Crypto Market Opens 2026 Higher as Bitcoin ETFs Draw $471 Million

Crypto markets moved higher on the first trading day of 2026, with the global market capitalization reaching $3.16 trillion, up 1.5%. Bitcoin rose 2% to $93,000, while Ethereum gained 1% to $3,175, BNB climbed 2.5% to $906, and Solana advanced 1% to $135.

The move matters because it showed broad strength across major assets while capital continued to flow into regulated Bitcoin investment products. Bitcoin ETFs saw $471 million in net inflows, marking the highest single-day total since November 11, according to the source material.

Smaller tokens also outperformed during the session. Virtuals led the top movers with a 24% gain, followed by Render at 17%, while BTT and FET each rose 11%.

The market update came alongside regulatory and corporate developments. SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw officially departed the agency on January 2, leaving an all-Republican commission, according to the source.

In traditional finance, PwC said it plans to go deeper into crypto, with a focus on stablecoins and payments. The move points to continued institutional attention on blockchain-based financial infrastructure beyond token trading.