Gold climbed to a fresh all-time high, crossing $5,100 an ounce on Monday, extending its record-breaking run as investors seek shelter amid rising geopolitical tensions and global fiscal risks.
Spot gold prices gained 2.4%, trading at $5,102 an ounce, before paring gains to $5,086.

The surge comes days after President Donald Trump warned Canada that the U.S. would impose a 100% tariff on goods sold in the U.S. if the country strikes a trade deal with China. “If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the U.S.A.,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

However, Ethereum is moving in the opposite direction, trading at $2,877.15 with a 24-hour trading volume of $24.69 billion. The token now sits 36% below its $4,953.73 peak.

The $5K Race Ends

The “Gold versus ETH: Which hits $5K first?” market on Myriad has reached a resolution, with gold hitting the $5k mark first. The precious metal jumped 7.28% on the week and was recently priced at $4,938 before Monday’s breakout.

While gold is typically compared to Bitcoin, predictors on Myriad favored ETH for months, betting on its volatile upward mobility, but they’ve become less confident as crypto markets slide. The prediction market opened in October 2025.

Institutional Flows Tell the Story

Western ETF holdings have climbed by about 500 tonnes since the start of 2025. Goldman Sachs lifted its December 2026 gold price forecast to $5,400 an ounce, up from $4,900, arguing that hedges against global macro and policy risks have become “sticky.”

Central bank purchases remain robust as Goldman estimates central-bank purchases are averaging around 60 tonnes a month, far above the pre-2022 average of 17 tonnes.

“While this rally in gold has not, and will not, be linear, we believe the trends driving this rebasing higher in gold prices are not exhausted,” Natasha Kaneva, head of Global Commodities Strategy at J.P. Morgan, stated. “The long-term trend of official reserve and investor diversification into gold has further to run.”

Ethereum saw $630 million in outflows last week, reflecting bearish sentiment as investors withdraw funds. A whale that had been dormant for nine years transferred 50,000 ETH, worth $145 million, to a Gemini wallet, a move often associated with liquidation intent.

Geopolitical Catalyst

The precious metal’s surge comes as flashpoints from Greenland and Venezuela to the Middle East reflect higher geopolitical risk. Trump’s tariff threat follows tensions that mounted after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos that was widely seen as a rebuke of the Trump administration’s policies.

Earlier this month, Carney announced that Canada and China reached a preliminary deal to remove trade barriers. Under the tentative agreement, Beijing cut tariffs on some Canadian agricultural products, while Ottawa increased quotas for imports of Chinese electric vehicles.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday that Ottawa has no plans to pursue a free trade deal with China, noting that the recent agreement only reduces tariffs on select sectors. Carney’s remarks came a day after President Trump threatened a 100% tariff on Canadian goods.

What Desks Are Watching

The gold-crypto divergence indicates a broader risk recalibration. Following a record-breaking 2025, gold entered 2026 with momentum intact as geopolitical tensions, falling real interest rates, and efforts by investors and central banks to diversify away from the dollar reinforce its safe-haven role.

ETH failed to reclaim its “digital gold” narrative during peak macro stress. Analysts note that if ETH maintains support around the $2,500 level, it could reach an all-time high of $6,000 by 2026, but that thesis requires risk appetite to return. In August 2025, Trump raised the tariff on Canadian goods to 35%. A 100% tariff threat marks a major escalation.

Markets are pricing in two interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve later this year. Traders await this week’s FOMC meeting, where the central bank is widely expected to hold rates steady.

The post Gold Smashes $5,100 Record as Trump Tariff Threat Looms; ETH Slides Under $2,900 appeared first on Cryptonews.

• AXS price jumped more than 12% to above $2.50 on January 26, 2026.
• The gains saw Axie Infinity outpace the broader gaming sector.
• WEMIX and Ronin also rose, but top tokens like The Sandbox and Immutable were flat.

Axie Infinity’s native token, AXS, has surged by double digits in the past 24 hours, extending its recent gains.

The uptick also marked a notable rebound for the gaming token, after prices revisited support around $2.00 over the weekend. All this happens as investors weigh opportunities in a largely subdued cryptocurrency market.

Gold rocketed to record highs above $5,000 and silver rallied above $100, moves that have stolen the shine from crypto, with Bitcoin labouring under $90,000.

