Many cryptocurrency traders are still waiting for the next altcoin season to begin, Arthur Hayes said it has been underway since the beginning.
"There is always an altcoin season... and if you always say there is no altcoin season, it's because you didn't take advantage of what went up," Hayes said during a podcast interview published on YouTube on Thursday.
Hayes stated that many traders still expect the altcoin season to unfold in the same way as in previous years, assuming that the same cryptocurrencies and narratives will repeat. "We wanted it to be like the previous altcoin season because then we felt we knew what we had to do," Hayes said.
The word "HODL" stopped being a typographical error a long time ago. It has become a battle cry, a mantra for those who believe that bear markets are just temporary pauses on the road to success.
What the former CEO of Binance ironically recalled when taking — or attributing — the following quote to Churchill: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: what matters is the courage to HODL."
Behind this conscious joke lies an unrelenting truth: volatility is not an anomaly of the crypto market, it is its nature. HODL is more than investment advice; it is a philosophy that mixes patience, trust, and long-term vision. When everything wobbles, some sell in panic. Others, the "hodlers," grit their teeth and hold the position.
Cryptocurrencies increased by more than 3% during the day and reached their highest point in nearly four weeks. This increase occurred in the context of a widespread rebound in risk assets. Market participants maintained their interest in exposure despite adverse macroeconomic conditions.
The report from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) in the U.S. indicated that manufacturing activity weakened further starting in December. The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell 47.9 points, to 48.2 points, in November. This figure was below the market forecast of 48.3 points and extended the contraction period for the tenth consecutive month.
RENDER surged 57% during the last week, positioning itself among the top-performing tokens. Along with meme coins, AI-focused cryptocurrencies have gained significant momentum since early 2026. This renewed interest in the sector has driven both speculative and fundamental demand, positioning RENDER as a standout beneficiary of the widespread risk environment.
The RENDER rally appears to be supported by strong capital inflows. The Chaikin Money Flow remains well above the zero line, indicating sustained accumulation. The strong participation of holders increases the likelihood that it will continue. If the momentum holds, RENDER could extend its gains beyond $2.18 and $2.34, reaching a two-month high.
Downside risk persists if investors start taking profits. Increased selling pressure could push RENDER below the psychological level of $2. A breakdown could expose support at $1.71, which would invalidate the bullish thesis and shift the short-term outlook towards consolidation or correction.
Stellar is trading close to $0.2373, recording gains of nearly 16% over the past seven days. Despite the recovery, Stellar remains constrained by a bearish trend line that has limited price action for more than a month, preventing the confirmation of a sustained reversal.
To break the bearish trend, XLM must reclaim the resistance of $0.241. The Parabolic SAR is situated below the price, indicating an active bullish trend. Continuous capital inflows are required to maintain momentum. If demand holds, XLM could reach $0.241 in the upcoming sessions.
If the bearish trend is not overcome, it would expose it to a risk of decline. Under renewed selling pressure, XLM could retrace towards the support of $0.220. A break below this level would invalidate the bullish thesis and could push the price even lower, down to $0.206.
The data shows that most meme coins, such as Pepe, Dogwifhat, and Bonk, have surged, with the market capitalization of all these tokens exceeding 52 billion dollars.
An expert predicts a 246% increase in the price of Shiba Inu
The price of Shiba Inu could continue to rise in the short term. In a post on X, Javon Marks, a popular cryptocurrency analyst, predicted that the coin would soar by 246% to $0.00003. He pointed out the formation of a bullish divergence pattern, which occurs when an oscillator rises while an asset falls.
Technical data suggests that the coin has greater bullish potential in the short term. The daily chart shows that the token formed a descending wedge pattern, which is very common. This pattern consists of two descending and converging trend lines. A bullish breakout usually occurs when both lines approach their convergence.
How inflation data could affect Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market?
CPI data tends to generate volatility in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency markets on the day it is released. A moderate inflation reading is positive for the market, as it would strengthen arguments in favor of new cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
In addition, it could boost the current rebound in the cryptocurrency market, with the price of BTC exceeding $93,000, accumulating a 6% increase so far this year. On the other hand, a reading above expectations would be negative for the market, which could lead to a short-term liquidation.
