The global capitalization of the cryptocurrency market at the beginning of 2026 fluctuates around $3.1-3.2 trillion, with Bitcoin trading at around $90-91 thousand, and Ethereum is trading at around $3,100, according to industry aggregators and current quotes.
According to CoinGecko, the market capitalization is around $3.19 trillion, with Bitcoin accounting for around 56.8% and stablecoins accounting for around $312 billion (around 9.8% of the market).
The DeFi segment holds a total TVL of about $124 billion, with USDT’s share in stablecoins estimated at about 60%.
The beginning of 2026 is marked by mixed dynamics of exchange-traded products: on some days, large inflows were recorded, but the first full week of the year was accompanied by net outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs (according to The Block estimates, about $681 million).
At the same time, the industry expects an expansion of the range of exchange-traded products and the gradual arrival of more “slow” institutional capital throughout 2026.
The stablecoin segment is approaching 2026 at historically high levels in terms of capitalization, and turnover in 2025, according to Bloomberg with reference to Artemis Analytics, reached about $33 trillion, which reinforces the thesis about the role of the “digital dollar” in settlements.
Interest in payment infrastructure is also confirmed by venture activity: Reuters reported on a large round of financing for Rain, a company that works with stablecoin wallets and cards.
In the US, initiatives on the “market structure” of crypto regulation remain on the agenda, which, according to CoinDesk, are approaching the stages of hearings and voting.
At the same time, the Financial Times reported on the movement of some projects towards banking supervision and a stricter framework for stablecoins.
