Monero Price Prediction January 2026: The Privacy Sector Giant Prepares for a $1,000 Run

The blue-chip cryptos like BTC, ETH, XRP, and others are struggling, while the privacy sector is witnessing a massive resurgence, with the Monero price today at $623. XMR/USD’s price action is strongly driven by a robust demand witnessed both on the technical chart as it has strong on-chain utility. In this Monero price prediction for January 2026 article, the data examined shows exactly why the asset is currently positioned to challenge its previous all-time highs and reach uncharted territory.

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Privacy Sector Dominance and Network Utility

Moving forward, the health of the privacy coin market is best reflected in its daily transaction throughput. Current data from the bitinfocharts platform shows a robust level of blockchain activity, with Monero crypto recording 27.415k transactions on January 18, 2026. While DASH crypto showed a slight higher spike at 29.754k, the overall stability and privacy-preserving nature of XMR keep it at the forefront of the sector’s $11.56 billion market cap valuation. 

Furthermore, ZEC crypto continues to play a role in this sector with 5.996k daily transactions, yet it is the Monero price USD performance that has captured the primary attention of trend-following investors.

Monero Price Prediction January 2026: Technical Breakout and Targets

Furthermore, the technical setup on the monthly timeframe highlights a major shift in historical trends. For years, the XMR/USD asset traded within a defined ascending parallel wedge, but January 2026 has seen a decisive breach of the upper border. 

This move suggests that the previous 2017–2024 cycles of consolidation are over, paving the way for a more aggressive markup phase. 

Simultaneously, the daily Monero price forecast remains bullish despite a recent pullback from the $800 all-time high. This retracement has allowed the asset to find dynamic support at the 20-day EMA band, effectively flipping the old resistance of the monthly wedge into a new support floor.

Whale Participation and Institutional Sentiment

In addition to technical strength, the “smart money” is clearly making its presence known through on-chain order flow. According to the Monero price chart metrics for average order size, there has been a consistent presence of “Big Whale Orders” throughout the recent price surge. 

Historically, larger average order sizes suggest increased participation from whale investors who are less likely to be shaken out by minor volatility. 

This accumulation pattern supports the thesis that once the $800 resistance is flipped into support, the Monero price prediction January 2026 will likely see the asset target psychological round numbers at $900 and eventually $1,000.

Looking at the broader horizon, the convergence of network utility and institutional accumulation provides a strong foundation for the current price action. 

As long as the Monero price USD remains above the dynamic 20-day EMA support, the momentum is expected to carry the asset through its previous peaks. 

Consequently, the Monero price prediction January 2026 remains one of the most compelling narratives in the privacy sector, as the market anticipates a historic run toward the four-digit price milestone.