Bitcoin surged past $91,000 on Sunday as traders continued the early 2026 rebound across major tokens. Ether, Solana, and Cardano all recorded significant gains, fueled by geopolitical developments from Venezuela that boosted risk appetite. Bitcoin was seen trading at approximately $91,300 during the Asian morning hours, reflecting an increase of about 1.4% for the day and over 4% for the week. Ether experienced an increase of approximately 1%, approaching the $3,150 mark, and has seen a weekly rise of around 7%. Meanwhile, Solana surged by about 1.6% and has risen over 8% in the past week. XRP remained steady just above $2, experiencing a daily increase of approximately 0.6% and a weekly surge of nearly 10%. Meanwhile, Cardano saw a slight uptick for the day and an overall rise of about 8% over the past week.
The action came after a significant liquidation event that eliminated overextended positions and recalibrated short-term leverage. Recent data indicates that approximately $180 million in futures positions were liquidated in the last 24 hours, with around $133 million attributed to shorts and $47 million to longs. The disparity indicates that traders found themselves positioned contrary to the rally, necessitating buybacks as prices surged upward. Sunday’s gains were influenced by traders responding to the rapidly evolving political landscape in Venezuela.
President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. intends to “run” Venezuela, although the White House provided limited information on what that would involve. In a significant development, Venezuela’s Supreme Court has conferred all presidential powers to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez in an acting capacity, following the detention of ousted President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. authorities. Trump also indicated a keen interest in Venezuela’s oil, stating that the U.S. would maintain a “presence in Venezuela as it pertains to oil,” and implied that U.S. troops on the ground would not be required if Rodríguez “does what we want.”
Crypto traders frequently view these headlines as catalysts for volatility instead of direct macroeconomic influences, yet the overall risk sentiment can still play a significant role. During times of reduced liquidity, even slight spot demand can propel prices beyond technical thresholds, leading to stop-driven movements in the futures markets. The situation intensifies when short positions are set for a pullback, as forced covering can transform a gradual ascent into a more pronounced decline.