements, although no noteworthy partnerships or technical advancements have been documented as of yet. Critical Analysis Strengths Scalability: The underlying Solana infrastructure supports high transaction volumes, which could enhance the utility of $BITCOIN in various transaction scenarios. Accessibility: The potential low trading price per token could attract retail investors, facilitating wider participation due to fractional ownership opportunities. Risks Lack of Transparency: The absence of publicly known backers, developers, or an audit process may yield skepticism regarding the project's sustainability and trustworthiness. Market Volatility: The trading activity is heavily reliant on speculative behavior, which can result in significant price volatility and uncertainty for investors. Conclusion DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) emerges as an intriguing yet ambiguous project within the rapidly evolving Solana ecosystem. While it attempts to leverage the “digital gold” narrative, its departure from Bitcoin's established role as a store of value underscores the need for a clearer differentiation of its intended utility and governance structure. Future acceptance and adoption will likely depend on addressing the current opacity and defining its operational and economic strategies more explicitly. Note: This report encompasses synthesised information available as of October 2023, and developments may have transpired beyond the research period.

2.0k Total ViewsPublished 2025.05.13Updated 2025.05.13

What is $BITCOIN

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