Bitcoin and major tokens began 2026 on stronger footing Friday morning in Asia, with Cardano’s ADA leading gains among large caps as traders returned from vacation and risk appetite improved in 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 climbed 7%, outpacing movements in the broader market, while Solana, XRP, and BNB also traded higher. Such price action suggests selective positioning rather than the start of a broad altcoin surge.
Analysts at crypto payments firm B2BINPAY said in an email that flows still favored the liquid majors as investors began the year in capital preservation mode.
“Investors are not moving away from Bitcoin and Ethereum en masse to the altcoin market,” the company said, adding that the Altseason Index near 16 still signals Bitcoin dominance and a lack of market-wide participation.
In their view, capital inflows into a handful of large caps like Solana and XRP look more like targeted exposure than an early season offering.
Crypto’s modest rebound has been accompanied by a global shift in risk appetite.
Asian stocks rose 0.8%, led by technology stocks, with the regional technology indicator hitting a record. Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.6%, outpacing gains in S&P 500 contracts, as traders again looked to the AI and chip complex to start the year.
Precious metals also advanced, extending a strong 2025. Spot gold climbed as high as $4,350 an ounce and silver gained more than 1%, as traders positioned themselves for possible U.S. rate cuts and dollar weakness in 2026.
Some analysts, however, have warned of short-term pressures from portfolio rebalancing after last year’s recovery.
“We expect a massive 13% of the total open interest in the Comex silver markets to be sold over the next two weeks, resulting in a dramatic price decline,” wrote Daniel Ghali, TD Securities strategist.
In the crypto space, the multi-asset setup remains favorable but fragile.
A weaker dollar and improving stock sentiment are helping, but traders remain cautious after a late 2025 marked by limited liquidity and rapid profit-taking.
For now, bitcoin holding above $80,000 and ether stabilizing above $3,000 will be seen as early signs of a return to dip buying, although the market is still waiting for conviction to spread beyond the most liquid names.
