Bitcoin has roared back to life, reclaiming the $97,000 level as institutional capital floods the market in what analysts are calling the start of a new "supercycle." The leading cryptocurrency surged past this critical resistance point on Friday, fueled by a massive $100.2 million in net inflows into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs on January 16. Leading the charge was BlackRock’s IBIT, which absorbed over $315 million in a single day, signaling that Wall Street’s appetite for digital assets remains voracious despite regulatory headwinds. With the Bitcoin price prediction 2026 narrative shifting from recovery to aggressive growth, the psychological $100,000 milestone is now within striking distance.
Institutional ETF Inflows Power the Surge
The latest market data reveals a decisive shift in sentiment, driven almost entirely by institutional demand. After a period of mixed signals, spot Bitcoin ETF inflows have returned with a vengeance. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) continues to dominate the landscape, recording BlackRock IBIT news today as a major catalyst for the broader market rally. While other funds like Fidelity’s FBTC saw some outflows, the sheer volume of capital entering IBIT was enough to push the net daily total above $100 million.
This accumulation suggests that traditional finance giants are buying the dip, effectively putting a floor under Bitcoin’s price. Market observers note that this behavior is characteristic of institutional crypto adoption, where smart money takes advantage of volatility to build long-term positions. The resilience of these inflows, even as Bitcoin hovered in the low $90,000s earlier in the week, indicates that the underlying demand is structural rather than speculative.
CLARITY Act Stalls in Senate Amid Industry Pushback
While price action remains bullish, the regulatory landscape faced a sudden hurdle this week. The Senate Banking Committee was forced to postpone the highly anticipated markup of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act), originally scheduled for Thursday. The delay came swiftly after Coinbase withdrew its support for the bill, citing provisions that would effectively ban yield-bearing stablecoins—a move the exchange argued would stifle innovation and hand a monopoly to traditional banks.
Despite this setback in CLARITY Act crypto news, the market’s reaction has been surprisingly muted. In previous cycles, such a legislative stall might have triggered a sell-off. However, Bitcoin’s ability to climb past $97,000 in the face of this news demonstrates the market's newfound maturity. Investors appear to be looking beyond short-term political maneuvering, focusing instead on the long-term inevitability of a regulatory framework, even if the timeline has been pushed back.
The Institutional Supercycle & $100K Milestone
The decoupling of Bitcoin’s price from negative news cycles has emboldened analysts to declare the end of the traditional four-year halving cycle. Instead, we are entering what many call an "institutional supercycle." In this Bitcoin bull market 2026, price movements are less about retail hype and more about steady, massive allocation from pension funds, endowments, and corporate treasuries.
As the BTC 100k milestone looms, technical indicators suggest the path of least resistance is up. The $97,000 reclaim is technically significant, validating the bullish structure that has been building since the start of the year. If the current pace of ETF accumulation holds, Bitcoin could shatter the six-figure barrier before the end of the month, transforming $100,000 from a psychological ceiling into a new support floor.
Bitcoin Price Prediction 2026: What's Next?
Looking ahead, the outlook for the rest of 2026 is overwhelmingly positive. Analysts at major firms have revised their targets, with many predicting Bitcoin could reach between $150,000 and $200,000 by year-end. The convergence of loosening monetary policy, continued institutional adoption, and the finite supply of Bitcoin creates a perfect storm for appreciation. While volatility is expected, particularly around future legislative dates, the trend remains firmly upward.
