Welcome to This Week in Crypto, where we cover the latest stories shaping the digital asset space. From massive Bitcoin buys to shifting ETF trends and a new wave of altcoin products, here’s what’s making headlines this week:
Here’s a quick look at what’s new:
- Strategy kicks off 2026 with $116M in Bitcoin: The company added 1,283 BTC, raising its total holdings to more than 673,000 Bitcoin.
- Crypto funds pull in $47B for 2025: Altcoins like Ether, XRP, and Solana led the way, even as total inflows came in just below 2024’s record.
- Bitwise files for 11 new crypto ETFs: The asset manager is expanding its altcoin lineup with proposed funds tied to Aave, Uniswap, Zcash, and more.
Let’s take a closer look at what it all means for the crypto space this week!
Strategy Adds $116M in Bitcoin to Kick Off 2026
Strategy, the world’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, started the year with another major purchase. The company acquired 1,283 BTC for $116 million, bringing its total holdings to over 673,000 Bitcoin. The move highlights Strategy’s continued focus on building its Bitcoin reserves.
- The purchase raises Strategy’s total BTC to 673,783, worth $62.6 billion
- The coins were bought at an average price of $90,000, funded through stock sale proceeds
- Strategy also increased its USD reserve by $62 million to support future obligations
While the company did report a significant paper loss for Q4 2025, it continues to double down on its Bitcoin strategy. With over 5% of the total Bitcoin supply now held by public firms, Strategy remains the largest player by far.
Altcoins Lead the Way as Crypto Funds See $47B in 2025 Inflows
Crypto investment funds attracted $47 billion in new money during 2025, just short of the previous year’s total. While Bitcoin inflows declined, interest in altcoins like Ether, XRP, and Solana surged. These gains helped fuel overall growth in the crypto exchange-traded product (ETP) space.
- Altcoin ETPs saw major inflows, with Ether up 138 percent, XRP up 500 percent, and Solana up 1,000 percent
- Bitcoin fund inflows fell 35 percent, dropping from $41.7 billion in 2024 to $27 billion in 2025
- The United States remained the top market, with $47.2 billion in inflows and $152.6 billion in assets under management
Even though it missed the 2024 record, crypto fund inflows remained strong, with altcoins seeing increased attention and wider participation from global markets.
Bitwise Aims to Expand ETF Lineup With 11 New Altcoin Funds
Bitwise wrapped up 2025 by filing to launch 11 new crypto ETFs tied to individual altcoins like Aave, Uniswap, Zcash, and others. The new filings aim to broaden investor access to a wider range of digital assets. Each fund would include a mix of the underlying coin plus related investment products.
- The 11 proposed ETFs include tokens like NEAR, Tron, Sui, Starknet, and Bittensor
- Each fund would hold 60% of the altcoin and 40% in related ETPs and derivatives
- The target launch date is March 16, 2026, under a streamlined approval process
Bitwise’s move adds to a growing list of crypto ETF offerings in the U.S., building on earlier funds for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The filings reflect continued interest in bringing more digital assets into regulated investment channels.
