Ethereum network growth hits $8T milestone, bulls eye $3,500 level

  • Ethereum price gains as bulls eye $3,500 amid broader cryptocurrency gains.
  • The Ethereum network’s stablecoin transfer volume hit $8 trillion.
  • Bulls could target a surge to $4,000-$4,500, although bears remain alert.

The price of the Ethereum token is hovering in the green as optimism across the cryptocurrency market lifts Bitcoin to $93,000. AI tokens were among the cryptocurrencies that rallied.

With ETH at $3,171 at the time of writing, analysts are pointing to a potential squeeze past $3,500.

The top altcoin network’s unprecedented stablecoin transfer volumes, as well as overall risk market trends, make the odds in favour for the bulls.

However, traders have also taken note of a $63 million short position by a major whale, largely signaling big investors’ view of the asset’s near-term trajectory.

Ethereum price retests $3,200 resistance level

Ethereum’s price climbed to highs of $3,211 early Monday.

It marks a notable rebound that sees bulls reclaim the level after falling to lows of $2,700 in mid-December 2025.

The token had failed to clear above $3,000 after climbing to near $3,400 earlier that month.

Ethereum Price Chart
Ethereum price chart by TradingView

However, as top altcoins joined Bitcoin in a broader market upswing, ETH rose from a support level near $3,100.

Bulls boasted the upper hand with daily volume jumping 40% to over $17 billion.

Ethereum’s price gains aligned with the uptick for equities, which showed gains as the market reacted to news of a US operation in Venezuela.

Analysts at QCP Group said in a note to investors.

“After a range-bound December, crypto broke higher in early Asia, with $BTC and $ETH clearing $92k and $3,100. The move coincided with gains in equities and weaker oil prices following the US operation that led to the detention of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.”

Gains for Ether also come as the network eyes momentum amid a record stablecoin transfer volume.

Token Terminal data shows the Ethereum network has achieved a historic milestone, with stablecoin transfer volumes crossing $8 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2025.

This record high, nearly double the volume recorded earlier in the year, highlights Ethereum’s dominance as a hub for stablecoin transactions.

Real-world payment use rather than speculative trading provided fuel for this growth.

Bulls target $3,500, but what do analysts say?

According to QCP Group, crypto price performances in the past week show “alignment with broader risk assets.”

This could signal a shift in sentiment, which may then strengthen bullish narratives.

From a technical point of view, bulls have the potential to climb toward $3,500.

If price breaks out above this level, the next target could be $4,000 or higher.

This short-term outlook, however, may include a sharp reversal, with any upside squeeze threatened by profit taking.

As aforementioned, a large whale has taken a $63 million short position, with a liquidation threshold at $4,545.

Weakness may signal a pullback to $3,000, especially if Bitcoin falters and fails to extend gains.

BTC falling below $90k will spell bad news for bulls.

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PEPE coin price forecast: bulls lead as memecoins roar back

  • PEPE memecoin surges with high volume and strong short-term momentum.
  • Whale activity and open interest boost bullish market sentiment.
  • Key support at $0.0000037, while the immediate resistance lies near $0.000010.

The meme coin market is roaring back, and PEPE coin is leading the charge.

After a quiet holiday period, speculative appetite returned with force.

PEPE memecoin has surged over 61% in less than a week, reigniting retail and investor enthusiasm.

Other meme tokens like BONK, POPCAT, and MOG followed, showing gains between 20% and 75% over the past week.

This resurgence has pushed the total meme coin market cap above $46 billion, according to CoinMarketCap at press time.

PEPE coin has particularly captured attention due to strong trading volume and community activity.

Its 24-hour volume has exceeded $1.4 billion, confirming high liquidity and robust investor interest.

The Futures open interest for PEPE has also risen sharply, hitting $470 million, a bullish sign for leveraged traders.

Short liquidations totalling over $10 million in just a few days have added upward momentum to the price.

Whales are reportedly increasing their holdings, further strengthening the bullish narrative.

PEPE price technical analysis

Technically, PEPE has rebounded above key resistance levels at $0.000005648.

Its 7-day and 14-day gains stand at 61% and 69%, highlighting strong momentum in the short term.

However, traders should remain cautious, as PEPE is still below its 50-day and 100-day EMAs.

A large head-and-shoulders pattern is forming, signalling potential bearish risk if momentum fades.

This is further supported by the fact that the Relative Strength Index (RSI) for PEPE is above 74, indicating an overbought market.

PEPE coin price analysis
PEPE coin price analysis | Source: TradingView

However, the MACD shows a bullish crossover, reinforcing the possibility of further upside before an actual pullback occurs.

PEPE’s price remains 72% below the all-time high of $0.00002803, leaving room for potential long-term growth.

While recent pullbacks of around 2–3% suggest minor profit-taking, they do not negate the broader bullish trend.

PEPE coin price prediction

The meme coin rally has been fueled by a rotation of capital from more stable assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Lower volatility in major cryptocurrencies has allowed speculative tokens like PEPE memecoin to shine.

