BTC, SHIB, PEPE, NEAR gain

Crypto prices today are on the uptrend, with Bitcoin and several major altcoins posting gains as improving sentiment and geopolitical shifts in Venezuela lift risk appetite.

The total cryptocurrency market capitalization rose about 1% to $3.23 trillion, according to market data. Bitcoin was trading at $92,436 at press time, up 1.1% over the past 24 hours. Ethereum, XRP, BNB, and Solana also edged higher, tracking Bitcoin’s move as broader market conditions stabilized.

Smaller altcoins saw larger gains. Pepe increased 10% to $0.057, and Shiba Inu rose 6% to $0.0587. Near Protocol saw a 6% increase to trade at roughly $1.77, indicating a resurgence of interest in higher-beta tokens. 

Market sentiment slightly improved. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index moved back into the “Fear” zone after rising one point to 26, indicating traders are becoming slightly more comfortable taking risks.

Derivatives data shows rising activity. CoinGlass data revealed liquidations rose 39% to $360 million, while open interest edged up 0.87% to $139 billion. This combination points to new positions entering the market rather than just short covering. The average crypto relative strength index stood at 58, placing the market in neutral territory.

What’s behind today’s gains

Today’s gains seem to be supported by a number of factors. Venezuelan geopolitical events have raised expectations for volatility, which traders often see as positive for cryptocurrencies. Stronger spot demand coincided with reports of recent U.S. actions linked to Venezuelan leadership, pushing Bitcoin above the $91,000–$93,000 range and boosting altcoins.

Seasonal dynamics are playing a role as well. The selling pressure linked to year-end positioning has mostly subsided as January begins, and markets are witnessing a return of liquidity following the holidays. This early-year reset has historically encouraged new investment in high-risk assets like cryptocurrencies.

Institutional participation remains a key source of support. Over the past week, spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded inflows of about $456 million, while spot Ether ETFs brought in roughly $160 million, according to SoSoValue data. These numbers imply that major investors are increasing their exposure despite recent price swings.

Short-term outlook and analyst views

Views among analysts are split. While some warn that weaker macro data could lead to consolidation or short-term pullbacks, others think prices could continue to rise as long as important technical levels hold.

Ben Cowen, who has previously flagged major market tops, expects uneven and choppy trading in early January. He does, however, see room for improvement if Bitcoin can maintain support in the low $90,000 range, pointing out that increased volatility might continue before a more obvious path emerges. 

Fundstrat’s Tom Lee is more optimistic. He argues that if past January trends continue, early-year momentum and consistent institutional inflows could propel Bitcoin higher. Lee has proposed near-term upside scenarios as high as $150,000 while acknowledging macroeconomic risks. 

ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood has also expressed optimism. She points to growing institutional adoption and Bitcoin’s relatively lower volatility compared with tech stocks as factors that could allow prices to challenge new highs during the first quarter.

On the more cautious end of the spectrum, veteran trader Peter Brandt has warned that losing current support levels could lead to a sharper decline. He believes there could be a decline toward the mid-$40,000s in a negative sentiment shift. 

All things considered, many analysts predict that Bitcoin will stay range-bound in the near future, trading roughly between $88,000 and $95,000. Even though upcoming macroeconomic data is likely to keep volatility high, they expect ongoing ETF inflows to spur additional upside attempts.