Cardano pops 7%, bitcoin, ether climb as 2026 begins

Bitcoin and major tokens started 2026 on firmer footing in Asian morning hours Friday, with cardano’s ADA leading gains among large caps as traders returned from the holiday break and risk appetite improved across markets.

Bitcoin rose about 1% to trade near $88,700, while ether added roughly 1% to hover around $3,010, continuing a steady recovery from late December lows.

ADA climbed 7%, outpacing moves in the broader market, while solana, XRP and BNB also traded higher. Such price action suggested selective positioning rather than the start of a broad altcoin surge.

Analysts at crypto payments firm B2BINPAY said in an email that flows still favor liquid majors as investors begin the year in capital preservation mode.

“Investors aren’t rotating wholesale out of bitcoin and ethereum into the altcoin market,” the firm said, adding that the Altseason Index near 16 still signals bitcoin dominance and a lack of market-wide participation.

In their view, inflows into a handful of large caps like solana and XRP look more like targeted exposure than an early altseason bid.

The modest crypto rebound came alongside a global risk-on move.

Asian equities rose 0.8%, led by technology shares, with a regional tech gauge touching a record. Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.6%, outpacing gains in S&P 500 contracts, as traders again leaned into the AI and chip complex to start the year.

Precious metals also advanced, extending a strong 2025. Spot gold rose toward $4,350 an ounce and silver gained more than 1% as traders positioned for potential U.S. rate cuts and dollar weakness in 2026.

Still, some analysts warned of near-term pressure from portfolio rebalancing after last year’s rally.

“We expect a massive 13% of aggregate open interest in Comex silver markets will be sold over the coming two weeks, to result in a dramatic repricing lower,” TD Securities strategist Daniel Ghali wrote.

In crypto, the cross-asset setup remains supportive but fragile.

A weaker dollar and improving equity sentiment help, yet traders are still cautious after a late-2025 period marked by thin liquidity and quick profit-taking.

For now, bitcoin holding the high-$80,000s and ether stabilizing above $3,000 will be seen as early signs that dip-buying is returning, even if the market is still waiting for conviction to spread beyond the most liquid names.