The crypto market started 2026 on a more positive note as risk appetite in major assets, meme coins and AI-linked tokens increased. Also, the good regulatory outlook was reinforced by the progress made on the U.S. CLARITY Act.
The crypto market focus also shifted to accumulations by treasuries. Tether had added more Bitcoin to its reserves, which indicated long-term trust in the asset.
Can Meme Coins Lead the Crypto Market Rally?
Bitcoin and Ethereum exhibited a mild level of upside bias during the week. Crypto market mood turned bullish as there was significant investments in speculative assets, notably AI tokens and meme coins. BTC and ETH, XRP and SOL options-market positioning were also of interest.
Based on the max-pain levels, there were indications of short-term volatility in Bitcoin and other major assets. But confidence remained following the apprehensive mood of late 2025. This was evident in traders becoming more interested to invest in riskier tokens.
PEPE was among the top gainers in the meme coin sector, which was due to increased trade volumes. Also, new speculative buying showed renewed attention to Dogecoin and AI-linked tokens as their prices rose as well.
The trend shows that the new technology segment of the crypto market is of significant interest to investors. The tokens’ gains appeared to have been more momentum-oriented than fundamentals.
Does CLARITY Act Progress Help Sentiments in the Crypto Market?
The week was enriched with regulatory developments. The CLARITY Act discussions showed that U.S. policymakers remain interested in faster progress on digital asset regulations in 2026. This progressive flow was considered by market players as a positive indication of long-term market structure.
In addition, positioning related to options is still affecting short-term sentiment. The future expiries and the max-pain rates provided a hint on the possible price ranges for the top assets.
Tether Expands Bitcoin Treasury Holdings
Meanwhile, USDT stablecoin issuer Tether increased its Bitcoin holdings through the acquisition of 8,888 BTC. The acquisition created interest in the buying activity of the company and its approach to managing its crypto reserves.
The relocation also supported the emphasis on the development of the crypto ecosystem treasury. Also, it contributed to supply distribution discussion and market psychology as large holders kept on accumulating for long-term exposure.
Source: https://coingape.com/crypto-weekly-recap-market-rebounds-as-meme-coins-rally-clarity-act-advances-and-tether-expands-bitcoin-treasury/
