Crypto markets have posted a solid start to the new year, supported by renewed capital deployment and improving sentiment, according to Laser Digital in its latest market commentary.
Over the weekend, Bitcoin climbed from the $87,000 handle to around $93,000 while Ether rose from roughly $2,970 to $3,200. Earlier, Bitcoin traded around $92,966, up roughly 1.8% over the past 24 hours, extending its early-January recovery after a volatile December.
Laser Digital said the move likely reflects a combination of year-end dynamics and fresh positioning. December selling pressure, often linked to tax-loss harvesting, appears to have faded, while January has brought new capital back into the market.
Institutional demand is also showing signs of recovery with spot Bitcoin ETFs recording inflows on January 2 after consecutive outflows through much of December.
Derivatives activity reinforced the bullish tone. The desk reflected options positioning at year-end, including roughly 3,000 lots of January-end Bitcoin call options traded on the final day of December, suggesting expectations for higher prices into early 2026.
Asia Leads as Traders Watch US Sessions
Price action in recent weeks has followed a familiar pattern with strong performance during Asian trading hours and weaker follow-through during U.S. sessions. Laser Digital said a shift in this dynamic would be an important signal for the market.
Several strong U.S. sessions could prove constructive, potentially drawing sidelined investors back into risk assets. From a technical perspective, the desk pointed to $95,000 as a key resistance level for Bitcoin. A decisive break above that area could trigger further upside momentum, while failure to do so may keep prices range-bound in the near term.
Jobs Data Takes Center Stage
Macro factors are now firmly in focus. This week brings a flurry of U.S. labor market data, culminating in Friday’s non-farm payrolls report. Consensus expectations call for headline job gains of around 55,000 and an unemployment rate of 4.5%.
Laser Digital expects the unemployment rate to matter more than the headline jobs number, echoing recent market behavior. With January rate cuts barely priced in, a weaker-than-expected report could push yields lower as markets reprice the path of monetary policy.
However, a higher unemployment rate could weigh on risk assets, as investors are largely positioned for a “Goldilocks” outcome for the U.S. economy.
Sentiment Improves as Fundamentals Hold
Broader sentiment across digital assets has also improved. Petr Kozyakov, co-founder and CEO of Mercuryo, said investors are returning to crypto as they position for the year ahead.
“Cryptocurrency markets are in the green as investors add digital gold to their portfolios,” Kozyakov said, noting renewed strength in Bitcoin alongside gains in Ethereum and Solana.
He added that while sentiment weakened late last year, fundamentals remain intact, supported by continued growth in underlying infrastructure and rising liquidity in areas such as stablecoins.
Geopolitical tensions remain a background risk, but market reaction so far has been muted. Laser Digital cautioned that spillover effects could still emerge, particularly in regions already under pressure, keeping macro uncertainty firmly in play as 2026 unfolds.
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