Bitcoin accelerated its growth in mid-January and is trading at around $97,024, updating the local highs of recent weeks. Ethereum is holding steady at $3,366.
According to CoinMarketCap, the global capitalisation of the crypto market is around $3.28 trillion, with Bitcoin accounting for around 59%, indicating a concentration of demand in the largest asset, while altcoins are growing less evenly.
The main driver in January is the return of institutional interest through ETFs. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded strong inflows, including about $843.6 million on 14 January, with total inflows measured in billions of dollars over several days.
The second factor is the US macroeconomy. The market reacted to inflation data and rate expectations, which directly affect risk appetite and the cost of capital. After the publication of the December CPI, Bitcoin accelerated at certain moments, and volatility in crypto intensified.
January news markers that may affect the exchange rate.
Regulation in the US. On 13 January, senators introduced a bill on rules for the crypto market, including the division of powers between the SEC and CFTC and the approach to stablecoins. On 15 January, discussions in the Senate Banking Committee were postponed after public criticism from Coinbase. This is a typical trigger for the market: clear rules are a plus for valuations, while delays and disputes are a cause for nervousness.
Stablecoins and payments. Visa is publicly increasing its focus on stablecoin payments: the company estimates the current annual run rate of such payments at approximately $4.5 billion, with an estimated $270 billion in stablecoins in circulation. Any news about stablecoin regulation and the banking lobby in the US can quickly affect sentiment in crypto.
Risk of incidents and hacks. In January, the market already received a reminder of technological risks: some tokens fell to almost zero after exploits (an example is the incident surrounding Truebit). Such events usually hit the ‘second tier’ and increase demand for quality (BTC, large protocols).
The key event of the month is the FOMC meeting on 27-28 January 2026 and the subsequent press conference. The Fed’s rhetoric on rates and inflation remains one of the strongest external factors for crypto at the beginning of the year.
On the night of October 11, cryptocurrency markets experienced a massive crash: almost all coins from the top 100 fell by 30-60% in an hour, accompanied by record liquidations and panic selling.
According to CoinDesk, the market liquidated about $16 billion in leveraged long positions in major cryptocurrencies.
The sudden announcement by the US of a 100% tariff on imports of critical software from China heightened anxiety and triggered a massive sell-off of assets.
Bitcoin fell by about 7–8%, and Ethereum by more than 12% in a few hours.
CoinGlass recorded the liquidation of $8 billion in long positions on the cryptocurrency market in 24 hours.
Many users note that this flash crash was one of the sharpest in market history: most altcoins fell by 30-60% before the market attempted to recover.
The main reasons for the sharp collapse are:
Leveraged liquidations
Market participants often trade with leverage. When prices move sharply, the system automatically closes positions, which amplifies the downward momentum.
Macroeconomic and geopolitical shocks
The US decision to impose tariffs on Chinese technology products is perceived as an escalation in the trade war, which intensifies the outflow from risky assets.
Correlation with stock markets and the dollar
The strengthening of the dollar and the outflow of capital from risky assets is another factor of pressure.
Liquidity opacity in some assets
During a mass exit from the market, stable liquid assets (BTC, ETH) “drag down” less liquid altcoins, which “break” more strongly.
Panic and market psychology
A fall of this magnitude often triggers a chain reaction: when some start selling, others are forced to follow suit to avoid heavy losses.
Fixygen analysts suggest that a multi-process bottoming out is expected in the coming days, especially on weekends when liquidity is lower. According to some analysts, Bitcoin could rise by up to 21% during the week if the mood is favorable. The main benchmark for recovery is maintaining support in the $109-110 thousand range for BTC.
Source: https://www.fixygen.ua/news/20251011/pozhezha-na-rinku-kriptovalyut-oglyad-vid-fixygen.html
In London, judicial authorities have confirmed the arrest of Chinese citizen Zhimin Qian (also known as Yadi Zhang), who pleaded guilty to cryptocurrency transactions linked to large-scale fraud.
According to British investigators, Qian ran a financial scheme in China between 2014 and 2017, involving approximately 128,000 victims. She converted the money she received into bitcoins and attempted to launder it through transactions in the UK.
During a search of a house in north London, 61,000 bitcoins were seized, which at the time of the investigation were valued at over £5 billion. This seizure is considered one of the largest in the history of crypto crimes.
Qian pleaded guilty to charges related to the illegal possession, acquisition, and laundering of crypto assets. Her extradition and final sentence are expected later.
This case is significant not only for British law enforcement in the field of cryptocurrencies, but also for global law enforcement cooperation in combating transnational money laundering schemes involving digital assets.
