Bitcoin climbs to three-week high after US captures Maduro

Bitcoin hit a three-week high in early Asia trading, as political uncertainty continues after the US move to oust Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro over the weekend.

The largest cryptocurrency rose as much as 2.3% to $93 323 on Monday morning, its highest level since December 11. Ether and other tokens also edged higher.

The move comes against a broadly positive backdrop in Asian markets, where equities have reached all-time highs fueled by technology and artificial intelligence bets. Gold jumped as much as 2% to over $4 400 an ounce on Monday, while silver surged as much as 4.8%, as investors flock to the safety of precious metals following Maduro’s capture.

Bitcoin has in the past been framed as a haven in times of turmoil, while at other times it has moved more in line with stocks and other risk assets.

Currently, its gains are being driven by so-called crypto-native firms, those specifically focused on digital assets, and an absence of selling by groups including Bitcoin miners, wealthy family offices and other big investment funds, said Sean McNulty, APAC derivatives trading lead at FalconX.

Bitcoin has been stuck in a tight trading range for weeks, missing out on a stock rally over the Christmas holidays and ending the year down 6.5%. It underperformed in 2025 despite a raft of policy advancements in the US pushed through by President Donald Trump, who is avowedly pro-crypto.

On January 2, investors poured a chunky $471 million into the 12 US-listed Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, the most since November 11, suggesting a possible shift in mood.

Traders are now waiting to see whether Bitcoin can make a sustained break through the $94 000 mark, with $88 000 the key downside level to watch, according to McNulty.

© 2026 Bloomberg

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