Two days after U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026—as detailed in prior coverage—Bitcoin prices have remained resilient above $90,000, showing little reaction to the geopolitical shock. Analysts suggest crypto has moved past the event, though broader markets like oil and equities may see volatility when trading resumes Monday.
U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife during strikes near Caracas's Fuerte Tiuna base, detaining them in a Manhattan facility that previously held FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried. The operation prompted Venezuela's emergency declaration and regional calls for restraint but has had negligible effect on digital assets so far.
Bitcoin continued a gradual rise over the weekend, per market data. Crypto investment firm MN Fund founder Michaël van de Poppe downplayed impacts on X: "It’s a planned and coordinated attack on Maduro, and is already past us." He predicts Bitcoin surpassing $90,000 soon, with low risk of negativity.
Analyst Lennaert Snyder noted potential volatility next week as "big players return" post-weekend.
Broader markets face caution: An Economic Times editorial highlighted geopolitics reentering 2026 trading, with risks to crude oil (expected decline), metals, currencies, and equities. Direct U.S. involvement differentiates this from 2025 conflicts like Russia-Ukraine or Israel-Iran, per producer Riya Sharma.
This follows Bitcoin's stable 2025, where K33 Research observed fading extreme swings and a broken four-year cycle.