Just as we talked about why crypto could pump big this 2026 yesterday, Bitcoin price pushed up toward $90,000, while alts like Ethereum and XRP outperformed as BTC dominance slips under 60%. This somehow caught us off guard, especially after weeks of bearish sentiment heading into January.
Refusing a breakdown, the market is running higher. Bitcoin jumped with 1% price gain, Ethereum with around 3%, and altcoins followed. XRP rallied close to 6%, easily beating major alts’ daily gains, and sentiment flipped a little after yesterday’s options expiry cleared the board.
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Bitcoin Dominance and Price Steady as Rotation Begins
At around 59%, Bitcoin dominance shows a start of a heavy rotation, just like popping popcorn. Capital is moving, Bitcoin price remains elevated, blasting $90,000, as we track a CME gap above the resistance level, which has a strong historical tendency to get filled.
(source – BTC USD, CME gap, TradingView)
Despite dominance slipping, Bitcoin stays resilient. On a weekly basis, it climbed by 2.5%, while the winner of last year, gold, slid more than 4% after peaking near $4,550. That divergence is the perfect example of rotation narrative as some capital is shifting from traditional hedges toward digital assets.
Liquidity conditions also helped. The Federal Reserve injected nearly $19.5 billion through repo operations, one of the largest such moves since the Covid era. These injections might not grab headlines, but they support risk assets in the background, as can be seen in Bitcoin price action.
BREAKING: Fed just pumped another $19.5 Billion into the U.S. Banking System through overnight repos.
Something big is going on in the background. pic.twitter.com/rxcKOTJxtS
— Ash Crypto (@AshCrypto) January 2, 2026
DISCOVER:Â 10+ Next Crypto to 100X In 2026
Ethereum Price Takes the Spotlight as Whale Places Massive Bet
A single whale (whom the community called an insider whale with a good hit rate) opened long positions worth more than $600 million in ETH, far outweighing exposure to Bitcoin price and Solana combined. The scale alone raised eyebrows, but the timing was perfect, as usual. With over 203,000 ETH in play, the bet implies expectations of further upside.
(source- Hyperliquid)
The Ethereum price held above $3,100, supported by good volume and volatility. ETH is leading this transition phase and benefited first from the market as Bitcoin dominance drifts lower. XRP followed with solid gains, and the altcoins’ market showed signs of life yet again.
Macro signals, British stocks, and what comes next
Away from the price action, what is happening in the macro structure is also worth watching. British stocks outperformed US markets since Donald Trump returned to office, challenging assumptions that American equities would immediately bump. UK indices have shown steadier strength, while US stocks have lagged despite policy optimism, as reported by BBC. Is Trump really the president we need in crypto?
Crypto continues to move on its own rhythm. Bitcoin dominance under 60% historically bullish, and if it slips further with its price, it can stay above key levels. Ethereum may lead the awaited altcoin season.
DISCOVER: 16+ New and Upcoming Binance Listings in 2026
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Iran Now Accepts Crypto Payments for Weapons Exports
Iran is now letting foreign buyers pay for advanced weapons using cryptocurrency, alongside barter and local currency. Officials from the Ministry of Defence Export Center, known as Mindex, confirmed that digital assets are being accepted as payment for overseas arms sales. Years of sanctions and isolation from global banking systems appear to have pushed Iran toward these alternatives to keep military exports moving.
Crypto Added to Payment Options for Foreign Arms Buyers
Mindex has updated its terms to officially include digital currency as a settlement option. The list also allows barter deals and payments in Iranian rials, giving buyers more flexibility in how they pay. The changes are meant to counter the impact of international banking restrictions, which have made it harder for Iran to move money through conventional channels.
🇮🇷 NEED A MISSILE? IRAN WILL SELL YOU ONE FOR BITCOIN
Iran just opened up its weapons shop to anyone with enough digital cash, offering everything from killer drones to warships.
No banks, no questions, just crypto or a trade deal.
There’s even a chatbot to help you pick the… pic.twitter.com/sL3IAp4NNl
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 1, 2026
The Mindex website features a full catalogue of military offerings. These include Emad ballistic missiles, Shahed drones, Shahid Soleimani-class warships, air defense systems, cruise missiles, rockets, and small arms. The agency has made it clear that any of these can be paid for using crypto, barter, or the national currency.
Read the full story here.
MYX Finance Crypto Touched $7 in a New Year Rally: The Perp DEX Breaks Out After 3 Months Resistance
MYX Finance crypto just blew up. Over the first weekend of 2026, it jumped from $3.73 to $7. People are pointing at the V2 upgrade hype, some technical breakouts, and honestly, a little bit of FOMO. Everyone is probably now refreshing their charts.
Why the excitement? MYX Finance has its Zero-slippage Matching Pool Mechanism as a crypto perp DEX. Cross-chain plans, including Solana and big backers like Sequoia and Consensys.
Read the full coverage here.
“Do More to Meet Stated Goals”: Vitalik Buterin’s 2026 Mandate for Ethereum Price
Is the Ethereum price inflated?
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Ethereum
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Ethereum
ETH
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Learn more
, for the most part, does what it promises; nothing less, nothing more. However, it appears that ETH founder Vitalik Buterin believes the foundations haven’t done enough.
Buterin is issuing a challenge as 2025 closes, and it has to do with whether ETH is drifting away from its original purpose.
Read the full story here.
The post Crypto Market News Today, January 3: Bitcoin Dominance Drops Under 60% as Whale Opened Big Ethereum Long, Betting on Price Pump appeared first on 99Bitcoins.