Bitcoin (BTC) has spent the past several weeks testing $90,000 without being able to sustain a break, and early trading in 2026 shows the cryptocurrency continuing to hover just below this key level.
Whether it can finally push through and hold $90,000 remains crucial for the bulls, with any meaningful upside dependent on a decisive breakout from the current range.
Intraday, Bitcoin has fluctuated between roughly $87,700 and $89,800, staying within the narrow range that has dominated market activity since the end of December.
Negative ETF flows and subdued institutional demand have weighed on momentum, while on-chain indicators point to a potential surge in volatility if the support and resistance boundaries are breached.
Ethereum is trading around $3,051, tracking Bitcoin’s movements and holding steady above the $2,700–$2,800 accumulation zone.
XRP is changing hands at $1.90, approaching the $2 psychological level. Exchange balances for XRP have dropped to their lowest in nearly eight years, indicating less supply sitting on exchanges, although price remains capped by resistance.
Market commentators note that the start of the year contniues to be marked by cautious sentiment, with XRP bouncing modestly and Ether remaining steady alongside Bitcoin.
A clear breakout above $90,000 for Bitcoin is needed to trigger more significant bullish push across the market.