Axie Infinity price jumps 12%

The overall crypto picture portends caution, and capital flight shows this as seen in recent weeks. However, even as whales pile into precious metals, some altcoins like Axie Infinity are defying immediate sentiment.

On Monday, AXS climbed by more than 12% to hit highs of $2.54.

This double-digit spike over the past 24 hours allowed buyers to attempt a retest of $3.00, which also acted as a hurdle when Axie Infinity exploded last week.

However, while AXS delivered a strong double-digit performance, most gaming sector tokens exhibited minimal movement. Most remained flatlined or dipping slightly, including The Sandbox, Gala, Decentraland and Immutable.

Exceptions to this include WEMIX, which saw gains of around 5% in the same period, and Ronin (RON), which was posting modest gains of about 6% amid low overall activity.

The broader gaming category is still recovering from the last cycle’s challenges. Crypto analyst Zack shared reasons why the Axie Infinity price is surging in a post on X.

$AXS ripping higher feels ironic — it’s the exact ecosystem most people had already written off.
So what actually flipped the script?
– SLP inflation finally shut down
– bAXS introduced as the new reward layer (non-transferable, reputation-based, anti-bot by design)
– Atia’s… pic.twitter.com/qUjUTrlQBC

— Zack (@0xZackon) January 26, 2026

Can AXS hold onto gains?

Axie Infinity’s momentum stems from ongoing ecosystem updates and whale accumulation, positioning it ahead in the GameFi revival.

Yet, sustained holding depends on macroeconomic factors and sector-wide adoption. Investors will eye upcoming developments for confirmation of this rally’s longevity.

The technical outlook for AXS, therefore, remains cautiously optimistic in the short term, with resistance levels near the $2.90-$3.00 and at $5.10 levels.

AXS bulls may target these levels next, provided price holds above $2.00.

However, a downside flip looms if broader crypto sentiment sours further, potentially testing lower support zones. Key support levels lie at $1.86 and $1.20.

The bearish outlook strengthens with indicators such as the negative MACD and RSI. Currently, the momentum indicators signal sell-off pressure. Profit-taking by recent buyers also poses a risk.

AXS price reached highs of $10 in January 2025, before plummeting sharply. Meanwhile, the all-time high for the token is $165, which it reached in November 2021.

The post AXS price pumps 12% as Axie Infinity outpaces gaming sector tokens appeared first on CoinJournal.

Tether commands over half of the $4B gold backed stablecoin market, with XAU leading amid surging gold demand and onchain asset growth.

The post Tether dominates $4B gold-backed stablecoin market as gold tops $5100 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The recent market downturn has not deterred analysts from maintaining a bullish outlook on the Bitcoin price. New reports from these market watchers suggest Bitcoin may be entering a new parabolic phase, potentially signaling the end of its prolonged correction. While one analyst points to BTC’s correlation with gold as a signal of a possible ATH, another applies an Elliott Wave analysis to set a new price target for the leading cryptocurrency. 

Bitcoin Price Prepares For $245,000 Parabolic Move

A recent technical analysis by Crypto Tice suggests that gold has taken the lead, while Bitcoin currently stands at a transition point. The analyst presented a weekly price chart tracking both assets, and showing how gold’s price movement could be used to determine Bitcoin’s next parabolic move to a $245,000 all-time high. 

The chart tracks gold and Bitcoin’s price action from 2016 through projected moves into 2026, showing a repeating pattern where uncertainty peaks in gold first. After which, capital flows into the precious metal, its price then breaks out and ranges, and then money rotates into BTC. Crypto Tice has said that this rotation phase has repeated in every market cycle.  

In the first cycle, from July 2017 to Q4 2018, gold climbed to an all-time high before trading in a narrow range, signaling broader trend exhaustion rather than a breakdown. Shortly afterward, Bitcoin launched a strong rally, reflecting a rotation of capital from the precious metal into a higher-risk asset. 

The same pattern appeared during the 2020-2021 cycle. Gold reached a new peak and stalled in a tight range, while Bitcoin followed with a powerful breakout to the upside. That surge aligned with another green profit rotation zone on the analyst’s price chart. 

On the far right side of the chart, Crypto Tice has revealed that gold has once again reached a record high in the current cycle and is consolidating inside a red range. At the same time, Bitcoin has already moved sharply higher and is now experiencing a modest pullback. The analyst calls this overlap a “transfer window” between the two assets.

