Crypto Market Rallies, Bitcoin ETFs See $471M Inflows, and PwC Expands Crypto Focus

The global cryptocurrency market experienced a notable upswing, with its total capitalization reaching $3.16 trillion, marking a 1.5% increase. Major digital assets saw positive movement, contributing to the overall market growth.

Bitcoin (BTC) climbed by 2%, trading at $93,000, while Ethereum (ETH) registered a 1% gain, reaching $3,175. Binance Coin (BNB) also saw a 2.5% increase to $906, and Solana (SOL) rose by 1% to $135.

Altcoin Performance

Beyond the leading cryptocurrencies, several altcoins demonstrated significant gains. "Virtuals" led this segment with a 24% surge. Render (RNDR) followed, increasing by 17%. BitTorrent (BTT) and Fetch.ai (FET) both recorded an 11% rise, highlighting a broader positive trend across various digital assets.

Bitcoin ETF Inflows

Institutional interest in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) remained strong. The first trading day of 2026 saw a substantial $471 million in net inflows into Bitcoin ETFs. This figure represents the highest single-day inflow recorded since November 11th, indicating sustained investor confidence in these investment vehicles.

Regulatory and Corporate Developments

In regulatory news, SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw officially departed from the agency on January 2nd. Her exit leaves the commission composed entirely of Republican members. Meanwhile, professional services giant PwC announced its intention to deepen its involvement in the cryptocurrency sector, with a particular focus on stablecoins and payment solutions. This move signals increasing mainstream corporate engagement with blockchain technology.