> At a Glance
> – Ethereum hovers above $3,000 after a 1% weekly gain but must crack $3,340 to ignite a sustained rally
> – Ripple surged 11% to reclaim $2; bulls lose control if the price slips under that pivot
> – Cardano closed up 7% yet remains capped at 40 cents, the line separating bullish and bearish momentum
> – Why it matters: This week’s price action sets the stage for either breakout moves or sharp corrections across top altcoins
The second week of January delivered modest but telling moves across five closely watched tokens: Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Binance Coin, and Hyperliquid. Gains were recorded, yet each asset now sits at technical junctions that could decide direction for the weeks ahead.
Ethereum Eyes Breakout Above $3,340
Buyers kept ETH above the $3,000 support for the entire seven-day stretch, allowing a slim 1% advance that left the weekly candle green. The climb started in December when the price first moved back over $3,000, and momentum will depend on converting the $3,340 resistance into support.
A decisive close beyond that ceiling opens the door to:
- A run of higher highs
- A potentially sustained uptrend
Until then, bulls retain a slight edge as long as $3,000 continues to hold.
Ripple Bulls Defend $2 Pivot
XRP ended the period with a powerful 11% jump that pushed it back over the psychologically important $2 level. That zone is now the battleground; a daily close beneath it would hand control to sellers targeting the next support at $1.8.
Market structure turns positive if buyers:
- Cement $2 as a higher-low
- Keep price action above the pivot
Failure risks a swift retest of lower demand areas.
Cardano Stuck Under 40 Cents
ADA logged a respectable 7% weekly gain after bulls wrestled control at $0.36. The push stalled once again at the stubborn $0.40 barrier, a level that has rejected multiple breakout attempts this year.
| Scenario | Implication |
|---|---|
| Weekly close > $0.40 | Bullish continuation likely |
| Failure to break $0.40 | Sellers may reload and pressure $0.36 |
The next few days should resolve the standoff.
Binance Coin Pressures Multi-Month Resistance
BNB rose 2% while testing the $900 ceiling for the fourth time since November. Each unsuccessful attempt chips away at seller conviction, and continued pressure could finally trigger a breakout toward:
- $1,000
- $1,200
Turning $900 into support would clear the path for a potential 2026 price record.
Hyperliquid Retraces After Failed $30 Push
HYPE added a modest 2% but failed to reclaim $30, leaving sellers in charge since mid-week. The price now heads toward the $24 support that has held through prior sell-offs.
For trend reversal, buyers must:
- Flip $30 from resistance to support
- Generate a series of higher lows
Absent that, the path of least resistance remains lower.
Key Takeaways
- Ethereum needs a close above $3,340 to confirm a fresh uptrend
- Ripple’s 11% weekly surge hinges on defending the $2 pivot
- Cardano remains range-bound until a decisive move beyond $0.40
- Binance Coin’s repeated tests of $900 suggest a breakout may be near
- Hyperliquid requires a $30 flip to escape its current downtrend
With several coins at make-or-break levels, the coming sessions are likely to set the tone for January’s final stretch.
