Bitcoin (BTC) has started 2026 with new momentum.
In just two weeks, the world’s largest cryptocurrency posted double-digit gains, pushing it back toward the psychologically important $100,000 level and rewarding investors with new exposure this year.
According to price data as of January 15, 2026, Bitcoin is trading at around $96,885, a significant increase from $87,412 on January 1, the first trading day of the year. This move represents a 10.84% increase since the beginning of the year, making Bitcoin one of the strongest major assets so far in 2026.
Invest $1,000 in Bitcoin at the beginning of 2026
For investors who allocated $1,000 to Bitcoin at the beginning of this year, this rally has already translated into big gains. If the price on January 1st was approximately $87,412 per coin, a $1,000 investment would buy approximately 0.01144 coins. BTC.
At the current price of nearly $96,885, the same holding would be worth about $1,108, turning a four-digit stock into a $108 profit in just 15 days.
The speed of this move highlights how rapidly Bitcoin sentiment has changed. In early January, the price briefly fell back toward the low $90,000s, but buyers aggressively pulled back, causing a sharp rally that erased the gap and pushed the price to new highs in 2026 within days.
This rise is supported by a variety of factors. Spot Bitcoin ETF flows remain positive, institutional participation continues to rise, and macroeconomic expectations for interest rate cuts later this year are reinvigorating appetite for risk assets.
At the same time, Bitcoin’s fixed supply narrative is gaining momentum as investors look for assets that can outperform in an environment of global debt and currency depreciation. What makes the current rally particularly noteworthy is the comparison to traditional markets.
For stocks and bonds, it typically takes months or even years to achieve a 10.8% return in just two weeks. But in the case of Bitcoin, this kind of volatility is still part of its core appeal, offering significant upside potential for investors who can tolerate wild swings.
