Crypto Market Starts 2026 Strong: Bitcoin and Ethereum Above $90K and $3K; XRP Flips BNB

Crypto markets have begun the 2026 trade with major bullish momentum as the prices of the majority of the tokens have reclaimed their crucial resistance. The Bitcoin price rose above $90,000 while the Ethereum price managed to secure $3100. XRP price led a spectacular move by surging above $2, due to which the token flipped BNB to become the 4th largest token as per the market cap. The global market capitalisation reclaimed the $3trillion mark, which suggests the sentiment across the board has clearly improved.

Why Is the Crypto Market up Today?

The market momentum has largely flipped in favour of the bulls since the start of the year, indicating the rising optimism among investors. On the other hand, the volume almost doubled as the market cap surpassed $3 trillion, validating the growing positive sentiment. Secondly, the ETFs’ net inflows surged to over $300 million, with Bitcoin and Ethereum contributing $184 million and $127 million, respectively. So what changed overnight? 

• Investors Buying at the Dip: As the prices of the popular cryptos fell, the investors jumped in to accumulate, which could have pushed them higher in the short term.

• The January Effect May Be in Play: This is usually seen as tokens rise during the first few weeks of the year as the tax-loss selling ends and capital rotates back in

• Future Leverage & OI Picking Up: As OI rises and funding rates go positive, more traders enter leveraged positions, which is a strong bullish signal

• Macro & Liquidity Signals Easing Risk Aversions: The recent Fed data and the tone set are believed to have favored the crypto markets

• Liquidity rotation: As the BTC price consolidated around the gains, the capital rotated fairly among the other altcoins that strengthened the entire market.

• Whale Accumulation: On-chain positioning shows large players continue to accumulate rather than distribute.

• Healthy Leadership: BTC and ETH are leading, with XRP following, highlighting the stability within the markets and reducing the risk of a hype-driven rally.

Bitcoin Leads, Ethereum Holds Firm, But XRP Makes a Big Move

The start of 2026 is being defined by alignment across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP, with price action holding above key acceptance zones rather than pushing into exhaustion. Bitcoin is trading near $90,290, having reclaimed the $90,000 psychological level after a multi-week consolidation. From a trading perspective, this reclaim only holds weight if the BTC price continues to close above the $89,000–$88,500 support band. While price remains above this zone, pullbacks are viewed as corrective, not trend-breaking.

Ethereum is trading around $3,124, holding cleanly above the $3,000 structural level. ETH price has maintained higher lows on the short-term timeframe and is not showing relative weakness versus Bitcoin. This reduces downside risk for the broader market and suggests capital remains positioned in large-cap risk rather than rotating defensively.

XRP price is trading near $2.06, extending its relative strength after overtaking BNB to claim the #3 market-cap position. The key level for XRP is $2.04, which has now flipped from resistance into support. Holding above this zone keeps momentum intact and opens continuation toward higher expansion levels, while a loss of $2.04 would signal short-term cooling, not immediate reversal.

Overall, BTC leading, ETH confirming, and XRP outperforming point to a controlled, structurally sound rally rather than a late-stage momentum spike.

What to Watch Next

If Bitcoin stays above $90,000, the market could continue to grind higher. This would likely support further strength in Ethereum and keep XRP in focus. If Bitcoin slips back below $88,500, a short-term pullback is possible. That would not automatically turn the market bearish, but it would slow momentum.

The start of 2026 looks healthy for crypto. The rally is being led by major assets, whale behavior is supportive, and key levels are holding for now. The next few sessions will be important. Bitcoin holding above $90K will decide whether this move continues—or pauses before the next push higher.