SKN | Bitcoin Breaks Above $90,000 as Early 2026 Trading Signals Possible Shift in Market Pattern

Bitcoin pushed back above the $90,000 level during U.S. trading hours on Friday, marking a notable departure from a pattern that defined much of late 2025, when crypto assets consistently weakened as American markets opened.

At the time of writing, bitcoin was trading near $90,400, up about 2.5% over the past 24 hours. Ether climbed roughly 4% to $3,125, while solana and XRP posted similar gains, reflecting a broad-based rebound across major digital assets.

While a single session does not define a trend, the timing of the move has drawn attention. For months, crypto traders had grown accustomed to seeing overnight strength fade once U.S. equities began trading. Friday’s price action, by contrast, saw digital assets advance alongside stocks, hinting at a potential shift in short-term market dynamics.

Crypto Rallies During U.S. Hours

Late in 2025, bitcoin and the broader crypto market frequently struggled during U.S. sessions, even on days when Asian or European trading was constructive. That pattern weighed on sentiment, reinforcing the perception that institutional flows were acting as a headwind.

Friday’s move challenged that assumption. Bitcoin’s climb above $90,000 occurred squarely during U.S. hours, as risk appetite improved across asset classes. The rally also followed weeks of consolidation in the high-$80,000 range, a zone that had capped repeated recovery attempts.

From a technical perspective, reclaiming $90,000 does not yet confirm a breakout. However, it does represent a psychological milestone and could reduce near-term selling pressure if the level holds into the close.

Equities and Commodities Support Risk Appetite

The crypto advance coincided with strength in traditional markets. The Nasdaq rose about 0.6%, led by sharp gains in AI-linked semiconductor stocks. Shares of Nvidia, Broadcom, Micron, and Intel climbed between 3% and 6%, extending momentum from late 2025.

Commodities also contributed to the risk-on tone. Silver gained roughly 3%, while gold and copper edged higher, continuing a trend that has seen hard assets attract steady inflows amid lingering concerns over fiscal deficits and long-term currency debasement.

The alignment between equities, commodities, and crypto stood in contrast to the fragmented cross-asset behavior that characterized much of the fourth quarter.

Crypto Stocks Outperform

Crypto-related equities amplified the move. Bitcoin miners that have pivoted toward AI infrastructure posted double-digit gains, with Hut 8, CleanSpark, and TeraWulf rising around 10%. Cipher Mining and IREN each advanced close to 8%.

Among financial and infrastructure names, Strategy and Coinbase gained more than 3%, while Galaxy Digital jumped roughly 7%. Circle shares rose about 4.5%, tracking optimism around stablecoin adoption and payments infrastructure.

The equity performance suggested that investors were willing to re-engage with crypto exposure beyond spot tokens, particularly in names tied to balance-sheet strength and diversified revenue streams.

What Traders Are Watching Next

Despite the encouraging start to 2026, caution remains. Liquidity is still normalizing after the holiday period, and prior rallies above $90,000 in recent months have faded quickly. Sustained follow-through, rather than a single strong session, will be critical to confirming a regime change.

If bitcoin can consolidate above $90,000 while U.S. markets remain open, it could weaken one of the more persistent bearish narratives from late 2025. Failure to hold the level, however, would reinforce the view that the market remains range-bound.

For now, the first trading day of 2026 delivered something crypto traders had not seen in weeks: strength during U.S. hours. Whether that proves to be a false start or the beginning of a new pattern is the key question heading into the days ahead.