Bitcoin holds steady above $96K as whales accumulate, while Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade raises serious usability questions.

📈 Market Momentum: Crypto Market Cap Tops $3.37 Trillion

The crypto market is in the green today, with a 1.1% rise in total market capitalization, now sitting at $3.37 trillion. According to CryptoNews, 60 of the top 100 cryptocurrencies have posted gains in the last 24 hours, while trading volume surged to $166 billion.

🐋 Whale Accumulation Supports Bitcoin Stability

Bitcoin (BTC) continues to trade above $96,000, holding its ground despite retail-selling pressure. On-chain analytics firm Santiment reports that wallets holding between 100 and 10,000 BTC added nearly 32,700 BTC since January 10, signaling confident positioning by institutional investors.

Meanwhile, retail traders have continued profit-taking, but whale interest has kept price action buoyant. BTC is currently testing a two-month high.

⚠️ Bitcoin’s Real Test Still Ahead

Despite the bullish momentum, market analysts warn of upcoming resistance. BeInCrypto notes that while reclaiming $95K restored short-term confidence, the recovery is incomplete. Historical resistance levels and macroeconomic uncertainty may challenge further upside.

🚨 Ethereum Usage Drops After Fusaka Upgrade

Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade, launched on December 3, 2025, aimed to improve data availability by raising blob data capacity. However, post-upgrade analytics reveal a surprising trend: network usage declined. As reported by CryptoSlate, blocks exceeding 16 blobs show a high miss rate, indicating that Ethereum may have targeted the wrong bottleneck.

This raises concerns about the true effectiveness of the upgrade and suggests that developer focus may need to shift toward improving execution and usability layers.

🏛️ Robinhood CEO Urges Regulatory Clarity on Staking

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev called on U.S. lawmakers to define a clear crypto regulatory framework. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Tenev highlighted that staking remains one of Robinhood’s most requested features. However, it remains inaccessible in four U.S. states due to regulatory ambiguity (CryptoNews).

Tenev’s push aligns with growing sentiment in the industry that the U.S. must take a leadership role in fostering innovation while protecting investors.

🔥 Quick Hits: What Else to Watch Today

• Altcoin Surge: Several Layer-1 tokens are up by 5–10% amid Bitcoin’s stability.
• DeFi TVL: Total Value Locked in DeFi protocols rose 2.3% in the last 24 hours, now at $187 billion.
• Gas Fees: Ethereum gas fees remain moderate, thanks to lower network congestion.

🔍 What This Means for Investors

Short-Term: With whale accumulation continuing, Bitcoin could test higher resistance levels. Traders should monitor BTC’s ability to hold above $96,000.

Medium-Term: Ethereum’s usability challenges post-Fusaka suggest potential volatility. Investors should watch for developer feedback and network performance metrics.

Regulatory: Expect increased pressure on U.S. regulators as platforms like Robinhood push for policy clarity on staking and crypto services.

💬 Final Thoughts

As we move deeper into 2026, the crypto market continues to offer both opportunities and challenges. Bitcoin shows strength backed by institutional interest, while Ethereum’s technical hurdles raise questions about long-term scalability. Regulatory clarity remains a key factor that could redefine competitive dynamics in both CeFi and DeFi.