Stocks pushed to fresh intraday records even as Bitcoin moved in the opposite direction: the cryptocurrency dipped 2.45% on Wednesday after topping $94K on Tuesday. At the time of reporting Bitcoin was priced at $90,922.80, down for the day but still up for the week, while traditional equity indexes approached all-time highs.
Stocks Outperform Bitcoin Amid Geopolitical Turmoil
Despite a dramatic geopolitical episode in which U.S. President Donald Trump captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and assumed control of Venezuela’s oil reserves, equities held up and in some cases rallied. The S&P 500 and the Dow posted record intraday highs on Wednesday, although both closed slightly lower than Tuesday’s levels.
Market participants reacted more to the oil-related developments than to long-term growth expectations; Globalt Investments senior portfolio manager Keith Buchanan said the events in South America did not change the prospect for U.S. growth from an equity market standpoint. For background on Bitcoin’s recent peak, see the report showing the price reached $94,026.
Trump's Venezuela Moves and Market Reactions
Venezuela’s oil output has fallen sharply over the past decade, from more than 2.5 million barrels per day in 2015 to just under a million in 2024, and the capture of Maduro triggered short-term supply concerns. After Trump announced that Venezuela would transfer between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., crude briefly climbed to more than $58 per barrel and equities rallied in tandem.
That oil advance was short-lived: the commodity later eased to $56 per barrel, and the initial market reaction faded while some oil-refining stocks continued to trend upward. The sequence shows a quick risk rotation tied to the oil announcement rather than a sustained shift in market direction.
Bitcoin's Performance in January 2026
Bitcoin traded between $90,601.81 and $93,778.03 in the past 24 hours and registered a daily decline of 2.45% while remaining up 3.71% for the week. Daily trading volume dropped 15.95% to $43.61 billion and market capitalization eased to $1.81 trillion, while Bitcoin dominance rose 0.08% to 58.91%.
Derivatives activity showed total Bitcoin futures open interest climbing 2.84% to $61.70 billion, and total liquidations in the last 24 hours reached $74.24 million—dominated by $65.65 million in losses for long investors and $8.59 million for shorts. For related context on Bitcoin’s January moves, see the January rally discussion.
Market Metrics and Context
The contrast is clear: equities posted intraday records while Bitcoin reacted to the same headlines with typical crypto volatility, including a meaningful intraday swing and lower volume. That divergence was underscored by Keith Buchanan’s comment that the Venezuela events did not materially alter U.S. growth prospects from an equity-market standpoint.
Bitcoin’s on-chain and derivatives indicators show active positioning and recent deleveraging among long holders, which helps explain why price moves can be sharp even when broader markets appear stable. For an explanation aimed at miners about similar dynamics, see why bitcoin falls.
Why this matters (for a miner in Russia)
As a miner with between 1 and 1,000 devices, you should note that Bitcoin’s intraday swings and lower volume can increase short-term price risk for coin holdings and unpaid invoices. Even when stocks seem calm, crypto can move sharply and liquidations among leveraged traders have recently been large, which can amplify volatility.
Practical implications include potential changes in the market value of mined coins, faster turnover of spot market liquidity, and periods when selling pressure or sudden rallies affect local exchange rates. Keep monitoring price, volume and open interest so you understand the market environment behind your payouts and balances.
What to do?
- Keep a clear cash buffer: avoid relying on immediate sale proceeds to cover operational costs in volatile periods.
- Limit leverage: if you or your service providers use margin, consider reducing exposure while liquidations are elevated.
- Monitor key metrics: watch price, daily volume, futures open interest and liquidation reports to gauge market stress.
- Stagger sales: rather than selling large amounts at once, spread withdrawals or exchange orders to reduce market impact.
- Stay informed: follow reliable market updates and reports so you base decisions on reported metrics rather than rumors.
