Bitcoin Surges Above $97K Toward $100K In 2026 | Image by 3DBestStudio/Shutterstock
Bitcoin went through another big surge this week, climbing above $97,000 on Wednesday for the first time since November of last year.
The crypto-climb, fueled by cooling inflation rates across America – and growing anticipation around federal crypto legislation changes, has injected fresh momentum into the overall digital currency market, with experts anticipating a potential Bitcoin push toward the $100,000 mark in 2026.
The price of Bitcoin jumped more than 4% on Wednesday alone, reaching a high of $97,700, according to data from CoinDesk, which is a considerable rebound from its recent lows near $90,000, where it had lingered for much of late 2025.
The gains may have been triggered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ report showing stable inflation at the end of last year, which boosted expectations of more Federal Reserve interest rate cuts that could favor “risk assets” like cryptocurrencies.
Market analysts are tying this fresh Bitcoin rally to growing institutional interest.
In the past three days, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen net inflows of more than $1.7 billion, reversing earlier outflows this month. BlackRock’s IBIT fund led the way, pulling in about $646-650 million on January 15 alone.
This wave of money from traditional investors, such as through these ETFs, suggests Bitcoin is increasingly seen as a “mainstream” option for diversifying financial portfolios, especially amid ongoing economic questions about inflation, rates, and broader global stability.
Ethereum held steady above $3,300, while altcoins like XRP and Solana posted gains of 2-5% this week. The total cryptocurrency market capitalization swelled to $3.26 trillion, up 0.26% over the last 24 hours, defying the overall stock market downturn.
In Texas, a state that increasingly seems to be at the forefront of crypto innovation, the surge underscores the growing economic impact of digital currencies.
As previously covered by The Dallas Express, Texas has attracted major players in the industry – like Coinbase, which reincorporated here from Delaware in November 2025 after a corporate exodus, and an appreciation for the the Lone Star State’s business-friendly environment.
Coinbase is the largest crypto-trading exchange in America.
Texas also mandated that Bitcoin miners register their operations last year and designated itself as the nation’s first Bitcoin sanctuary with unrestricted reserves, moves aimed at boosting local crypto mining and increasing confidence in the stability of digital coins across the state.
However, some crypto experts continue to warn of potential volatility.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for Bitcoin hit “overbought levels” at around 71, per AIInvest.com, suggesting a possible short-term pullback. Still, with the Senate Banking Committee set to review the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, aimed at providing regulatory safeguards for crypto, buyers may be betting that the bull run could sustain through 2026.
