This Week's Crypto Market Winners and Losers: BGB, XDC, XRP Rally; AI16Z, RUNE, VIRTUAL Tumble

The cryptocurrency market experienced another week of volatile trading, with some tokens making impressive rallies while others faced significant selling pressure. As institutional interest continues to drive market dynamics, let’s dive into the most notable price movements that shaped this week’s trading landscape.

Biggest gainers

Bitget Token (BGB) stole the show this week, surpassing expectations with a remarkable surge from $6.011 to $7.137. The token's journey has been particularly eye-catching since November's breakthrough, consistently setting higher lows while smashing through previous resistance points.

December saw a dramatic uptick in trading activity, with volume surging alongside the price - a clear sign of growing market confidence. Trading well above its moving averages at $7.225, BGB maintained strong bullish momentum, reflected in its 20% weekly gains. The chart revealed a textbook golden cross pattern, traditionally a reliable indicator of sustained upward movement.

While the steep price climb might raise eyebrows, the steady volume growth alluded to genuine market interest rather than speculative frenzy.

However, traders should keep a close eye on potential consolidation phases, which often follow such dramatic runs. The token's performance stands out even more considering the broader market conditions, marking it as one of the most resilient assets in the prevailing trading landscape.

XDC Network (XDC) continued its impressive rally, securing its position as this week's second-best performer with solid 12% gains. The token pushed through the crucial $0.10-mark, climbing from $0.0968 to $0.101 - showcasing remarkable strength in a typically volatile market.

Trading volume remains healthy at 820.55K XDC, suggesting sustained market interest rather than short-term speculation. At the time of writing, data showed that its volume was around $53.7 million, with an over 5% hike in the last 24 hours. The chart also revealed an uptrend, validating the bullish momentum.

XDC also seemed to maintain a comfortable position above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, while the current -0.66% daily movement pointed to minor profit-taking.

XRP (XRP) clinched its spot among this week's top performers with a dramatic late-week surge, despite a shaky start around $2.3. The altcoin's fortunes turned sharply on 11 January, when a 10% upswing pushed the price towards $2.5. At press time, however, it was experiencing a pullback at $2.4953 (-3.13%).

Trading volume remained strong at 52.94M XRP, indicating significant market engagement during the rally. XRP seemed to be comfortably above its key moving averages of 2.2409 (50-day) and 1.0037 (200-day), maintaining its long-term bullish structure despite recent volatility.

The chart also traced an impressive recovery from November's consolidation phase, setting the stage for the prevailing upward trajectory.

Biggest losers

AI16Z (AI16z) emerged as this week's biggest casualty, plummeting from $1.8 to $1.1 in a dramatic sell-off that erased over 37% of its value. The token briefly teased investors with a sharp 20% bounce that pushed the price above $2, only to face relentless selling pressure throughout the remainder of the week.

Trading at $1.1688 with modest gains of +0.76% at press time, the token's trading volume stood at 239 million. Data underlined a decline of over 29% in the last 24 hours, reflecting intense market activity during the downturn.

The chart painted a picture of extreme volatility, with the token recording wild price swings characteristic of a market struggling to find stable ground. The lack of clear support levels following the recent steep decline alluded to potential for further volatility ahead.

ThorChain (RUNE) continued its brutal sell-off this week, landing it among the worst performers with a staggering 33% decline. The token, which opened at around $4.9, faced relentless selling pressure that accelerated as the week progressed, ultimately pushing the price down to $3.395 (-1.48% daily).

Trading volume hit 3.71M RUNE, highlighting the intensity of this downward move. The technical picture looked particularly grim as the token crashed through both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages (5.496 and 4.734, respectively), erasing months of gains in a matter of days.

Finally, the sharp reversal from December's highs pointed to a significant shift in market sentiment, with the break below key support levels potentially