New York, Jan 14, 2026, 13:58 EST — Regular session
Bitcoin climbed 3.5% to $96,839 on Wednesday, boosting U.S.-listed crypto stocks during New York afternoon trading. Coinbase inched up 0.4%, Strategy gained 2.1%, and Riot Platforms jumped 4.3%.
The spotlight remains on interest rates after a U.S. inflation report suggested potential for cuts later this year. The Labor Department reported the consumer price index climbed 0.3% in December and 2.7% year over year. Core CPI, excluding food and energy, increased 0.2% monthly and 2.6% annually. The next CPI update, covering January, is due Feb. 11. 1
In Washington, senators rolled out draft legislation aiming to clarify when crypto tokens qualify as securities or commodities, while boosting the CFTC’s authority over spot crypto markets. “What is threatening progress is not a lack of policymaker engagement,” said Summer Mersinger, CEO of the Blockchain Association, as banks lobby lawmakers on stablecoin-related provisions — those dollar-pegged crypto tokens. 2
Spot bitcoin ETFs listed in the U.S., which hold bitcoin directly, saw renewed interest. Tuesday’s net inflows hit $753.8 million, driven mainly by Fidelity’s FBTC and BlackRock’s IBIT, Farside Investors data shows. 3
Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin described December’s inflation numbers as “encouraging,” but warned inflation could still heat up in the early months of the year. “It is, I think, a delicate balance right now,” he said Tuesday. 4
Broader markets stumbled. U.S. stocks dipped Wednesday while Treasury yields slipped, following late data showing November retail sales exceeded forecasts and producer prices edged up slightly, Reuters reported. The Fed is widely anticipated to keep its benchmark rate steady at 3.50%-3.75% during its Jan. 27-28 meeting. 5
Company news boosted bitcoin-sensitive stocks. A Strategy 8-K filing dated Jan. 12 revealed the purchase of 13,627 bitcoin between Jan. 5 and Jan. 11, costing roughly $1.247 billion at an average price of $91,519. This raised the company’s total holdings to 687,410 bitcoin. The filing noted these purchases were financed by selling common and preferred stock through an at-the-market program, which places securities directly into the open market. 6
Traders find bitcoin appealing because it never stops trading, while the stocks linked to it tend to show more volatility during U.S. hours. This dynamic can work either way when the dollar and yields shift.
Plenty could still derail the plan. The Senate bill might be rewritten in committee or hit a dead end. Expectations for rate cuts can shift fast if inflation heats up or if policymakers resist loosening financial conditions. Bitcoin’s history shows it struggles when leverage becomes crowded.
On Thursday at 10:00 a.m. ET, the Senate Banking Committee will take up the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025. Traders are also eyeing the latest ETF flow data and new Fed remarks as the month wraps up. 7
