BizwavemediaPersonal Finance and Crypto Updates

Share this article

Roughly $1.2 billion flowed into spot Bitcoin ETFs over the first two trading days of 2026, as investor demand spread across several funds. According to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, that rate would translate into about $150 billion in inflows over a full year if sustained.

“If they can take in $22b when it’s raining, imagine when the sun is shining,” the expert wrote via his official X account.

The early 2026 surge marked a reversal from late 2025, when spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced consistent outflows.

Yesterday, BlackRock’s IBIT fund netted about $372 million, while Fidelity’s FBTC also saw heavy buying, attracting $191 million. These strong inflows helped lift total US spot Bitcoin ETF net flows to roughly $697 million for the day, the highest level in nearly three months.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs hold actual Bitcoin and trade on traditional stock exchanges, offering regulated exposure to the asset for investors who may not want to custody crypto directly.

Venezuela’s IBC index, which tracks performance on the Caracas Stock Exchange, has more than doubled in 2026, climbing from 2,000 at the start of the year to nearly 3,900 by Tuesday afternoon, according to Trading Economics data.

The rally accelerated sharply following the January 3 capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by US authorities. The index rose 50% in just two days, as markets interpreted the event as a potential turning point for the country’s economy and political landscape.

Market observers say the move reflects renewed investor optimism as political risk linked to the Maduro regime diminishes. Analysts note growing interest in Venezuelan bonds and equities, particularly in sectors tied to oil production, infrastructure, and financial services.

A post-Maduro environment could open Venezuela’s vast oil reserves to international energy companies, potentially unlocking new capital flows and increasing global supply. Investors see this as a path toward economic normalization after years of international isolation and sanctions.

Share this article

Silver climbed above $81 Tuesday, rising over 6% on the day and extending its 2026 gains to 14% as geopolitical tensions following the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro fueled safe-haven demand.

In 2025, silver gained 145%, briefly reaching an all-time high near $84 before retreating to $71 as the year ended. But the rally resumed as the new year began, with geopolitical tension and macro dynamics lifting hard assets.

The latest surge has brought silver’s market cap to roughly $4.5 trillion, putting it just below Nvidia, which currently sits at $4.6 trillion, according to Companies Market Cap data.

Silver may soon overtake Nvidia to become the second-largest global asset, behind only gold, as investors increasingly turn to hard assets for protection and purchasing power preservation.

Solana ETFs have surpassed $1 billion in assets under management, with Bitwise’s BSOL leading the pack at $732 million, per SoSoValue. Total net assets represent about 1.4% of Solana’s total market capitalization.

BSOL, the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF, tracks the performance of Solana’s native token while incorporating staking rewards. The fund stakes assets in-house to maximize returns for investors.

Funds managed by Grayscale (GSOL) and Fidelity (FSOL) follow with net assets currently totaling approximately $167 million and $122 million, respectively. While more modest compared to the market leaders, VanEck’s VSOL continues to capture steady, incremental inflows, with its total net assets now reaching roughly $28 million.

US spot Solana ETFs recorded around $16 million in net inflows on Monday, pushing cumulative inflows to $792 million. Trading activity remained steady, with $43 million in total value traded across Solana ETF products during the session.

Solana is a high-performance blockchain known for its transaction speed and support for decentralized applications. The launch of spot ETFs has contributed to increased institutional interest in the platform.

Share this article

VanEck’s MarketVector Crypto Heat Index has triggered a buy signal for the first time since early April 2025, according to Martin Leinweber of MarketVector Indexes, a subsidiary of asset management giant VanEck.

The MarketVector Crypto Heat Index is a data-driven “thermometer” for the crypto market, showing when it is undervalued, neutral, or overheated. Unlike fear-based sentiment gauges, it uses structural and technical signals plus moving averages to trigger systematic buy or sell alerts as the market shifts between these zones.

With a reading of 16.8%, the MarketVector Crypto Heat Index has entered deep ‘Undervalued’ territory. Leinweber notes that the index’s proprietary moving averages have just crossed into bullish territory, interpreting this low valuation as a signal to accumulate.

“Breadth stabilizing. More constituents outperforming Bitcoin. Signs that capitulation-level sentiment may be behind us,” Leinweber wrote via his official X account today.

“For investors still underallocated to crypto, this could be an opportune moment to reassess portfolio exposure rather than react later to price momentum. Sentiment appears near cycle lows,” the analyst stated.

Matthew Sigel, VanEck’s head of digital assets, reposted the analysis, saying that their proprietary breadth model triggered the first bullish signal for Bitcoin in months.

🚨 🚨 Proprietary* VanEck breadth signal flags first BTC bull call since April 7, 2025, the bottom tick last year. https://t.co/kq1fxcBVDg pic.twitter.com/dxUz2BlfEP

— matthew sigel, recovering CFA (@matthew_sigel) January 5, 2026

VanEck has previously highlighted Bitcoin’s potential for a rebound in 2026 following a period of underperformance. Analysts at the firm have noted that Bitcoin’s four-year cycle suggests recoverable performance this year amid improving liquidity conditions.

Bitcoin changed hands at around $93,700 at press time, up 7.5% in the last seven days, per CoinGecko. The digital broke past $91,000 over the weekend and extended its rally throughout Monday amid rising tensions between the US and Venezuela.

XRP surged past $2.2 on Monday, extending its rally amid a market-wide rebound, according to CoinMarketCap. The token has climbed 18% over the past week as a fresh wave of investor interest drives prices higher.

At press time, XRP was changing hands above $2.2, up about 5% in the last 24 hours. Trading activity also picked up, with volumes rising approximately 30% over the same period.

The token has now moved ahead of BNB, regaining its position as the fourth-largest crypto asset by market value.

The current rally comes against a backdrop of rising investor demand through 2025.

According to CoinShares, XRP-linked investment products attracted $3.7 billion in inflows last year, a 500% year-on-year increase and one of the strongest growth rates among major digital assets.

Analysts say the trend points to a rotation toward a select group of outperforming tokens, with XRP and Solana emerging as key beneficiaries as investors become more selective about their risk exposure.

Tesla shares have climbed more than 100% since Minnesota Governor Tim Walz publicly mocked the stock’s decline last year, when Tesla was trading around $230.

The shares have since rallied to roughly $454 as of January 5, 2026, marking a sharp recovery for the electric vehicle maker.

The rebound comes as Walz announced he is ending his bid for a third term as governor. He said he could no longer commit the energy required to campaign after what he described as an extraordinarily difficult year for the state, following months of political pressure tied to a child care fraud investigation.