Bitcoin Approaches $95,000 Milestone Amid Significant XRP Rally
The digital asset market has commenced the 2026 fiscal year with robust bullish momentum. Bitcoin (BTC) recorded its most substantial daily percentage gain in over a month, while the altcoin sector, led by a surging XRP, demonstrated significant price recovery, breaching key technical resistance levels.
Bitcoin Approaches Critical $95,000 Threshold
Bitcoin appreciated by more than 3%, reaching a session high of $94,400, its highest valuation since mid-November 2025. This price action places the asset within striking distance of the $95,000 psychological threshold, a level viewed by institutional analysts as a critical pivot point for sustained momentum toward the $100,000 mark.
The rally emerges amidst a shifting market structure. Data indicates that the supply of actively traded BTC is tightening as long-term holders continue to move assets into cold storage. This “supply shock” effect, combined with expectations of a favorable interest rate environment in 2026, provides a fundamental backdrop for recovery following a challenging 2025 in which the asset declined by approximately 6%.
XRP Leads Altcoin Market Outperformance
While Bitcoin dominated the headlines, XRP served as the primary catalyst for the broader market rally. Following a decisive breakout above overnight resistance, XRP surged 9% to reach approximately $2.32, marking its strongest performance since the previous autumn.
The rally was supported by significant trading volume, suggesting a return of institutional appetite for established large-cap assets as investors rebalance their portfolios for the new year.
Equities and Infrastructure: The Intersection of Crypto and AI
The bullish sentiment extended into the equity markets, particularly for firms with high exposure to digital asset infrastructure. Performance highlights include:
MicroStrategy (MSTR) & Robinhood (HOOD): Recorded gains of 5% and 6% respectively, reflecting a broader recovery in crypto-correlated stocks.
Coinbase (COIN): Shares climbed nearly 9% following a strategic rating upgrade to “Buy” by Goldman Sachs earlier in the day.
Hut 8 (HUT): The miner, recognized for its strategic pivot into AI data infrastructure, advanced 15% to nearly $60 per share. Analysts note that the 2021 split-adjusted record high of $76 is now a primary target for long-term investors.
The crypto rally coincided with gains in traditional U.S. equities, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average advancing 1.4%. Concurrently, precious metals maintained an upward trend; silver surged 7% and gold rose 3%, suggesting that investors are maintaining a diversified approach to risk-on assets and inflation hedges in the early stages of 2026.
