Cardano jumps 7% as bitcoin and ether climb in a cautious 2026 rally

Bitcoin and major tokens opened 2026 on firmer footing as traders returned from the holiday break, with Cardano’s ADA leading large-cap gains. Bitcoin rose about 1% to trade near $88,700 while ether added roughly 1% to hover around $3,010. ADA climbed 7%, and Solana, XRP and BNB also traded higher.

Analysts say the moves look like selective positioning rather than the start of a broad altcoin season. Crypto payments firm B2BINPAY noted flows still favor liquid majors and pointed to an Altseason Index near 16 as evidence of continued bitcoin dominance and limited market-wide participation.

The modest crypto rebound came alongside a broader risk-on shift. Asian equities rose 0.8%, led by technology shares, and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.6%. Precious metals also advanced, with spot gold moving toward $4,350 an ounce and silver up more than 1% as traders positioned for potential U.S. rate cuts and dollar weakness.

Despite the supportive cross-asset setup — a weaker dollar and improving equity sentiment — analysts warned conditions remain fragile after late-2025’s thin liquidity and rapid profit-taking. Bitcoin holding in the high-$80,000s and ether stabilizing above $3,000 are early signs of dip-buying, but conviction has yet to spread beyond the most liquid names.

Key Topics

Crypto, United States, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, Altcoins, Markets