Bitcoin eyes $100K after $98K breakout test
Bitcoin (BTC) is approaching a decisive moment. A breakout above $98,000, backed by strong spot market demand and continued inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs, could pave the way for a sustainable recovery toward six-figure territory.
Bitcoin (BTC) has risen 10% from its yearly open near $87,500 but continues to face strong resistance below $98,000. Analysts say the cryptocurrency remains well-positioned for higher targets if it can reclaim key supply zones and maintain robust spot demand.
Key takeaways:
- Bitcoin must break resistance around $98,000 to open the door toward $100,000.
- Spot market demand and ETF inflows must continue to sustain a bullish breakout.
Why $98,000 is the key level
Since November 2025, Bitcoin has been repeatedly rejected within the $93,000 to $110,000 range. According to Glassnode, this area marks the lower boundary of long-term holder (LTH) supply clusters — zones where long-term investors tend to sell or take profits. This overhead supply has historically acted as a dividing line between corrective phases and more durable bull markets.
Glassnode notes that absorbing this supply is a prerequisite for a sustainable trend reversal. The immediate resistance lies near $98,300, corresponding to the average cost basis of short-term holders (those holding BTC for less than 155 days). This level serves as a key indicator of market confidence:
“Sustained trading above this threshold indicates that new demand is absorbing overhead supply, keeping recent buyers in profit.”
Historically, reclaiming and holding above the short-term holder cost basis has often marked the start of more durable uptrends. Bitcoin’s ability to reclaim $98,000 remains essential to restoring market confidence and sustaining the current rally.
Michael van de Poppe, founder of MN Capital, recently wrote on X that Bitcoin could “potentially hit $100K this week,” emphasizing that “the trend is upwards.”
Cointelegraph also reported that holding above the daily order block between $90,000 and $92,000 would further strengthen the case for a push toward $100,000 before the end of the month.
Spot demand and ETF inflows must persist
A move above $100,000 looks increasingly plausible as spot market demand and ETF inflows rebound.
According to Glassnode, spot market activity has started to recover, with cumulative volume delta (CVD) metrics from Binance and other major exchanges turning back to a buy-dominant regime. This indicates that traders are absorbing supply rather than selling into strength, a constructive structural shift in market behavior.
At the same time, spot Bitcoin ETFs are showing renewed investor interest. Data from SoSoValue shows three consecutive days of net inflows totaling $1.7 billion, with Wednesday’s $843.6 million marking the highest single-day inflow since October 2025 and the largest of 2026 so far.
Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise, said on X that Bitcoin could go parabolic if ETF demand persists. Drawing parallels with the gold market, which surged 65% after supply absorption, Hougan suggested Bitcoin could see similar dynamics as ETFs continue buying more BTC than miners can produce.
“If ETF demand persists, and I think it will, sellers will eventually run out of ammunition,” Hougan added.
Bitcoin stands at a critical crossroads. Only a decisive break above $98,000 and sustained demand from both spot markets and ETFs can justify a long-term rally toward $100,000 and beyond. Traders and investors should closely watch these levels and inflow trends for clues on Bitcoin’s next major move.
Source: Cointelegraph
BlackRock leads $840M Bitcoin ETF inflows
Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded their largest inflows so far in 2026, with total spot BTC ETF net inflows topping $843.6 million in a single day amid Bitcoin’s price rally above $97,000. This upswing in capital flows reflects a notable shift in investor sentiment, as crypto markets move into more bullish territory after a period of outflows earlier in the month.
The strong inflows represent part of a three-day streak that brought more than $1.7 billion into spot Bitcoin ETFs, effectively offsetting roughly $1.4 billion of outflows seen between January 6 and January 9. The renewed appetite for BTC exposure via regulated products has coincided with Bitcoin price recovery and a corresponding shift in the Crypto Fear & Greed Index into greed territory for the first time since October 2025.
Leading the charge was BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which dominated the single-day flow with more than $648 million of net inflows. Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) also drew significant capital, adding around $125.4 million, followed by smaller contributions from ARK’s ARKB and Bitwise’s BITB. The collective input from multiple ETF providers underscores broad institutional and retail interest, rather than flows concentrated in a single fund.
Overall ETF activity in January reveals meaningful capital re-entry after early-month withdrawals. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have amassed around $1.5 billion in net inflows so far this month, signaling that investor confidence is strengthening and that demand for Bitcoin exposure through regulated investment vehicles remains robust. Historically, ETF flows often correlate with broader price trends, especially when inflows gather pace during price recoveries.
Analysts view these inflows as supportive of Bitcoin’s near-term bullish outlook, especially as prices reclaim higher trading bands and sentiment improves. The performance of ETFs also suggests that institutional investors continue to allocate capital toward digital assets even during phases of market consolidation.
In summary, a combination of renewed ETF demand, strong single-day inflows led by BlackRock’s IBIT, and a more optimistic market sentiment has helped spot Bitcoin ETFs post their biggest inflows of the year so far. This dynamic aligns with Bitcoin’s price rebound above key psychological levels and could serve as a foundation for future bullish momentum.
Source: Cointelegraph
Monero (XMR) surges to new all-time high amid rising FOMO
Monero (XMR), the well-known privacy-focused cryptocurrency, has experienced a remarkable price surge in the past week, driving its value to a new all-time high around $796 before a slight pullback. This represents a 61% weekly gain, significantly outpacing the performance of larger digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, which posted modest increases or slight declines over the same period.
XMR’s sharp rise has distinguished it from broader market consolidation, making it one of the standout performers in the current crypto landscape.
A major factor behind this rally is the growing interest among traders and investors, partly visible through increased social media attention and discussions about XMR.
According to on-chain analytics firm Santiment, the Monero Social Dominance metric recently spiked, indicating an elevated level of social volume relative to the top 100 cryptocurrencies. This suggests that XMR has garnered disproportionate buzz and trader focus compared with most other tokens.
Historically, sharp spikes in social dominance often coincide with heightened Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) among market participants, where traders buy aggressively in reaction to rapid price moves.
While the countdown of news and analysis highlights the enthusiasm surrounding XMR’s breakout, experts also caution that this type of momentum-driven rally can carry risks. FOMO-driven price action may not always reflect underlying fundamentals, and rapid increases in social hype can precede volatility or short-term corrections. Traders are reminded that extreme sentiment and crowd enthusiasm tend to appear near local tops or during phases of intense speculative interest.
The broader crypto market context shows that Monero’s gain is relatively unique. During the same period that XMR climbed more than 60%, Bitcoin only saw slight positive returns and Ethereum experienced a slight downturn. Competing privacy tokens such as Zcash (ZEC) have displayed markedly different performance patterns, including steep declines in recent trading windows. This performance divergence highlights how Monero has captured attention as a niche but high-momentum asset.
Despite the impressive price action, key questions remain about sustainability. Monero’s surge has attracted both technical traders and retail attention, but the role of sentiment, market psychology and short-term speculation is a prominent part of the current narrative. As XMR continues to explore price discovery, market watchers will be closely observing whether the coin can maintain its elevated levels or if cooling-off periods and profit-taking emerge as the rally matures.
Source: Tradingview