Analyst Don Wedge, with interpretation from Gigabrain, sees a rising wedge near $94,000, with $92,000 as key support and potential downside to $86,000. Coinglass notes whale accumulation at $90,000–$92,000 and sell walls around $95,000, while Glassnode places the Short‑Term Holder cost basis at $98,300, a level watched for trend validation.

On January 16, 2026, Bloomberg reported that Jefferies' global equity strategist Christopher Wood removed Bitcoin after four years, eliminating a 10% allocation and shifting the exposure to physical gold and gold-mining stocks due to quantum-computing concerns. Researchers estimate around 30% of circulating BTC could face quantum exposure under certain conditions, while debate across the crypto sector highlights divergent views on timelines and mitigations.

Starting January 28, Google Play will require crypto exchanges and wallet apps serving South Korea to provide proof of FIU VASP registration, with noncompliant titles removed and new installs blocked. The policy compels uploading a Report Receipt Complete document via the Developer Console and could affect overseas platforms lacking domestic corporate status and ISMS certification.

Bitcoin has reinforced its upside bias by breaking above the $94,200 resistance and moving close to the 50-week EMA near $97,200, with price action forming a double-bottom around the $86,300 area. On-chain Value Days Destroyed readings near 0.53 in January 2026 indicate that long-term holders are largely inactive, supporting a thesis that the advance toward and potentially beyond the $100,000 region is being driven by sustained demand rather than heavy distribution. Technical resistance around the $97,600-$98,200 band and higher levels at $103,650 and $111,600 remain key thresholds for confirming a stronger bullish continuation.

On January 15, Representative Maxine Waters sent a letter accusing the SEC of operating a pay-to-play scheme in its crypto enforcement strategy, focusing on the paused civil fraud case against Tron founder Justin Sun. The letter highlights Sun's $75 million investment in Trump family venture World Liberty Financial, his status as the largest holder of Trump's memecoin, and subsequent SEC moves to stay his case and drop other major actions against leading exchanges. Waters argues that these decisions create the appearance that political donations and financial ties to the Trump family may have influenced regulatory outcomes and calls on the SEC to either resume litigation or secure a settlement that reflects the strength of its original complaint.

Chinese state television reported on January 14 that former digital yuan architect Yao Qian allegedly received more than $8 million in cryptocurrency bribes while serving in top financial regulatory roles. Investigators traced 2,000 Ethereum and other funds through hardware wallets, shell accounts, and exchange transfers, linking the assets to a Beijing villa purchase and broader corruption involving business favors and recruitment decisions.

Ripple secured an Electronic Money Institution license from Luxembourg's CSSF, enabling real-time cross-border payments across Europe. On January 14, 2026, Stuart Alderoty said preliminary approval had been granted. XRP trades around $2.10–$2.15, holding above $2.00 support, as market watchers focus on the $3.05 resistance.

Bitcoin climbed above the $95,000 resistance level and briefly traded near $97,000 on Wednesday, with more than $100 million in short positions wiped out in one hour. QCP Capital links the move to a broader risk-on backdrop supported by stable U.S. inflation, Trump's pro-market agenda, and record-breaking gains in gold and other metals, while ongoing political turmoil and dollar weakness still cloud the outlook for sustained upside.

Bitcoin's open interest has fallen more than 31% from its 2025 high to roughly $10 billion, dropping below the 180-day moving average in a deleveraging phase that some analysts view as a market bottom. With spot volume approaching $60 billion and a key positioning index breaking above 3 for the first time since October 6, projections now focus on a potential breakout toward the $100,000–$105,000 zone and a possible retest of the $120,000 highs.