Crypto Tice noted that this recent pause mirrors the same pattern seen in past cycles before Bitcoin staged a major price rally. The analyst has predicted that if BTC continues to follow this historical trend, it could soon enter a new parabolic phase, potentially triggering a price surge above $245,000.  

Elliott Wave Analyst Shares Next BTC Price Target

In a separate analysis, crypto market expert Merlijn the Trader has shared a video chart analysis showing a repeating Elliott wave structure that could indicate Bitcoin’s next potential bullish target. From late 2024 to mid 2025, BTC formed a five-wave pattern, creating higher lows and building a base that led to a significant price rally. 

According to Merlijn the Trader, Bitcoin is repeating this five-wave pattern in the current cycle. Waves 1 through 3 are already complete, showing higher lows, while Waves 4 and 5 are forming a base following a massive price crash. Once this stage completes, the analyst predicts BTC could rally strongly from its current price above $87,900 toward $124,000.

Traders continue to defend the lowest support levels in Bitcoin and altcoins, but sellers at the range highs and declining sentiment across the market may complicate a quick recovery.

• Algorand price rose nearly 9% to above $0.12.
• The token posted a sharp rebound from weekly lows amid a fresh daily volume spike.
• Buyers could target $0.20 next, but profit-taking is likely.

Algorand is among the altcoins to post slight gains on Monday as top coins faced downward pressure.

The ALGO token, which touched lows of $.011 on Sunday, jumped to near $0.13 amid a notable volume-driven recovery.

Bulls are likely to fancy continuation from their weekly trough.

As data from CoinMarketCap shows, ALGO has climbed by over 9% in the past 24 hours, erasing much of the prior week’s losses. Daily volume was up 170% to over $69 million.

However, while buyers have pushed prices above $0.12, they remain well off monthly highs near $0.15.

Sentiment is capped within the confines of what is happening around the broader market.

Crypto analysts at QCP Group shared insights on how investors currently view the ecosystem.

“The pressure looks macro-led rather than crypto-native, with tariff rhetoric, US fiscal brinkmanship and renewed nerves around potential US-Japan action to steady the yen stacking into a familiar cocktail of uncertainty and de-risking,” the analysts noted.

According to the platform, the week is laden with key events to watch.

Apart from the looming US government shutdown, other factors are major tech earnings and the Fed decision expected this midweek.

They believe volatility will likely stay sticky and broader price action “choppy until macro clarity improves.”

Algorand price gains amid key developments

There’s no momentum building across the broader cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin’s struggle below $90,000 key to the downbeat sentiment.

But recent developments seem to have pointed buyers towards the layer-1 token ALGO.

Increased transaction throughput, developer adoption, and network activities, like Algorand’s Verifiable Random Function, all give bulls an upper hand.

VRF offers a cryptographic feature enabling secure, tamper-proof randomness for decentralized applications like gaming, lotteries, and NFTs.

The team recently announced a major impact of VRF in a post on X.

ALGO price forecast

Technical indicators, such as a Relative Strength Index (RSI) upsloping from oversold conditions, suggest a bullish rebound is likely.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator shows bears remain in sight.

However, the histogram is signalling weakening bearish momentum, and also shows a potential bullish crossover on the daily chart.

The 50-day exponential moving average sits at $0.129 and is the first resistance level.

If prices break above $0.15, continuation above $0.20 could open up a path to yearly highs of $0.40.

Short-term, the outlook might include pullbacks amid profit-taking. The zone around $0.11 to $0.10 is critical to the bulls’ ambition.

The post Algorand price bounces on 170% volume surge appeared first on CoinJournal.

Silver jumps past $115 an ounce, rising nearly 12% as gold nears $5100 amid strong momentum and safe-haven demand.

The post Silver surges past $115/oz as gold extends rally toward $5100 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Tezos activates its Tallinn upgrade, delivering faster block times, stronger validator security, and major efficiency gains.

The post Tezos completes Tallinn upgrade, cutting app storage costs by up to 100x appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Microsoft rolls out its Maia 200 AI chip as it looks to cut costs and reduce reliance on Nvidia ahead of earnings.

The post Microsoft rolls out Maia 200 AI chip to reduce reliance on Nvidia appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitmines Ethereum holdings climbed to 4.2 million ETH as the firm accelerates staking and its push toward becoming a leading ETH validator.

