Bitcoin and major tokens began 2026 on a firmer footing in Friday’s Asian morning hours, with Cardano’s ADA leading gains among large caps as traders returned from vacation and risk appetite improved across markets.
Bitcoin rose about 1% to trade near $88,700, while ether added about 1% to hover around $3,010, continuing a steady recovery from late December lows.
ADA rose 7%, outpacing moves in the broader market, while solana, XRP, and BNB also traded higher. Such price action suggested selective positioning rather than the start of a broad altcoin rally.
Analysts at crypto payments firm B2BINPAY said in an email that flows still favor large liquid companies as investors begin the year in capital preservation mode.
“Investors are not wholesale rotating bitcoin and ethereum into the altcoin market,” the firm said, adding that the Altseason index near 16 still indicates bitcoin dominance and a lack of participation in the entire market.
In his view, capital inflows into a handful of large-cap companies like Solana and XRP look more like targeted exposure than alternative early-season offerings.
The modest cryptocurrency rally came alongside a global risk-on move.
Asian stocks rose 0.8%, led by technology stocks, and a regional technology indicator hit a record high. Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.6%, outpacing gains in S&P 500 contracts, as traders leaned back toward the chip and AI complex to start the year.
Precious metals also advanced, extending a strong 2025. Spot gold rose to $4,350 an ounce and silver gained more than 1% as traders positioned for potential U.S. rate cuts and dollar weakness in 2026.
Still, some analysts warned of near-term pressure from rebalancing portfolios after last year’s rally.
“We expect a whopping 13% of aggregate open interest in the Comex silver markets to be sold over the next two weeks, resulting in a dramatic repricing to the downside,” wrote TD Securities strategist Daniel Ghali.
In the crypto sector, the cross-asset setup remains supportive but fragile.
A weaker dollar and improving stock sentiment help, but traders remain cautious after a period in late 2025 marked by tight liquidity and rapid profit-taking.
For now, bitcoin holding above $80,000 and ether stabilizing above $3,000 will be seen as early signs that dip buying is returning, even if the market is still waiting for conviction to extend beyond the more liquid names.
