Bitcoin slips to $92,000 as major crypto tokens take first 2026 dip

Crypto majors fell for the first time in 2026, with bitcoin dropping 2% to $92,000. For everyday investors, the move matters because it arrived alongside several policy and product developments that could shape how crypto reaches brokerage accounts and how U.S. rules are written.

Ether fell 1% to $3,210, while solana declined 1% to $138. XRP was reported at $2.24. The pullback was broad enough to mark the first down session of the year for the main crypto assets cited.

Morgan Stanley filed for bitcoin, ether and solana ETFs, according to the reported filings. An ETF, or exchange-traded fund, is a product that trades on a stock exchange and can give investors exposure to an asset without holding it directly. In crypto, that distinction matters: an ETF can let a brokerage customer get price exposure through a familiar account structure, while the fund sponsor handles custody and operational details.

The filings cover BTC, ETH and SOL exposure. The details of approval timing, product structure and regulatory review were not included in the announcement, so the filing itself should be read as an application step rather than a launch.

Senate crypto vote is on the calendar

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee scheduled a key vote for next week on a crypto market-structure bill. Market structure refers to the rules that decide how assets trade, which regulators oversee them and what obligations exchanges, brokers or token issuers may face.

For crypto investors, the bill is relevant because U.S. digital-asset regulation has been fragmented. A committee vote does not make a bill law, but it can move legislation further through the Senate process and signal where lawmakers stand.

Ethereum activity hits a record

Ethereum network usage reached a record of more than 2 million daily transactions. Transactions are actions recorded on the blockchain, such as token transfers, trades or app interactions. Higher transaction counts can point to heavier use of the network, though the figures cited did not break down what drove the activity.

Telegram also said it sold $450 million of its TON holdings over the course of last year. TON is the token associated with The Open Network. Telegram’s disclosure gives investors a clearer view of a large holder’s past token sales, though no additional details were provided in the announcement.

Hyperliquid and NFT moves draw attention

Hyperliquid released a progress map, which led to speculation about another airdrop. An airdrop is a token distribution, often to users or community members, but the reported speculation has not been confirmed as an announced distribution.

Nike announced it sold RTFKT, the digital fashion and NFT project it previously owned. Following that announcement, Clone X jumped 250%. Clone X is tied to the RTFKT ecosystem, and the price move shows how quickly NFT-linked assets can react to ownership changes and project news.

This story draws on original reporting from Decrypt.