The post Tom Lee’s Bitmine scoops 40,302 Ethereum as total staked exceeds 2 million ETH appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Ethereum remains under pressure in a key support zone, teetering between a potential rebound and further decline. While bullish patterns like the cup-and-handle and ascending triangle are shaping up, confirmation is required before any decisive move.

Last Defense Zone: $2,274–$2,104 And The Libra Reversal Setup

Kamile Uray shared that Ethereum is currently trying to hold above the critical support zone between $2,775 and $2,623. This area has become a key battleground for bulls and bears, with buyers attempting to defend it to prevent further downside. If this support continues to hold, ETH could regain short-term stability and make another attempt to move higher.

On the upside, a sustained bounce from this zone could allow Ethereum to revisit the pink box resistance around the $3,445 level. A clean breakout above this resistance would activate bullish structures such as a cup-and-handle or an ascending triangle, signaling growing bullish momentum and opening the path toward the $3,894 level. However, this becomes possible if ETH manages to close above the $3,661 peak, confirming the formation of the first major high.

The $3,894 level carries technical significance, as it represents the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement of the most recent downward wave. A decisive close above this level would suggest continuation of the recovery. Failure to hold above it, however, could trigger renewed selling pressure and lead to another corrective move lower.

On the downside, if Ethereum loses the $2,623 support, a deeper decline toward the pink box zone between $2,274 and $2,104 would become likely. This area is notable for the potential formation of a bullish Libra pattern. Should reversal confirmation emerge from this zone, ETH could attempt another recovery phase, with the broader objective of retesting its previous highs.

Waiting For Confirmation: ETH’s Next Move Depends On Price Action

Ethereum is currently following the trajectory outlined by Crypto Candy in a recent update on X. As predicted, the asset dipped into the lower support range between $2,600 and $2,700 and is now attempting to stage a recovery from the zone. Should this upward momentum persist, the immediate objective for bulls is a return to the $3,070 level.

However, for Ethereum to firmly re-enter bullish territory and shift the broader market structure, it must close decisively above the $3,070 threshold. This level serves as the primary gateway for any sustained recovery beyond the current relief rally. Until that breakout occurs, the prevailing market bias remains firmly bearish, as the failure to reclaim and hold above $3,070 suggests that the path of least resistance is still to the downside, with lower price points remaining the primary expectation for the short term.

Bitcoin Magazine

Rhode Island Reintroduces Bill to Study Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

Rhode Island lawmakers have reintroduced a bill to establish a special legislative commission to study blockchain technology and crypto, showing some continuous pro-bitcoin momentum for the state to explore its role in the digital asset economy.

Senate Bill S 2198, introduced by Senators Lou DiPalma, Gu, Burke, Urso, Paolino, and Zurier, would create a five-member commission tasked with reviewing blockchain and cryptocurrency activity across the country, examining current Rhode Island laws, studying non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and consulting industry experts.

The commission would also provide legislative recommendations to foster a pro-business environment while ensuring appropriate consumer protections.

The commission’s composition includes the Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce as chair, the Director of the Department of Business Regulation, and three public members appointed to represent academia, financial institutions, and federal securities expertise. 

The panel is expected to meet at least four times per year, with a final report due by January 5, 2028, and will operate publicly, posting its findings online.

The bill is not entirely new. It passed the Rhode Island Senate last year as S 0373 but stalled in the House (H 5810). 

The Rhode Island Bitcoin Policy Institute posted the reintroduction of the law on social media, thanking Senator DiPalma for sponsoring the bill and noting that discussions with Deputy House Speaker Ray Hull have made them optimistic about passage this session.

With cryptocurrency adoption growing nationwide and states competing to attract blockchain businesses, Rhode Island’s effort reflects a broader push to balance innovation with oversight and establish itself as a hub for emerging financial technology.

Rhode Island’s bitcoin push

Earlier this month, Rhode Island lawmakers reintroduced a bill to temporarily exempt small-scale Bitcoin transactions from state income and capital gains taxes, continuing a push started last year to reduce tax friction for everyday Bitcoin use. 

Senate Bill S2021, introduced by Senator Peter A. Appollonio and referred to the Senate Finance Committee, would exempt Bitcoin sales or exchanges up to $5,000 per month, with a $20,000 annual cap, for both residents and Rhode Island-based businesses. 

