At the beginning of the year, Bitcoin surged above $90,000, while Ethereum, Dogecoin, and XRP also experienced gains. Reports indicate that Iran's state-owned Defense Export Center is willing to sell advanced weapons in cryptocurrency to circumvent sanctions. MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor stated that Bitcoin makes his company's stock "interesting," despite traders betting that Bitcoin may be removed from major indices. The FBI warns that Bitcoin ATM scams in 2025 will cause losses exceeding $300 million and notes a significant increase in such fraud. Memecoins like Pepe and Bonk started strong rallies in 2026, rising 26% and 12%, respectively.

Here are the cryptocurrency market summaries for January 3, 2026 — key trends, price movements, and important news affecting the digital asset market: Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $90 000 — demonstrating resilience after short-term fluctuations, maintaining levels close to highs and reflecting optimism in the market. Ethereum (ETH) remains stable above $3 000, with moderate daily fluctuations — ETH maintains key support, and market participants note increased network activity. 📊 Market Summary Total cryptocurrency market capitalization: approximately $3.0–3.15 trillion with moderate growth over 24 hours, driven by activity in major altcoins. Bitcoin’s (market share): has fallen below 60%, indicating altcoin activity and capital rotation into them. Altcoins in focus: XRP significantly strengthened its position, surpassing BNB in market capitalization and breaking the $2 + level — this is one of the main drivers of altcoin growth today. Other altcoins, including TRX, also contributed to the overall capitalization increase. Trading volumes remain high, indicating continued investment and interest from speculators. 📰 Main news impacting the market 📌 Price and market events Bitcoin and Ethereum are strengthening and consolidating at high levels, demonstrating resilience amid global financial events. XRP overtakes BNB in capitalization after strong growth, reflecting changes in investor interest toward altcoins. 🌍 Geopolitics and regulations Iran announced it will accept cryptocurrencies for payments for advanced weapons — potentially important news for the global crypto payment infrastructure. Carolyn Crenshaw (SEC) is stepping down as head of crypto market oversight in the US — possible impact on regulatory stance and ETF regulation. 🧠 Trends and analytics Analysts highlight 26 factors for optimism regarding crypto in 2026, including institutional interest, DeFi development, and progress in regulation. Interim corrections and market sentiment indicate potential for further growth but also suggest maintained volatility. 📉 Additional factors Some reviews note a decline in meme coins and short-term correction amid macroeconomic sentiments, increased regulatory pressure, and rising yields on government bonds — which could have a mixed effect on risky assets. 📌 Short conclusion 🔹 The market started 2026 with optimism: BTC and ETH are confidently holding key levels, and altcoins are increasing influence. 🔹 The overall background is moderately bullish with a positive mood, but volatility persists. 🔹 Regulatory and geopolitical news continue to play a significant role in market dynamics.

From a technical perspective, the upside potential of BTC has been severely compressed. Looking at the overall trend, Bitcoin has already reached a significant resistance zone at the current price level, and the probability of a breakout upward is low. My judgment is that Bitcoin will experience a downward trend, with a target around $78,000. This is not baseless speculation, but a conclusion based on the current technical analysis and market structure. Some people are still hoping for it to continue rising, but frankly, even if it rebounds, the room for growth is very limited. Rather than waiting for small gains, it’s better to decisively short. In trading, execution and precise judgment are equally important. When the trend is clear, you must dare to act. Market opportunities are fleeting, and hesitation will only cause you to miss the profit window. BTC is starting to lose support, and the signs of decline are becoming more obvious. No matter how you view it now, the market will soon give an answer. It’s worth paying attention to the performance of XRP and other mainstream coins, as they often provide directional hints before BTC.