January 15 started like a normal market day—then a silent token woke up. In the top crypto gainers list, the move looked loud: price at $4.57, up 27.58% intraday, with a market cap near $2.5B, as per CoinMarketCap. Over the last month, it’s up more than 50%, ending a long quiet phase and pulling fresh attention into ICP crypto news. Everyone is asking, Why ICP is pumping today?

Source: CoinMarketCap
If you’re searching why ICP is pumping so, the story is simple: tighter supply expectations, a new DeFi narrative, and stronger category positioning.
Mission70 aims to cut inflation and boost scarcity: The biggest spark is DFINITY’s Mission70 whitepaper (Jan 13, 2026). It proposes dropping annual inflation from about 9.72% (Jan 2026) to about 5.42% (Jan 2027)—a 44% reduction in minting from supply-side changes alone. Voting rewards minting is modeled to fall from 5.88% to 3.45%, while node rewards drop from 3.84% to 1.97%, as per X (formerly Twitter) post. The plan also links network usage to token burns through compute cycles, raising the chance of a more scarcity-driven setup if adoption grows.

Source: Official X
Liquidium brings a cleaner DeFi story to the market: The second push came from the project and Liquidium partnership update (Jan 14). Liquidium highlights a smooth DeFi experience—instant wallet connections, a clear portfolio view, and tracking LTV, collateral health, and loans in one place. That “easy DeFi” narrative often attracts new users faster than technical claims alone.

Source: Internet Computer X
ICP climbs above NEAR in AI & Big Data token ranks: The third catalyst is positioning. It surpassed Near Protocol in CoinMarketCap’s AI & Big Data category ranking by market cap, taking the #2 spot while Near protocol price sits near $1.76 with about $2.26B market cap (as cited in your draft). That ranking shift matters because many traders rotate into “leaders” inside hot sectors.

Source: CoinMarketCap
Deepmala Upadhyay is an experienced crypto journalist, content strategist, and News writer with over 5 years of expertise in writing and the crypto industry. Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and a deep understanding of blockchain technology and financial markets, she excels in delivering exclusive news, in-depth research blogs, and expertly crafted on-page SEO content. As a team lead and content writer at CoinGabbar, Deepmala is responsible for analyzing blockchain technologies, cryptocurrency, price movements, and the crypto market with precision and insight. Her keen ability to create well-researched, impactful content, combined with her expertise in market analysis, makes her a trusted voice in the crypto space.