The bill adds a new section to the state’s personal income tax code, defining Bitcoin as a “digital, decentralized currency based on blockchain technology.” 

Taxpayers could self-certify eligibility on returns without reporting individual transactions, maintaining records only for potential audits.

The Department of Business Regulation would issue guidance on valuation and recordkeeping. 

If passed, the exemption would take effect January 1, 2027, and sunset January 1, 2028, serving as a pilot program to treat Bitcoin more like everyday money rather than a speculative asset.

This post Rhode Island Reintroduces Bill to Study Blockchain and Cryptocurrency first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Drops Below $87,000 as Bears Target $84,000 Support Break

Bitcoin Price Weekly Outlook

What a disastrous weekly close for Bitcoin, that about sums it up. After tapping $98,000 resistance the week prior, the bitcoin price just went straight down last week to close near the lows at $86,588. The bulls have been corralled back into their pens and will need a lot of help to break out once again. The bears will look to continue their momentum into this week to break down the $84,000 support level once and for all, and take the price down to the low $70,000 area. Bulls must defend $84,000 like never before to avoid a breakdown this week.

Key Support and Resistance Levels Now

The bears are back in town. $87,000 support has been lost, and $84,000 may not hold another test. If the bears can manage to get a daily close or two below $84,000, the price should accelerate down to the $72,000 to $68,000 support zone. We likely see a bounce from down there, but if it eventually gives wa,y we will look to the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level at $58,000.

After grinding above several resistance levels recently, the bulls are back where they started. Bulls must reclaim $88,000 first and foremost. From there, they will look to get above $91,400, then $94,000 once again. $98,000 has proven itself as strong resistance above here. In the unlikely event the bulls can push above $98,000, it should be a slow go up to $103,500.

Outlook For This Week

This week is make-or-break for the bulls. Failure to defend $84,000 this week will likely send the price down to new lows. There is a large slate of big companies reporting earnings this week, so if the results are very strong, it could help buoy the bitcoin price to sustain major support levels. Although correlations to stocks have been weak lately, there are no guarantees that bitcoin will benefit from any upward market movement. Odds are in the bears’ favor for a breakdown this week.

Market mood: Bearish – The bulls showed some strength in the prior week for a slight advantage, but the bears took full control last week, driving the price right back down to the lows.

The next few weeks

The weekly chart was looking for a bounce recently, and it got one. The price action this past week, however, has put in a strong indication that this bounce may be over and new lows may be on the horizon as the price closed below the 100-week SMA. The MACD oscillator is firmly in bearish territory, and while it looked like it may see a bullish cross last week, the bears came out in force and prevented that bullish cross from taking place. The relative strength index has crossed back down below the 13 SMA and sits in a bearish posture once again.

Terminology Guide

Bulls/Bullish: Buyers or investors expecting the price to go higher.

Bears/Bearish: Sellers or investors expecting the price to go lower.

Support or support level: A level at which the price should hold for the asset, at least initially. The more touches on support, the weaker it gets and the more likely it is to fail to hold the price.

Resistance or resistance level: Opposite of support.  The level that is likely to reject the price, at least initially. The more touches at resistance, the weaker it gets and the more likely it is to fail to hold back the price.

SMA: Simple Moving Average. Average price based on closing prices over the specified period. In the case of RSI, it is the average strength index value over the specified period.

Oscillators: Technical indicators that vary over time, but typically remain within a band between set levels. Thus, they oscillate between a low level (typically representing oversold conditions) and a high level (typically representing overbought conditions). E.G., Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Average Convergence-Divergence (MACD).

RSI Oscillator: The Relative Strength Index is a momentum oscillator that moves between 0 and 100. It measures the speed of the price and changes in the speed of the price movements. When RSI is over 70, it is considered to be overbought. When RSI is below 30, it is considered to be oversold.

MACD Oscillator: Moving Average Convergence-Divergence is a momentum oscillator that subtracts the difference between 2 moving averages to indicate trend as well as momentum.

Fibonacci Retracements and Extensions: Ratios based on what is known as the golden ratio, a universal ratio pertaining to growth and decay cycles in nature. The golden ratio is based on the constants Phi (1.618) and phi (0.618).

This post Bitcoin Drops Below $87,000 as Bears Target $84,000 Support Break first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Ethan Greene - Feral Analysis and Juan Galt.