Bitcoin edged higher on Monday, tracking gains in technology stocks, although overall momentum remained restrained as investors weighed the geopolitical fallout from a U.S. military operation in Venezuela.
Market attention this week is also firmly on a series of major economic releases, led by the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for December, which could influence broader risk sentiment.
Bitcoin rose 1.1% to $92,264.5 by 01:33 ET (06:33 GMT). The cryptocurrency benefited from strength in technology shares, which it often mirrors, as optimism around artificial intelligence continued to support the sector. Other digital assets also moved modestly higher in line with this trend.
Despite the uptick, Bitcoin remains down 6.4% for 2025. Sentiment toward the crypto sector cooled in the second half of last year as investors questioned longer-term growth prospects following a strong earlier rally.
Venezuela developments limit upside
Gains across crypto markets were capped by caution surrounding the aftermath of the U.S. strike on Venezuela, which led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro was reportedly detained in New York and is expected to face legal proceedings in the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington would temporarily “run” Venezuela until a new leader is elected and indicated that the country’s oil industry could be opened up.
The move drew mixed reactions globally. Several Latin American nations condemned the action, while Russia and China also voiced opposition. Trump further added to uncertainty by warning of possible similar actions involving Colombia and Cuba, and by raising the prospect of measures against Iran.
The Venezuela operation boosted demand for traditional safe-haven assets, with both gold and the U.S. dollar attracting strong buying interest.
Bitcoin still recovering from 2025 losses
Bitcoin’s early-2026 rebound has been partly driven by bargain hunting following last year’s decline. While the cryptocurrency reached multiple record highs in 2025 amid expectations of more favorable regulation under the Trump administration, momentum faded in the final quarter.
That slowdown was linked to concerns over the sustainability of Bitcoin treasury-focused companies, including Strategy, particularly after it was excluded from a major U.S. equity index. A brief flash crash in October also dented retail confidence, while institutional inflows into crypto funds showed signs of easing toward year-end.
Altcoins post cautious gains
The broader crypto market recorded small advances alongside Bitcoin. Ether was little changed at $3,144.41, while XRP climbed 2.1%. BNB added 1%, and Solana and Cardano posted gains of less than 1%.
Among meme tokens, Dogecoin slipped 0.4%, while $TRUMP edged 0.6% higher.
