Bitcoin and major altcoins extended their gains on January 14, as traders reacted to cooling U.S. inflation data and growing momentum behind the CLARITY Act, a long-awaited U.S. crypto market structure bill.The combination of easing inflation pressure, shifting rate expectations, and improving regulatory clarity helped lift risk appetite across digital assets, pushing Bitcoin above $95,000 and triggering sharp moves across select altcoins.Market snapshot (Jan. 14)Bitcoin traded above $95,500, extending a three-day advanceEthereum held firm above $3,300Total crypto market cap rose toward $3.25 trillionCrypto Fear & Greed Index climbed into the mid-40s, still neutral but improvingCooling U.S. inflation boosts risk assetsA key catalyst for the rally was the latest U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which reinforced expectations that inflation pressures continue to ease.Headline CPI: 2.7% year-over-year (unchanged)Core CPI: 2.6%, down from 2.7%Monthly CPI: 0.3% for both headline and core, in line with forecastsThe data suggested that recent tariff measures have not materially reaccelerated inflation, while falling gasoline prices and easing mortgage rates point to further moderation ahead.Lower inflation strengthens the case for Federal Reserve rate cuts later in 2026, a backdrop that has historically supported risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.Gold also rallied alongside Bitcoin, underscoring continued demand for inflation hedges even as price pressures soften.CLARITY Act progress lifts regulatory sentimentCrypto prices also drew support from developments in Washington, where lawmakers advanced the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025, commonly referred to as the CLARITY Act.The bill aims to:Clarify the regulatory split between the SEC and CFTCPlace most non-security digital assets under CFTC oversightReduce uncertainty around token issuance and secondary market tradingThe Senate Banking Committee published the bill text, with markup scheduled later this week before it advances toward a full Senate vote.For market participants, the move signals a potential shift away from regulation-by-enforcement toward a more predictable framework — a long-standing demand from institutional investors.Bitcoin pushes higher as positioning improvesBitcoin climbed above $95,000, breaking out of its recent consolidation range as futures open interest rose above $138 billion.BTC has traded within a broad $88,500–$95,500 range over the past weekSustained strength above $94,000–$95,000 could open the door toward $98,000–$100,000Key downside support remains near $91,000, followed by $89,800Despite the breakout, trading volumes remain moderate, suggesting the move is driven more by positioning shifts and macro relief than speculative excess.Altcoins diverge as capital rotatesAltcoin performance was mixed but active:GainersMonero (XMR) surged sharply amid renewed privacy-coin interestDash (DASH) posted outsized gains on speculative momentumSelect mid-cap tokens outperformed on rotation flowsLagging majorsXRP underperformed after strong early-year gainsDogecoin (DOGE) and Cardano (ADA) remained under pressure on a weekly basisThis dispersion reflects a market still in rotation mode, rather than a broad-based altcoin season.ETF flows remain constructiveU.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded fresh net inflows, reinforcing institutional participation even as price volatility persists.BTC ETF cumulative inflows continued to climbETH spot ETFs posted modest but positive net flowsETF ownership now represents a meaningful share of circulating supplyFlows remain uneven across issuers, but overall demand continues to act as a structural support for the market.Sentiment improves, but caution remainsCrypto sentiment has lifted from late-2025 lows but remains far from euphoric.Fear & Greed Index: ~45 (neutral)Traders remain cautious after November’s sharp sell-offPositioning suggests accumulation rather than leverage-driven chasingThis restraint may help reduce downside volatility, even as upside momentum builds.What traders are watching nextKey near-term catalysts include:Further U.S. inflation and labor market dataFederal Reserve guidance on rate timingSenate progress on the CLARITY ActWhether Bitcoin can hold above $95,000 on daily closesFor now, the rally reflects a macro relief move supported by improving regulatory signals — not a full risk-on surge, but a meaningful shift from defensive positioning.Bitcoin and altcoins are rising today as cooling inflation, rate-cut expectations, and regulatory progress converge. While volumes remain controlled and sentiment neutral, the market is responding positively to clearer macro and policy signals — a setup that could support further upside if momentum holds.
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