Trading

Bitcoin pushed back above $90,000 on Friday, trading near $90,742 (+3.2%) during New York hours after persistent Q4 2025 selling. Buying accelerated around 09:30 ET, and U.S. spot proxies also firmed. The shift follows year-end tax-loss dynamics that pressured BTC through Q4.

On January 2, Cardano (ADA) rose 7.31% and traded near $0.37 after clearing local resistance at $0.3675. According to CoinMarketCap, buyers regained momentum, with scenarios pointing to a test of $0.38 or range-bound action between $0.36 and $0.3750, while a bounce toward $0.40 could unfold if the weekly bar closes away from the recent low.

Failing to declare crypto holdings or gains already triggers fines, capital freezes and automated checks, with stricter rules starting on 1 January 2026. Penalties range from 3%–15% for non-monitoring and 90%–120% of the tax due for undeclared profits, while banks require proof of fund origin. Under MiCA, exchanges share user data with authorities, and the capital gains rate will move to 33%.

At the start of 2026, XRP extended a rebound from the Dec. 31 low of $1.80. At press time it was up 2.2% over 24 hours at $1.89 after touching $1.90. Price is confronting layered resistance near $1.90–$2.00, while support sits around $1.82 and $1.77. A decisive move above $2 remains the key trigger.

On Jan. 1, 2026, Shibburn reported SHIB's 24-hour burn rate jumping 10,728.80%, with about $172 million sent to burn addresses. Ripple unlocked 1 billion XRP in three tranches at the start of January 2026, per Whale Alert. The digest also notes Bitcoin's first post-halving red year, diverging from the prior four-year cycle.

On Thursday, January 1, 2026, Ripple executed its routine monthly escrow, releasing 1 billion XRP and placing 700 million back into long-term escrow. The remaining 300 million was allocated for liquidity and ecosystem needs. By Friday, January 2, XRP traded near $1.91 after a 2.74% daily gain, with circulating supply at 65.78 billion and 34.18 billion held in escrow.

Bitcoin is consolidating between $86,400 and $90,600, with chart projections pointing to a potential move toward $94,589, $100,000 and even $107,500 if resistance breaks. Several major altcoins, including Ether, BNB, XRP, Solana, Dogecoin, Cardano, Bitcoin Cash, Chainlink and Zcash, are testing important moving averages and support zones that could either launch relief rallies or extend the broader downtrend.

On Friday, January 2, 2026, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IRWD) surged about 36% in premarket trading after issuing 2026 guidance above Wall Street expectations. The outlook includes total revenue of $450–475 million and adjusted EBITDA above $300 million, supported by LINZESS U.S. net sales of $1.125–1.175 billion and a list price cut effective January 1, 2026.

On Friday, the memecoin sector’s market capitalization climbed 8% to $39.45 billion, adding $3 billion in a single day as PEPE gained 23.6%, BONK rose 10% and DOGE advanced 8%. At the same time, open interest and derivatives volume for leading memecoins expanded sharply, with PEPE’s OI up 77% to $441 million and total daily derivatives trading volume across memecoins reaching $4.75 billion.

Polymarket prediction markets currently assign Bitcoin a 21% chance of touching $150,000 before 2027, with expectations clustered around a peak between $100,000 and $120,000. Analysts are divided, with some projecting a major rally in 2026 that could lift BTC as high as $150,000 to $250,000, while others argue that growing Bitcoin options and covered call activity is constraining price upside.