Ethereum is trading around $3,110 with daily volume near $6.5 bn and a market cap of about $375 bn, while price action compresses above a rising trendline. On-chain data show the Beacon Chain staking entry queue has climbed to 1.759 mn ETH (roughly $5.5 bn), supporting a potential breakout scenario toward the $3,250–$3,300 area if resistance near $3,180 is cleared.

Zama will conduct a Dutch auction token sale on January 12, positioning the event within the fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) privacy narrative. The timing overlaps with token unlocks for projects such as RAIN and APT and U.S. CPI updates, which could shape liquidity and short-term volatility across crypto markets.

On 11 January 2026, veteran fund manager Larry Lepard argued that subtle Federal Reserve balance-sheet expansion since late 2025 is quietly adding liquidity through reserve management rather than overt quantitative easing. He believes this "gradual print" environment, also described by macro analyst Lyn Alden, could favor scarce assets such as Bitcoin over time as investors seek protection from currency dilution.

Large Bitfinex accounts pared BTC longs after a late-December peak near 73,000 BTC, alongside an estimated 220,000 BTC decline in whale balances through 2025. Bitcoin is holding a tight $88,000–$92,000 band, with $94,000 viewed as near-term resistance. Some analysts map a prior spring-and-rally pattern that could extend toward $135k if confirmed.

TRUMP memecoin has remained in a descending channel since peaking around $9.5 two months ago, with price recently hovering near $5.4. On-chain and trading data show large holders have stopped accumulating, with one whale selling 437k TRUMP worth $2.35 million on Binance at a loss of about $2.35 million. Technical indicators highlight persistent selling pressure, and analysts outline key EMA levels around $5.2–$5.5 as crucial for either further downside or a trend reversal.

Solana has seen its open interest climb to the $8,000,000,000 mark, signaling that traders are once again willing to deploy leverage on SOL despite prior drawdowns. While the price is attempting a recovery from the low $120s and remains below key long-term moving averages, futures positioning has shifted toward longs, especially among larger players, raising the risk of sharp liquidations if support around $130–$135 fails. With spot volumes still subdued and derivatives driving much of the activity, elevated volatility is likely as Solana's price action tests resistance in the mid-$140s.

At the start of 2026, Ripple’s XRP climbed above $1.90 and $2.00, reclaiming the fourth spot by market cap before stalling at $2.40. It has since pulled back but is holding near $2.10. Focus now is on whether $2.00–$2.05 can firm up as support while $2.35–$2.40 remains the key ceiling.

TRM Labs said in a January 9 report that UK‑registered exchanges Zedcex and Zedxion enabled about $1 billion in flows linked to Iran's IRGC. Illicit share peaked at 87% in 2024, with transfers largely in USDT on TRON, and corporate records tied Zedcex to sanctioned financier Babak Morteza Zanjani.