[PSE Weekly Market Review 2025/12/29]
The digital asset market has started 2026 with notable strength. Bitcoin (BTC) is up 3.8%, the "OTHERS" index has climbed 7.7%, and several high-beta altcoins have posted double-digit gains.
Historical Context and Seasonality
Historically, the first week of January provides a period of relative stability. As year-end tax-loss harvesting concludes, the prevailing sell pressure typically dissipates. In the last 10 years, the first week of the year closed in the green in 6 out of 10 times, with an average performance of 1.08%. This placement puts the opening week in the median performance bracket compared to all other weeks of the year.
Near-Term Outlook
The market's resilience over the weekend, maintaining upward momentum despite unprecedented geopolitical headlines, suggests a robust underlying demand. As the first full trading week of 2026 commences on January 5, we expect the current trajectory to persist, providing a constructive start to the year for investors.
Key Catalyst: MSTR MSCI Decision
The next critical focal point is the MSCI index exclusion decision regarding MicroStrategy (MSTR), scheduled for January 15. While a delisting would trigger significant forced selling from passive funds, it is important that no changes or liquidations will be forced upon MSTR’s underlying Bitcoin balance sheet, preserving the company's core treasury strategy regardless of the index outcome.