Social sentiment also plays a role, as platforms and influencers share bullish setups and trading strategies.

If bullish momentum continues, PEPE coin could rise toward the psychological $0.000010 level.

The 50-day SMA and MACD signals suggest further upside is possible in the short to medium term.

However, the head-and-shoulders pattern and EMA resistance indicate traders should remain cautious.

The support at $0.0000037 is critical; a breach could trigger a retracement.

Overall, PEPE memecoin shows strong potential for gains, making it a key watch for speculative investors in the first quarter of 2026.

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Here’s why Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) price is pumping

  • January 15 AI agent marketplace launch is driving renewed Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) demand.
  • Rising users, revenue, and partnerships support Virtuals Protocol’s growth.
  • Bullish technicals and long positioning are accelerating VIRTUAL price momentum.

The Virtuals Protocol price is surging as focus shifts to AI crypto ecosystems.

Today, VIRTUAL crypto has surged by 22.3%, emerging as one of the strongest daily gainers, outperforming much of the broader crypto market.

At the time of writing, Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) was trading around the $1.00–$1.05 range.

This price action is not random, and several aligned catalysts are driving momentum higher.

January 15 catalyst puts Virtuals Protocol back in focus

The most immediate reason the Virtuals Protocol price is pumping is anticipation around January 15.

Virtuals Protocol is preparing to launch its first decentralised AI agent marketplace.

This launch introduces the concept of autonomous, revenue-generating AI agents that can be deployed, traded, and monetised on-chain.

For many traders, this represents a tangible use case rather than a purely speculative AI crypto narrative.

As excitement builds around this milestone, capital has flowed back into VIRTUAL crypto ahead of the event.

AI crypto momentum lifts VIRTUAL price

Recently, the broader AI crypto sector has also regained momentum.

Renewed interest in AI infrastructure has followed high-profile developments across the industry.

This sector-wide rotation has benefited projects with clear execution and real-world applications.

Virtuals Protocol sits directly at the intersection of AI, agents, and on-chain automation.

As a result, the VIRTUAL price has captured spillover demand from traders seeking exposure to AI-driven protocols.

OpenMind AGI partnership strengthens the narrative

Another major factor supporting the Virtuals Protocol price is its partnership with OpenMind AGI.

This collaboration connects Virtuals AI agents with physical robotics.

Recent demos showed robots running on OM1 OS autonomously executing voice-commanded DeFi tasks.

These tasks included cross-chain USDC transfers targeting yield opportunities.

This “embodied AI” angle adds depth and credibility to the VIRTUAL crypto investment thesis.

On-chain usage is rising, not just hype

Beyond headlines, Virtuals Protocol is showing improvement in on-chain activity.

Active decentralised exchange users have rebounded to roughly 3,700.

These levels were last seen during the previous mid-December rally.

More importantly, daily protocol revenue has climbed back to around $26,000.

This suggests usage is translating into real economic activity rather than short-lived speculation.

Ecosystem updates reinforce execution strength

Recent ecosystem updates from Virtuals Protocol have further boosted confidence.

The project updated its website to clearly outline its 2026 roadmap and four core pillars.

A full recap of 2025, shared on X by Virtuals Protocol, highlighted consistent shipping across the ecosystem.

Multiple agent platforms, infrastructure tools, and analytics dashboards reached new milestones.

These updates reinforce the view that Virtuals Protocol is actively building, not stalling.

Elliott Wave perspective highlights key timing

Some analysts note that the recent rally appears to be a three-wave move.

Price reacted cleanly from the Fibonacci support associated with a potential wave 2 low.

The next one to two weeks are considered critical.

Holding a higher low on the next pullback would favour a five-wave advance.

Such a move would help confirm a larger trend reversal for Virtuals Protocol.

Short-term outlook for Virtuals Protocol price

The short-term outlook for the Virtuals Protocol price remains constructive as long as the price holds above $1.00.

Sustained upside will depend on follow-through after the January 15 launch and continued growth in real usage across the Virtuals ecosystem.

However, while the current bullish momentum is being driven by a mix of catalysts, usage growth, and bullish positioning, the market appears to be stretched after a rapid move higher.

This could result in a pullback as the market cools from the multi-day rally, with the next target being at $0.9408 if $1 gives way.

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AI tokens lead crypto rebound as Bitcoin Breaks $92,000, Render jumps 15%

  • Render, Virtuals Protocol and Artificial Superintelligence Alliance tokens lead AI’s bounce
  • Gains come as Bitcoin breaks above $92,000 amid the geopolitical situation in Venezuela.
  • RENDER price could rally to $3-$5 region in the short term.

AI tokens have joined memecoins in starting the year higher, with Render price set for a potential retest of $3.

This comes as the cryptocurrency market kicks off 2026 with renewed vigor. Bitcoin has broken above $92,000 while Ethereum bulls have eyes on strengthening above $3,100.

