Crypto is Green! Up 6-9%! Memes outperform! Pepe up 67%! Infinex Founder Interview!
Crypto is Green! Up 6-9%! Memes outperform! Pepe up 67%! Infinex Founder Interview!
124 days agoDEGENZ LIVERug Radio
Podcast1 hr 6 min
Listen to Episode
Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

With Bitcoin (BTC) showing strength, watch for a clean break above $95.5K as a signal for a potential move towards the $98K-$100K range. Consider Ethereum (ETH) as a potential catch-up trade, as some analysts are targeting a move to $3,400. For a specific trade idea, Monero (XMR) is highlighted for its bullish chart pattern that suggests an imminent breakout. The AI theme is considered a major tailwind for the market, benefiting related tokens like Render (RNDR) and Fetch.ai (FET). For higher growth potential in 2026, analysts suggest focusing on Application (App) Tokens over Layer 1 blockchains.

Detailed Analysis

Bitcoin (BTC)

  • The hosts discussed a potential run for Bitcoin to $100K in 2026, with one analyst looking for a move to the $98K - $100K range before reassessing.
  • The price was noted as being around $93K - $94K, having broken through the "yearly open," which was previously seen as a major resistance level.
  • The rally was partially attributed to geopolitical news surrounding Venezuela, with some speculation that the U.S. might gain access to Venezuela's Bitcoin reserves. However, one speaker was skeptical of this direct link.
  • The rally was also described as a "relief rally" that felt like it was coming even before the news, with meme coins leading the initial charge.
  • Bullish Sentiment:
    • Bitcoin ETFs saw $470 million in net inflows on the first trading day of 2026, a very strong start to the year.
    • A key resistance level to watch is $95.5K. A clean break and hold above this price could signal a stronger move upwards.
    • One speaker noted they are the "most in the market" they have been in a long time.

Takeaways

  • Sentiment: Bullish to Neutral. While there's excitement about breaking recent highs, one analyst is waiting for a move to the $98K-$100K range before becoming more decisively bullish.
  • Key Levels: The price has cleared the yearly open resistance. The next key level to watch is $95.5K. A sustained move above this could confirm the next leg up.
  • Strategy: The current environment is seen as a "risk on" signal. Investors who were bearish in late 2025 may want to reconsider their position given the changing macro environment and strong market open.

Ethereum (ETH)

  • One host revealed that ETH is their main position, citing the "digital oil" narrative as a long-term bullish thesis.
  • The price was noted as being around $3,180.
  • A speaker mentioned buying a significant amount of ETH over the weekend, targeting a trade up to $3,400.
  • It was observed that ETH is currently lagging behind Bitcoin's price performance, which is seen by some as a potential opportunity for it to catch up.
  • Corporate adoption note: BitMine acquired 33,000 ETH, increasing their total holdings to 3.4% of the entire ETH supply.

Takeaways

  • Sentiment: Bullish.
  • Strategy: ETH is viewed as a "laggard" trade compared to Bitcoin's recent move. Investors looking for a catch-up play might consider ETH.
  • Price Target: A short-term price target of $3,400 was mentioned by one of the speakers as their trade objective.

Meme Coins

  • The recent rally in meme coins like Pepe and Bonk is credited with significantly improving the overall mood and "vibes" in the crypto market.
  • Performance:
    • Pepe (PEPE): Up 68% year-to-date.
    • Bonk (BONK): Up 57% year-to-date.
    • WIF (Dogwifhat): Up 46% year-to-date.
    • Farcoin: Up 43% year-to-date.
  • An analyst noted that while a meme coin-led rally is not traditionally a sign of a healthy market, they are interesting because they are not valued on traditional revenue metrics, meaning their upside is less constrained.
  • The narrative around memes may be shifting from quick flips to holding "multi-cycle memes" that are expected to perform well over the long term.
  • One speaker's primary trading strategy for 2026 is a barbell approach, holding both major cryptocurrencies (like Bitcoin/ETH) and major meme coins.

Takeaways

  • Sentiment: Bullish, but with caution. The rally is seen as a strong "risk-on" signal.
  • Strategy: Consider a "barbell" strategy, allocating a portion of a portfolio to established meme coins alongside major assets like BTC and ETH to capture potential upside.
  • Specific Coins to Watch:
    • WIF was highlighted as a strong performer that has been trading well for months.
    • Farcoin is approaching a key resistance level at a $400 million market cap. A break above this could be significant.

