Bitcoin Surges Past $97,000 in Early 2026 Rally

Bitcoin surged past $97,000 on Wednesday, marking a significant rally in early 2026 and fueling optimism for further gains as investors bet on the cryptocurrency reaching the $100,000 milestone this month.

The cryptocurrency climbed to a high of $97,360, up more than 4 percent in the past 24 hours, according to market data. This advance follows a strong start to the year, with Bitcoin gaining over $10,000 since opening near $87,000 in January. The rally lifted the broader crypto market, pushing total capitalization above $3.3 trillion and boosting major assets like Ethereum to around $3,400, Solana to $148, and XRP to $2.17. Trading volume for Bitcoin rose sharply, increasing by nearly 61 percent over the day.

Analysts attributed the momentum to renewed risk-on sentiment across global markets, spurred by recent U.S. inflation data. The Consumer Price Index held steady on Tuesday, aligning with moderated expectations, while the Producer Price Index rose 3 percent in November, the highest since July. These figures created a supportive environment for risk assets, including equities and digital currencies. Institutional interest also played a key role, with U.S. spot Bitcoin...