Amid this, artificial intelligence-related tokens lead the broader recovery in altcoins, which in the past 24 hours, includes major gains for Virtuals Protocol and Artificial Superintelligence Alliance.

Pepe soared to lead memecoin’s rebound last week.

RENDER price gains 15% as AI tokens lead crypto bounce

The Render project offers a decentralized GPU rendering network, and ranks as one of the top AI tokens in the crypto space.

Amid an overall spike for AI coins, its native token has surged by more than 15%.

This move in the past 24 hours has seen the token top the $2.10 mark, with the uptick riding an intraday pump in buying pressure.

Per CoinMarketCap, over $139 million in Render has been traded in this period.

On a weekly basis, RENDER has posted over 56% gains. This aligns with a broader rebound in the AI crypto segment, where related projects have demonstrated even stronger momentum.

For instance, FET has advanced by more than 15% in the past day and 30% this past week.

Elsewhere, Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) has rallied more than 25% and 51% in the same time frames, respectively.

Render price hovered near $2.07 at the time of writing.

Bitcoin price buoys altcoins

The gains for RENDER and other AI tokens have materialized against a backdrop of positive developments in the broader market.

After struggling at the end of 2025, Bitcoin is showing strength as the price breaks above $92,000.

BTC’s upside looks to have bolstered risk appetite across digital assets, even as geopolitical tensions escalate.

Recent US military actions in Venezuela, including strikes and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, have introduced uncertainty.

However, market participants appear to view these events as contained.

Bulls are prioritizing Bitcoin’s strength and potential implications for energy markets over immediate risk-off sentiment.

RENDER price forecast

As the new year unfolds, AI tokens are joining memecoins in delivering robust early performance.

While investors could yet rotate into top coins, the early moves have the likes of Pepe (PEPE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) ranking among the top weekly performers.

Render Price Chart
Render price chart by TradingView

Retail enthusiasm amid some level of certainty will be good for small caps.

In this case, RENDER could eye a breakout to $3 or higher.

The charts show technical indicators pointing to constructive momentum.

A look at the weekly Relative Strength Index (RSI) suggests a potential upside continuation.

Buyers may nonetheless have to contend with the resistance zone highlighted by the weekly moving average.

 

 

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Cardano price jumps to $0.38 as bulls reclaim key level

  • Cardano price was up 10% to above $0.38 as Bitcoin crossed $90,200.
  • ADA is eyeing a potential breakout to $2.
  • Bulls will look to ride key catalysts in 2026.

Cardano’s ADA token rose more than 10% to trade above $0.38, after buyers pushed the price back above the closely watched $0.35 level that analysts have long identified as a key support zone.

The move comes alongside a broader upswing in the cryptocurrency market.

Bitcoin advanced about 2% to trade above $90,000, providing a supportive backdrop for risk appetite across digital assets.

Major altcoins also recorded strong gains, with Ethereum climbing above $3,100 and XRP jumping to around $1.95, helping lift sentiment toward Cardano.

Elsewhere, memecoins led the day’s advances, posting double-digit increases as Pepe and Shiba Inu rallied sharply.

Hedera also traded higher, adding to the broader altcoin strength.

Cardano reclaims key $0.35 level

Strong buying activity has underpinned ADA’s recent advance, with more than $770 million worth of the token changing hands over the past 24 hours.

Trading volume was up about 34% on the day, pointing to renewed market participation.

Cardano’s price has now moved above its 50-day simple moving average, a level often watched for signs of shifting momentum.

On-chain data also shows improvement in decentralized finance activity, with total value locked on the Cardano network rising about 7% to roughly $231 million, according to DeFiLlama.

While the increase signals fresh inflows, TVL remains well below previous peaks of $544 million in August 2025 and more than $865 million in December 2024.

From a technical perspective, analysts note that ADA had been tightly compressed between the $0.35 and $0.38 levels in recent weeks, creating a fragile setup.

The push above $0.35 is seen as a potential break from that range and could undermine the prevailing bearish pattern if sustained.

Cardano Price
Cardano price chart by TradingView

If this latest upside momentum holds, short-term targets include $0.42, with potential rally to $0.50.

While risks like a drop below $0.34 persist, Cardano price could rally beyond $0.54 to see bulls eye 2025 highs of $0.73 hit in October. Above that lies the critical $1 level.

In the medium term, crypto analyst Javon Marks says ADA price could target $2.9 with a seven-fold upside potential.

Cardano regains top 10 market cap rank

Cardano extended gains on Thursday, rebounding after briefly slipping out of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation at the start of the year.

ADA has moved back above Bitcoin Cash, with the recovery above the $0.35 level helping restore its position among the largest digital assets.

The rally has lifted Cardano’s market capitalisation to about $13.6 billion.

The move comes alongside broader stability in the crypto market, with Bitcoin trading back above $90,200.

Strength across major altcoins has also supported sentiment, as Ethereum climbed to around $3,100 and XRP advanced about 5% to near $1.95, reinforcing the bullish tone around Cardano.

 

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