The last year in the cryptocurrency market left a significant mark, characterized largely by daily selloffs during U.S. trading hours. However, on the first official trading day of 2026, a noteworthy shift appears to be emerging. Unlike previous trends, crypto prices are currently on an upswing while American markets are still open.
Bitcoin has notably surged, now standing at $90,201.65, reflecting a 2.5% increase over the last 24 hours. Other cryptocurrencies are also seeing robust gains, with Ethereum rising to $3,116.71, Solana reaching $131.43, and XRP at $1.9906, each climbing nearly 4%.
The optimism is not limited to cryptocurrency alone; broader asset classes are experiencing an upward trend in the initial trading session of the year. The Nasdaq index has risen by 0.6%, fueled primarily by AI-related chipmakers. Companies such as Nvidia, Broadcom, Micron, and Intel have posted impressive gains between 3% and 6%.
In the commodity sector, silver has gained 3%, while both gold and copper have seen modest increases. This rising tide has notably benefited Bitcoin miners transitioning into AI infrastructure, with stocks like Hut 8 (HUT), CleanSpark (CLSK), and TeraWulf (WULF) each recording gains of around 10%. Other firms, such as Cipher Mining (CIFR) and IREN (IREN), are also enjoying rises, each increasing by approximately 8%.
Further reflecting the wave of optimism, companies heavily intertwined with the cryptocurrency space are seeing substantial gains as well. Stocks like MicroStrategy (MSTR) and Coinbase (COIN) are both up more than 3%, while Galaxy Digital (GLXY) has risen by 7%, and Circle Financial (CRCL) has observed an uptick of 4.5%.
The shift in market behavior during this first trading session of 2026 suggests a potential turnaround for the cryptocurrency sector, offering a refreshing contrast to the trends observed last year. Investors and analysts will be keeping a keen eye on whether this momentum continues as the year progresses.
