Jan 21, 2026
🍪 Today's Snack
Bitcoin extended losses below $90K while Ethereum crashed through $3,000 support on January 20, marking a sixth consecutive down day. Total crypto market cap fell 3% to $3.02T with 95 of the top 100 coins posting red - but privacy coins bucked the trend, with Monero's recent surge reflecting demand for transaction anonymity.
📈 24h Crypto Market Snapshot
Total cryptocurrency market cap stands at $3.02T (down around 3% over the last day). The Fear & Greed Index is at 32 (Fear), signaling cautious sentiment after a sharp multi‑day selloff.
Asset | Price (USD) | 24h Change | Market Cap (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
BTC | $89,338 | -1.82% | $1.78T |
ETH | $2,970 | -4.86% | $357B |
BNB | $877 | -4.25% | $119B |
SOL | $128 | -2.47% | $72B |
Ethereum led losses after breaking $3,200 support - sharpest drop since December. Bitcoin dipped below $90K for first time since January 9. Selling pressure intensified across major altcoins as defensive positioning dominated.
🔥 Top 3 Movers & Shakers
Axie Infinity (AXS) - +30.17%
Gaming token bounced from oversold levels on speculative positioning.
Takeaway: Gaming sector remains highly volatile - excellent short-term trades, poor holds.Ethereum (ETH) - -7.30%
Critical support break triggered cascading stops; next support at $2,880-$2,900.
Takeaway: Wait for confirmed bounce before entering - avoid catching falling knives.Monero (XMR) - -17.26% (pullback from ATH)
Corrected after surging 57% to $800, but still massive vs. $200 levels mid-2024.
Takeaway: Privacy coins gaining institutional attention; volatility extreme but demand signals shift in use cases.
🏦 ETF & Institutional Flows
Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $479.7M in net outflows on January 20, the largest single-day exodus since early January, while Ethereum ETFs saw $230M in outflows - signaling sustained risk-off sentiment. Combined $710M in institutional selling pressure reflects macro uncertainty and profit-taking after recent volatility.
🌍 Market Context (Macro + On-Chain)
Macro Pulse:
January 20 marked one year since Trump's second inauguration, but Bitcoin trades 17% below that day's high. Markets remain risk-off amid Fed policy uncertainty (next meeting January 28, hold expected) and core inflation above 2%.
On-Chain Highlights:
Whale accumulation continued despite weakness - addresses holding 10-10K BTC added 36,000 BTC ($3.2B) Jan 10-19, while retail sold 132 BTC. Strategy purchased $2.13B more Bitcoin (22,305 BTC) Jan 12-19, bringing total to 709,715 BTC.
🔍 Deep Dive - Bitcoin Dominance Holds: Altseason Delayed
Bitcoin dominance remains at 59% despite Altcoin Season Index reaching 28 - historically, dominance below 57% triggers altcoin rotation. This cycle differs: $26B in BTC ETF inflows created institutional structure that doesn't naturally rotate into broader crypto.
For true altseason, three conditions must align: BTC dominance below 57%, Altcoin Season Index above 75, and strong fundamentals. Currently only the third trends upward with DeFi TVL approaching $150B.
Takeaway: Dominance stability creates bifurcated markets - strong altcoins rally on merit, but broad "altseason" mania won't trigger until dominance breaks below 57% for weeks.
📰 Top News
Strategy Buys $2.13B BTC: MicroStrategy purchased 22,305 BTC Jan 12-19, now holds 709,715 BTC - corporate conviction despite stock pressure.
Wyoming Stablecoin Goes Live: FRNT (backed 102% by US Treasuries) launched on 7 blockchains - landmark moment for government-issued digital currency.
Polygon Selected for Wyoming Stablecoin: POL surged 46% after infrastructure win.
Monero Hits $800 ATH: Privacy coin leader surged 57%, breaking 2018 peak amid anonymity demand.
Congress Advances Stablecoin Bill: Bipartisan federal licensing framework expected mid-2026, unlocking mainstream adoption.
📚 Education Bits
💡 Pro Tip: When major support breaks, wait for confirmed bounce before entering. Use volume and orderbook depth to confirm exhaustion vs. continuation.
🔍 Did You Know? Bitcoin dominance at 59% creates bifurcated markets where institutional capital concentrates in BTC/ETH while speculative capital rotates selectively - opposite of past cycles where dominance drops triggered broad mania.
📊 Daily Wrap-Up
Crypto markets closed in defensive mode with 95 of top 100 coins red, extending a sixth down day. Bitcoin tested $90K while Ethereum broke $3,000, pushing market cap down 3% to $3.02T.
Institutional flows turned sharply negative with $710M combined ETF outflows - largest exodus in weeks. Whale accumulation vs. retail selling typically precedes bottoms, but macro headwinds keep direction unclear.
Today's Watch List:
Watch Bitcoin reclaim $92K - failure keeps pressure toward $85-87K. Ethereum must hold above $2,900 to prevent cascade to $2,700. Monitor Fed commentary ahead of January 28 meeting and ETF flows for capitulation signs.
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© Web Snack 2026.
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always conduct your own research and make independent decisions.
