Bitcoin price: hits $93,000, ether tops $3,000 as Venezuela president Maduro in U.S. custody

Bitcoin briefly reached $93,000 on Monday, while Ether held near $3,160, as a fresh risk bid across markets was fueled by the U.S. taking Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro into custody. This geopolitical development, alongside year-opening flows, pushed major tokens higher following a volatile end to 2025. Derivatives positioning amplified the move, resulting in over $260 million in liquidations within 24 hours, with short positions accounting for the vast majority ($200 million), indicating bearish leverage was forced to cover. The crypto rally mirrored strength in other risk assets, including record highs in Asian equities driven by AI momentum, and a sharp jump in gold prices above $4,400. Traders suggest the start-of-year buying reflects positioning and relative value, as cryptocurrencies remain significantly below their peaks compared to equities and precious metals.

(Source：CoinDesk)