Did Bitcoin Reach $100K in January 2026? What Happened After the Rally to $97,000

Update 26 September 2026: No, Bitcoin did not reach $100,000 in January, and it has not done so in 2026 at all. According to CoinGecko daily data, the highest daily price of the year was about $96,900 on 15 January. Six days later BTC was below $90,000, and it fell to its 2026 low of about $58,600 on 1 July. On 26 September 2026 Bitcoin trades at about $84,200. The January analysis follows as a dated snapshot.

Why did the rally toward $100,000 stall?

The support at $96,500 named below broke within days. On 20 January new US tariff threats against European countries over Greenland triggered a sell-off. They were withdrawn one day later at the World Economic Forum in Davos, as our report from Davos describes, but the decline continued into February. The tariff ruling that was postponed on 14 January came on 20 February 2026: the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs imposed under the emergency powers law IEEPA, explained in our analysis of the ruling.

Where the next targets lie today is covered in our Bitcoin price prediction.

The analysis from 14 January 2026

Bitcoin has regained strong upward momentum in early 2026 after breaking above the $97,000 level, as markets welcomed the news that the US Supreme Court did not issue a ruling today on President Trump’s tariff case. The absence of an immediate decision removed a key source of political risk, allowing risk assets to rally and pushing Bitcoin closer to its next major psychological milestone at $100,000.

Why Bitcoin Is Rallying Again

The latest leg higher in Bitcoin is driven by a combination of macro relief and technical strength.

Traders had positioned cautiously ahead of the expected tariff ruling. When no decision materialized, uncertainty temporarily eased, triggering a rapid shift back into risk assets.

For Bitcoin, this resulted in:

• A relief driven risk on move
• Short liquidations accelerating the rally
• Strong follow through buying above prior resistance

With bullish momentum already building before the news, Bitcoin quickly capitalized on the improved market sentiment.

Bitcoin Price Structure Turns Aggressively Bullish

From a technical standpoint, Bitcoin’s price action confirms renewed strength.

Key developments:

• Clear break above the $95,000 to $96,000 resistance zone
• Strong continuation toward the $97,000 area
• No meaningful pullback despite heightened volatility

As long as Bitcoin holds above the mid $96,000 region, the broader structure remains bullish and supportive of further upside.

The Path Toward $100,000

With momentum restored, the $100,000 level has returned as the market’s primary upside target.

In the near term:

• Price continuation toward the $98,500 to $99,500 zone is likely
• A short consolidation below $100,000 would be considered constructive
• Any pullback above key support levels would still favor the bulls

Rather than signaling exhaustion, current price action suggests the market is building acceptance at higher levels.

What Comes Next for Bitcoin

Traders are now focused on:

• Bitcoin holding above $96,500
• The absence of negative macro or political headlines
• Continued strength across broader risk markets

If these conditions remain intact, Bitcoin’s momentum could extend further as buyers target psychological round numbers.

Bitcoin Market Outlook

With inflation concerns already priced in and immediate political risk postponed, Bitcoin has reasserted itself as the market leader. Volatility is likely to remain elevated, but the structure now favors continuation rather than correction. The rally toward $100,000 was, in the January view, no longer speculative. It stalled a few days later, see the update above.