Cryptocurrencies start the year in strong form

New year crypto rally gathers pace

Cryptocurrencies have started the year in much better form than they ended 2025, making firm headway in a marked change from the final quarter of 2025. Prices have moved mostly sideways since mid-November, and we should be wary of declaring the crypto selloff to be at an end. Nonetheless, the revival of bullish momentum is a major improvement for investors.

PwC bets on crypto as regulation clears path

PwC is expanding its crypto audit and advisory business after clearer US regulation reduced legal uncertainty, focusing on stablecoins and tokenised assets following the GENIUS Act. The stablecoin market is worth more than $317 billion, with daily transaction volumes often above $80-90 billion, while industry estimates suggest $5-10 trillion of real-world assets could be tokenised by 2030.

What we’re watching – Crypto recovery to be tested

While cryptocurrencies have begun the year in strong form, the return of economic data means that investors will have other things to focus on. This week sees the release of December’s US payroll figures and if these confirm that the employment picture continues to worsen then more Fed cuts become likely. This could put further fuel into the gold rally, amplifying the attractiveness of Bitcoin’s key rival.