Daily Market Update: Bitcoin and Stock Markets Start 2026 with Strong Gains

TLDR

• Bitcoin rose above $93,700 on Tuesday, up 7% since January 1, while Ethereum gained 9% to $3,224 in the same period
• XRP led major cryptocurrencies with a 29% weekly gain to $2.40, while Solana and Dogecoin rose 12% and 23% respectively
• U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded over $1 billion in net inflows during the first two trading days of 2026
• The Dow Jones hit a record close on Monday, jumping nearly 600 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained 0.6% and 0.7%
• Energy stocks surged as the Trump administration discussed Venezuela’s energy sector with U.S. oil companies, with Chevron rising 5.1%

Bitcoin and major stock indexes have kicked off 2026 with strong gains. The crypto market leader traded near $93,700 on Tuesday, up about 1% over 24 hours and more than 7% since the start of the year.

Ethereum followed suit with a nearly 2% daily rise to $3,224. The second-largest cryptocurrency has gained about 9% since January 1.

Alternative cryptocurrencies posted even larger gains. XRP jumped almost 13% in a day to $2.40 and nearly 29% over the week. Solana rose 12% while Dogecoin gained about 23% over the past seven days.

The rally follows weak price action through late December. Tax-related selling and year-end book cleanups had capped gains during U.S. trading hours. U.S.-based holders liquidated crypto holdings at a loss to offset capital gains and reduce tax liability.

That selling pressure has now faded. Investors typically take losses on underperforming assets to lower their tax burden. The tax loss harvesting period has ended, allowing markets to bounce.

U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs have launched 2026 with strong momentum. The 11 funds registered a net inflow of over $1 billion in the first two trading days of the week, according to SoSoValue data. These inflows signal the end of a two-month period that saw institutions withdraw billions.

Options traders are positioning for continued gains. Data from Deribit shows traders buying call options at the $100,000 strike price. Call activity is picking up for both Bitcoin and Ethereum, with buyers targeting strikes between $98,000 and $100,000 for January and February.

Stock Market Rallies to Records

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record high on Monday. The index jumped nearly 600 points, or about 1.2%. The S&P 500 rose roughly 0.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite added nearly 0.7%.

Large-cap growth stocks including Tesla and Amazon led Nasdaq gains. Technology shares benefited from renewed AI optimism. Markets appeared to interpret recent developments as potential catalysts for U.S. corporate opportunity.

Energy stocks outperformed other sectors. The White House confirmed that the Trump administration held discussions with multiple U.S. oil companies about Venezuela’s energy sector. Chevron, the only major U.S. oil producer currently operating in Venezuela, surged 5.1%.

Exxon Mobil and Halliburton also moved higher by 2.2% and 7.8% respectively. U.S. stock futures rose Monday evening. Futures attached to the S&P 500 climbed 0.1% while Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.3%.

Liquidity Concerns Persist

Despite positive price action, some analysts flag thin liquidity as a risk. Spot market volumes remain at multi-year lows. Weak liquidity means large orders can have an outsized impact on prices.

Order books remain shallow according to Vikram Subburaj, CEO of India-based Giottus exchange. This makes the rally more sensitive to marginal flows. The risk of sharp extensions or abrupt pullbacks increases.

Gold futures posted their strongest daily gain since October. Some investors sought protection from volatility. Commodities reflected a more cautious undercurrent compared to equities and crypto.

Bitcoin’s rally aligns with the positive mood on Wall Street. The crypto market is known to closely follow trends in technology shares. Speculation about Venezuelan oil supply under U.S. guidance could be supporting bullish sentiment.

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