Just as we discussed yesterday why crypto could rise significantly in 2026, the price of Bitcoin surged as high as $90,000, while alternatives like Ethereum and XRP outperformed as BTC dominance fell below 60%. This kind of caught us off guard, especially after weeks of bearish sentiment heading into January.
Refusing a breakdown, the market is rising. Bitcoin surged with a 1% price gain, Ethereum around 3% and altcoins followed. XRP rose nearly 6%, easily outpacing the daily gains of major alts, and sentiment reversed slightly after yesterday’s options expiration.
Crypto Fear and Greed Index
Fear
Extreme fear
Fear
Neutral
Greed
Extreme greed
NOW 37.1 Fear
Yesterday 36.61 Fear
Last week 33.26 Fear
Bitcoin Dominance and Price Stable as Rotation Begins
At around 59%, Bitcoin dominance shows the start of a strong rotation, just like popped popcorn. Capital is moving, Bitcoin price remains high, reaching $90,000, as we track a CME gap above the resistance level, which has a strong historical tendency to close.
(source – BTC USD, CME gap, TradingView)
Despite the decline in dominance, Bitcoin remains resilient. On a weekly basis, it climbed 2.5%, while last year’s winner, gold, slipped more than 4% after peaking near $4,550. This divergence is the perfect example of a rotation narrative, as some capital moves from traditional hedges to digital assets.
Liquidity conditions also helped. The Federal Reserve injected nearly $19.5 billion through repo operations, one of the largest such actions since the Covid era. These injections may not make headlines, but they support risk assets in the background, as Bitcoin price action shows.
BREAKING: The Fed has just injected an additional $19.5 billion into the US banking system via overnight repos.
Something important is happening in the background. pic.twitter.com/rxcKOTJxtS
-Ash Crypt (@AshCrypto) January 2, 2026
BREAKING: The Fed has just injected an additional $19.5 billion into the US banking system via overnight repos. DISCOVER: 10+ Next Cryptos to 100X in 2026
Ethereum price in spotlight as whale places massive bet
A single whale (which the community referred to as an initiated whale with a good success rate) opened long positions worth over $600 million in ETH, far exceeding the price exposure of Bitcoin and Solana combined. The scale alone raised eyebrows, but the timing was perfect, as usual. With over 203,000 ETH at stake, the bet implies expectations of further upside.
(source- Hyperliquid)
Ethereum price held above $3,100 supported by good volume and volatility. ETH is leading this transition phase and has initially benefited from the market as Bitcoin’s dominance wanes. XRP followed with strong gains and the altcoin market once again showed signs of life.
Macro signals, UK stocks and what’s next
Beyond price action, what’s happening in the macroeconomic structure is also worth watching. UK stocks have outperformed US markets since Donald Trump returned to power, challenging assumptions that US stocks would see an immediate rise. British indices showed more consistent strength, while US stocks lagged despite political optimism, as reported by the BBC. Is Trump really the president we need in crypto?
Crypto continues to evolve at its own pace. Bitcoin dominance is historically bullish below 60%, and if its price falls further, it may remain above key levels. Ethereum could lead the expected altcoin season.
DISCOVER: 16+ New and Coming Binance Announcements in 2026
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MYX Finance Crypto Hit $7 in New Year Rally: Perp DEX Breaks Out After 3 Months of Resistance
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The MYX Finance crypto has just exploded. During the first weekend of 2026, it rose from $3.73 to $7. People are pointing out the hype of the V2 upgrade, some technical advancements, and honestly, a bit of FOMO. Everyone is probably refreshing their charts.
Why this enthusiasm? MYX Finance has its zero-slippage matching pool mechanism as a crypto-perp DEX. Cross-chain plans including Solana and major backers like Sequoia and Consensys.
Read the full coverage here.
“Do more to achieve stated goals”: Vitalik Buterin’s 2026 mandate for Ethereum price
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Ethereum
3.06%
Ethereum
ETH
Price
$3,101.71
3.06% /24h
Volume in 24 hours
$18.57 billion
Price 7d
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Learn more
for the most part, does what it promises; nothing less, nothing more. However, it appears that ETH founder Vitalik Buterin believes that foundations have not done enough.
Buterin is launching a challenge at the end of 2025, and it is about whether ETH moves away from its original goal.
Read the full story here.
The post Crypto Market News Today, January 3: Bitcoin Dominance Falls Below 60% as Whale Opens Big Ethereum Long, Price Pump Bets appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