Privacy Coins (Monero & Zcash)

  • The "privacy narrative" is considered a potentially strong theme for 2026, appealing to existing crypto users.
  • Monero (XMR):
    • An analyst is looking at Monero, stating its chart "looks like a breakout sort of chart" and appears "nice." This suggests a bullish technical setup.
  • Zcash (ZEC):
    • In contrast to Monero, the analyst feels Zcash "looks a little bit more like it had its breakout" already.
    • It was noted that Zcash's likelihood of remaining listed on major exchanges is a valuable attribute.
    • The Infinex wallet is adding support for shielded Zcash transactions.

Takeaways

  • Sentiment: Bullish on the privacy sector, with a specific preference for Monero.
  • Strategy: For investors interested in the privacy theme, Monero (XMR) was highlighted as having a more favorable chart setup for a potential breakout compared to Zcash (ZEC). The speaker is looking at these as a trade, not for their utility.

Application (App) Tokens vs. Layer 1s (L1s)

  • An analyst predicted that Layer 1 blockchains (like Ethereum, Solana) will not be a great trade in 2026, expecting "tepid results" rather than large gains (e.g., not a 5x on ETH or 2x on Solana).
  • The same analyst is "much more bullish" on Application (App) Tokens, believing this is where "parabolic rises" will occur as successful apps begin to generate significant revenue.
  • Jupiter (JUP): The team is reconsidering its token buyback strategy after spending $70 million with little impact on the price. This has sparked a wider debate on the effectiveness of buybacks for token value.
  • Infinex (INX): The project is currently running its ICO at a $100 million valuation with a one-year lockup, which the founder believes is a cheap entry for a project aiming to be an all-in-one crypto super-app. The token generation event (TGE) is expected at the end of January.

Takeaways

  • Investment Thesis: Focus on tokens of revenue-generating applications over Layer 1 blockchain tokens for higher growth potential in 2026.
  • Due Diligence: When evaluating app tokens, pay close attention to the project's tokenomics. The discussion around Jupiter's buybacks shows that this is a critical and evolving area. Does the token accrue value from revenue, or does it have another clear use case?
  • Opportunity: The Infinex (INX) ICO was presented as a potential opportunity to invest in an app token at an early stage, though it comes with a one-year lockup, requiring a long-term conviction.

Traditional Assets & Themes

  • Google (GOOGL):
    • An analyst mentioned they are looking at Google, stating the chart "looks fairly decent."
  • Gold:
    • The price of gold is noted as "heading back towards its all-time high." The same analyst is also watching gold.
  • AI (Artificial Intelligence) Theme:
    • This is seen as a major bullish macro tailwind.
    • Recent advancements in AI, specifically with a tool called Claude, are described as a "step change" that makes AI more accessible and useful for everyday tasks, reinforcing the entire AI investment theme.
    • AI-related crypto tokens like Render (RNDR) and Fetch.ai (FET) were mentioned as top performers, up double digits.

Takeaways

  • Diversification: For those looking outside of crypto, Google and Gold were mentioned as having positive chart setups.
  • AI as a Macro Driver: The AI narrative is strong and is seen as a tailwind for the broader market. This could benefit both traditional tech stocks and AI-related crypto projects. Investors may want to ensure they have some exposure to this theme.
Ask about this postAnswers are grounded in this post's content.
Episode Description
The global crypto market cap hit $3.16t (+1.5%) with majors trading higher; btc +2% at $93,000; eth +1% at $3,175, bnb +2.5% at $906, sol +1% at $135. Virtuals (+24%), render (_17%), btt (+11%) and fet (+11%) led top movers. The btc etfs saw $471m in net inflows on the first trading day of 2026, the highest single-day total since nov 11. Sec commissioner caroline crenshaw officially departed the agency on jan 2nd, leaving behind an all-republican commission. Big 4 firm pwc announced it will go deeper into crypto with a focus on stablecoins and payments.
About DEGENZ LIVE
DEGENZ LIVE

DEGENZ LIVE

By Rug Radio

The only content you need for crypto, macro, trading, gambling and risk-taking.