Bitcoin buoyant as Maduro's fall ignites shadow reserve rumor: Crypto Daybook Americas

Bitcoin started 2026 on a positive note, trading near $92,700, with major altcoins also seeing gains. Analysts attribute Bitcoin's buoyancy to safe-haven demand following U.S. action in Venezuela and the exhaustion of tax-related selling, evidenced by renewed bullish option bets. The primary catalyst fueling speculation is the unverified rumor that Venezuela controls a substantial shadow Bitcoin reserve, potentially rivaling MicroStrategy's holdings, after the U.S. captured President Nicolás Maduro. Market commentary suggests that if true, the U.S. might seize these coins for its strategic reserve, reducing forced selling pressure and highlighting Bitcoin's strategic importance. Other market narratives involve potential oil price drops if the U.S. taps Venezuelan reserves, which could prompt faster Fed rate cuts; however, analysts caution that the heavy, impure nature of Venezuelan crude limits near-term impact. In other news, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin claimed the network solved the scalability trilemma.

(Source：CoinDesk)