The clock in the 2026 digital asset market is ticking quickly. Bitcoin is preparing for a new heyday in 2026 with heavyweight backers in Donald Trump and Elon Musk. While retail investors throw in the towel in fear, whales are quietly scooping up supply. Expectations of fresh record highs are growing in step with the timing of looser dollar liquidity.

• Samson Mow: "Elon Musk will resume buying Bitcoin in 2026" • Cathie Wood: "Trump will buy Bitcoin directly in 2026" in a bold forecast

Bitcoin evangelist Samson Mow predicted Tesla CEO Elon Musk will resume buying Bitcoin. He argues companies are likely to start buying large amounts of Bitcoin again around 2026. Musk's moves have always had a huge market impact, and if the prediction is realized it could set the stage for another surge.

Cathie Wood went further, predicting Donald Trump will buy Bitcoin directly in 2026. She said this could involve stockpiling Bitcoin as a national strategic asset or government-level purchases as part of pro-cryptocurrency policy. How the combination of political power and virtual assets changes the market landscape is something to watch.

• Arthur Hayes: "Bitcoin to hit a record high in 2026 when dollars are unleashed"…liquidity • "Retail investors sold in fear…" Bitcoin whales step up contrarian buying during pullbacks

BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes predicted a record high in 2026 from a macroeconomic perspective. If the United States starts unleashing dollars to stimulate the economy through liquidity provision, he argues the money will inevitably flow into Bitcoin. He added an analysis that Bitcoin's status as a hedge against currency devaluation will become even more entrenched.

In the recent pullback, retail investors hit the sell button in fear, but whales holding at least 1,000 BTC increased accumulation, an on-chain data analysis showed. It once again proves the saying that smart money feeds on the public's fear. It is an example of why following big players' moves matters.

The clear protagonist of the new year market is Ripple's XRP. Scenarios are pouring in, from an ambitious forecast that goes beyond comparisons with Bitcoin to eyeing Apple's market value, to talk of Bitcoin buying led by Trump and Musk.

This week's hottest topic in the digital asset market is XRP. Analyses have emerged putting the value of 1 Bitcoin on the same level as 5,000 XRP, along with scenarios that XRP's market value could surpass Apple. Momentum is growing for XRP to be recognized not as a simple altcoin but as a core pillar of next-generation financial infrastructure.

• "5,000 XRP equals 1 BTC?"…Talk grows of Ripple becoming the dominant trend in 2026 • XRP scenario to reach the market value of Bitcoin, silver and Apple…forecast as high as $67 • 1,000? 10,000?…How much XRP is enough?

A bold analysis said the value ratio between XRP and Bitcoin will be recalibrated. Based on past data, it raised the possibility that the exchange ratio between the two assets could converge around 5,000 to 1. If that scenario becomes reality, it said XRP could leap beyond a simple price rise and become a major asset on par with Bitcoin. A price simulation also calculated it could rise as high as $67.

A debate has also surfaced over how much XRP one needs to hold for economic freedom. One view said even 1,000 units could be enough if prices surge, while another offered the realistic advice that more than 10,000 are needed for a secure retirement.

• Expert: "XRP meets all conditions for next-generation financial infrastructure growth" • "Relying only on deposits and savings will melt your money"…XRP as a long-term savings asset amid inflation

An expert assessment was also introduced saying XRP has all the conditions required of a next-generation financial system, including technical completeness, speed and scalability. It stresses technical superiority as the only alternative that can replace or complement the existing SWIFT financial network. The message is to focus on utility value rather than speculation.

Another notable piece of advice urges using XRP as a long-term savings tool in an era of falling currency value due to inflation. It highlights its appeal as a deflationary asset that can be expected to generate returns higher than bank interest. It introduced an asset-allocation strategy that assumes high volatility but a long-term upward trend.

The regulatory environment remains foggy, with the cancellation of a U.S. congressional vote on a bill and Google's hardline response. But another interpretation says such pain is part of the market maturing. As laws are refined, a full-scale shakeout is expected in which only big companies and vetted projects survive.

• U.S. Senate cancels vote on crypto bill…crypto firms' shares plunge • U.S. Clarity Act tightens regulation of the crypto industry…only big companies benefit

News said a much-anticipated U.S. Senate vote on a cryptocurrency-related bill fell through, sending related companies' shares tumbling. It shows regulatory uncertainty remains the market's biggest risk. Market fatigue is growing as political interests delay passage of legislation.

An analysis said the newly proposed Clarity Act raises the regulatory bar, creating an environment favorable only to big companies with financial resources and legal 대응 capability. It explained that small and mid-sized projects or startups could be eliminated because they cannot bear compliance costs. It included concern that market polarization could intensify.

• Google blocks unreported virtual asset apps across the board…Binance removed • DAXA: "Limiting major shareholders' stakes hinders industry and market development"

Google has moved to block virtual asset apps that have not been reported to authorities from the Play Store. Even Binance, the world's No. 1 exchange, has been named as a removal target, as big tech companies strengthen their own censorship. It cited investor protection as the justification, but reduced access could act as a short-term negative factor.

The Digital Asset eXchange Alliance, or DAXA, made clear its opposition to the government's review of limiting the stake held by major shareholders of virtual asset exchanges. In a statement, DAXA expressed concern, saying, "The government's review of a plan to limit major shareholders' stakes in exchanges to 15 to 20 percent could hinder the development of the domestic digital asset industry and market."

As money exits Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, funds are pouring into XRP and Solana ETFs. It is evidence that market attention is shifting. Separately, Vitalik Buterin has declared 2026 as the first year of Ethereum's "restoration of self-sovereignty" as he seeks a technical rebound.

• Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs see large outflows in the first week of January...XRP and Solana ETFs • Vitalik Buterin: "2026 is the first year of Ethereum restoring self-sovereignty"

Large outflows hit Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs from the first week of the new year. By contrast, inflows into XRP and Solana-related products show a clear rotation of holdings. It is a sign investors are adjusting portfolios toward altcoin ETFs with more upside potential instead of leading coins that have already risen sharply.

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin presented a new vision aimed at 2026. He said it is about restoring decentralization and completing a system in which users fully hold data sovereignty. He stressed the blockchain's fundamental value and philosophy over price and showed an intention to strengthen the ecosystem's fundamentals, but assessments are divided on whether the claim reflects the reality of the Ethereum market.