Bitcoin rallied 2% to $93,000 while the broader crypto market gained 1.5% to reach $3.16 trillion. Ethereum added 1% at $3,175, Solana climbed 1% to $135, and altcoins outperformed majors. Virtuals jumped 24%, Render gained 17%, and both Bittorrent and Fetch.ai surged 11%.
Bitcoin spot ETFs captured $471 million in net inflows on January 2, marking the highest single-day total since November 11. The inflow surge signals renewed institutional appetite entering 2026.
The regulatory landscape shifted decisively. SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw officially departed January 2, leaving the Commission entirely Republican-controlled. This departure removes a persistent crypto skeptic from the agency at a moment when enforcement intensity may soften.
PwC, one of the Big Four accounting firms, announced deeper cryptocurrency involvement. The firm will focus on stablecoins and payments infrastructure, reflecting broader enterprise adoption of blockchain rails. This move signals traditional finance entities now view crypto infrastructure as essential rather than experimental.
The data points to a market consolidating gains after volatility. Institutional inflows and enterprise engagement from major auditors suggest confidence in the sector's maturation, particularly around stablecoins as settlement layers.