CC quotes around $0.143, 24% below its all-time high of $0.177, reached on the first day of 2026. The altcoin remains within the recovery range, and the recent consolidation suggests that the market is assessing whether it can regain its momentum.
The Chaikin money flow remains stable without declines, indicating a sustained inflow of capital. This stability suggests that the holder's conviction remains intact. Continuous accumulation could drive a rebound and help CC attempt a new push towards the all-time high of $0.177.
The downside risk persists if the bullish momentum does not materialize. A premature sale could pressure the price towards the support of $0.133. A drop below this level would weaken the structure and invalidate the bullish thesis, diverting attention towards the short-term downside risk.
Memecoins do not rise in silence. They make noise because they concentrate pure speculation. When they start to rise again, it is usually a sign that the crypto market is once again accepting the idea of "pay to see."
The contrast is striking with the end of 2025. CoinMarketCap summarized a weakened sector, with a capitalization that had fallen by around 38 billion and with volumes markedly down. The current rebound resembles less of a simple technical push than a change in stance.
Another detail that matters: the movement is not limited to a micro-niche. CoinGecko, for its part, shows a much broader “meme” market, around 51.7 billion dollars and more than 8.5 billion in volume over 24h. This suggests extensive participation, although the figures vary according to the perimeters.
The new acquisition was announced in a press release along with the upcoming annual general meeting of shareholders. Currently, BitMine holds nearly 4.14 million ETH in its treasury, which represents approximately 3.43% of the total supply of Ethereum.
Another notable fact highlighted by the company is that it is the largest buyer of new capital in Ethereum worldwide. BitMine believes that its strategy is to continue acquiring more, rather than buying and selling.
President Thomas "Tom" Lee informed investors about the reason for the continued purchasing. He mentioned government support for cryptocurrencies, the growing institutional interest in tokenization, and the increased use of digital assets by young people. Lee believes these factors enhance the long-term prospects of Ethereum in 2026.
BitMine Immersion Technologies of Tom Lee has expanded its holdings of Ethereum, buying 32,977 ETH, which is estimated at 104 million dollars in the last week of 2025.
There was a response from investors to the new accumulation as the price of BMNR rose in the stock market.
Recent data on spot XRP ETFs shows a clear shift in institutional allocation behavior. Spot XRP ETFs recorded weekly net inflows of $43.16 million, indicating renewed demand for regulated investment vehicles.
The composition of these flows is important. XRPZ began inflows at its peak with a figure of 21.76 million, and the Bitwise XRP fund contributed 17.27 million, bringing its cumulative inflows to 252 million. These figures indicate long-term participation, as opposed to a one-time allocation.
The price of XRP has stabilized after months of controlled decline, aligning with a broader recovery in the cryptocurrency market as we enter 2026. Bitcoin reaching the $90K mark and Ethereum maintaining its position above the $3K level has revived the appetite for risk in major cryptocurrencies.
In this context, the price of XRP has recovered from the compression near demand. The price has regained support after prolonged selling pressure. The question is whether this recovery period can be sustained through improved market conditions and internal structure.
Events that could shake the cryptocurrency market this week
These are the main events to keep in mind this week for greater bullish momentum amid institutional adoption, the macroeconomic events in the U.S., and the possible U.S. operations in Latin America following the Venezuela case.
◽The warning from U.S. President Trump to other Latin American countries
The United States conducted airstrikes in Venezuela to capture President Nicolás Maduro. The White House cited drug trafficking and migration as reasons to bring Maduro and his wife to the United States for criminal prosecution.
Bank of America has begun to recommend that its clients include digital assets
The bank has begun recommending that its clients allocate between 1% and 4% of their investment portfolios to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Starting January 5, the financial advisors at Bank of America Private Bank, Merrill, and Merrill Edge will recommend that their clients invest in specific ETPs in the cryptocurrency markets without a minimum asset requirement.
With this, financial advisors can also act as active portfolio managers, rather than simply executing cryptocurrency orders. Chris Hyzy, chief investment officer of Merrill, believes that a small investment could be beneficial for most people.
In line with the overall bullish trend of the cryptocurrency industry, the meme coin market is experiencing a notable resurgence this year. According to a post on X shared by analyst Shah, the total market capitalization of meme tokens has increased by 12 billion dollars in just 4 days. The trading volume has also risen by 4.6 billion dollars, highlighting the growing interest and investment from the community in the sector.