Asia Market Open: Bitcoin Snaps Back Above $92K, Stocks Advance While Oil Turns Volatile

Bitcoin snapped back above $92,000 on Monday as Asian markets opened the first full trading week of 2026, with equities advancing and oil trading unevenly after a dramatic US operation in Venezuela reset global risk calculations.

The recovery in crypto came as investors weighed the implications of Washington’s move to seize control of the oil-rich nation.

Market snapshot

• Bitcoin: $92,947, up 1.2%
• Ether: $3,163, up 0.4%
• XRP: $2.12, up 3.1%
• Total crypto market cap: $3.23 trillion, up 0.9%

President Donald Trump said over the weekend that the US had placed Venezuela under temporary American control, following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

US authorities said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown to New York and charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy and other crimes. An indictment alleged that drug trafficking had enriched and entrenched Venezuela’s political and military elite.

Oil Retreats As Traders Gauge Supply Fallout From Venezuela Crisis

The sudden escalation rattled energy markets early in the session. Brent crude slid more than 1% at one point before trimming losses, and was last trading about 0.25% lower.

West Texas Intermediate fell roughly 0.4% as traders assessed how the intervention could disrupt supply from a country that holds the world’s largest proven crude reserves.

Venezuela, a founding member of OPEC, accounts for about 303B barrels of oil, roughly 17% of global reserves, according to US Energy Information Administration data, a reminder of why oil prices reacted swiftly to the news.

Regional Stocks Strengthen As Japan Rebounds And Risk Appetite Firms

Asia-Pacific equities, however, leaned into risk. MSCI’s broad index of shares outside Japan climbed about 1.2%, while S&P 500 e-mini futures edged 0.1% higher, signalling a cautiously positive handoff to Wall Street.

Japan led regional gains, with the Nikkei surging 2.8% and moving back toward a record high reached two months ago. The rally followed data showing factory activity stabilised in December, snapping five months of contraction.

Elsewhere, South Korea’s Kospi and Taiwan’s benchmark rose more than 2% each to fresh record highs. Hong Kong stocks were more subdued, up 0.1%, weighed down by oil majors after a gauge of energy shares slid 3.1%. Australian shares added a modest 0.1%.

Crypto Upswing Builds As ETFs Attract Fresh Capital

Crypto traders viewed the geopolitical shock through a different lens. The market’s rebound reflected a renewed bid for alternative assets as investors repositioned around risk.

Akshat Siddhant, lead quant analyst at Mudrex, said the broader trend in digital assets had turned decisively higher following the developments in Venezuela.

“The rally is supported by a strong return of institutional interest, with crypto ETFs recording about $646M in net inflows on the first trading day of the year after December’s heavy selling,” he said.

“Sentiment is also improving, as the Fear-Greed Index turned neutral for the first time since October. Currently trading near $92,800, if BTC closes above $93,700, momentum could carry it toward $100,000, with support forming near $88,500.”