Cryptocurrency News: Saturday, August 1, 2026 - Market Wraps Up Best Month of the Year, Bitcoin Consolidates at $64,000 Following Fed Pause
The cryptocurrency market is entering August on a positive note: July proved to be the best month for digital assets in the past year. Bitcoin maintains its position above $64,000, institutional capital is returning to spot ETFs, and altcoins—from XRP to Solana—are showing a steady influx of funds through exchange-traded products. Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve has adopted a wait-and-see stance on interest rates, providing investors with room for cautious optimism. Let's break down the major cryptocurrency news and the current market landscape for global investors.
Highlights of the Day: Key Events in the Crypto Market
- Bitcoin is trading in the range of $64,700–$64,900 with a market capitalization of about $1.3 trillion; BTC dominance is at 57%.
- The US Fed maintained its base rate in the 3.5%–3.75% range, providing no new signals regarding future trajectory.
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of $233 million on July 30, led by the IBIT fund from BlackRock.
- The CoinDesk 20 index ended July with its highest monthly gain since July 2025.
- The share of institutional participants in trading volume reached a record high of 72%.
- The industry incurred losses from hacks exceeding $1 billion in the first half of 2026—a historic high.
Bitcoin: Consolidation Above $64,000 After a Volatile Month
As the first weekend of August approaches, Bitcoin's price has stabilized in the range of $63,800–$65,300. Daily trading volume exceeds $26 billion, while the market capitalization of the leading cryptocurrency remains around $1.3 trillion. Despite the positive dynamics of July, BTC is still approximately 49% below its all-time high of $126,198 reached in October 2025.
Analysts note a decline in 30-day implied volatility—a sign that the market has entered an accumulation phase. However, options traders are exercising caution: the most popular contract for August has been a put option with a strike price of $60,000. Key levels for investors include support in the $63,000–$64,000 range and resistance at $66,000, the monthly high. A breach of either boundary will set the direction for August.
Fed Decision: Rate Unchanged, Inflation Remains a Concern
The main macroeconomic event of the past week was the Federal Reserve's meeting. The regulator, led by Kevin Warsh, kept the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.5%–3.75% without providing forecasts regarding future decisions. Inflation in the US remains around 4.1%, making the possibility of a rate hike by the end of the year still feasible.
For the cryptocurrency market, this means continued uncertainty: the Fed's dovish rhetoric traditionally channels capital into risk assets, while hawkish signals exert downward pressure on prices. An additional risk factor is the geopolitical tension in the Middle East. Investors should closely monitor upcoming inflation data, as it will be critical for the dynamics of digital assets in August.
ETF Inflows: Institutional Capital Returns to the Market
Following a difficult June, where net outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs amounted to about $4.5 billion—the worst monthly result since the launch of the products—July marked a turning point. The market recorded three consecutive weeks of inflows, with funds attracting $233 million in a single session on July 30, of which approximately $183 million was attributed to BlackRock's IBIT.
Statistics on altcoin ETFs launched since late 2025 are also telling:
- XRP ETFs attracted about $1.5 billion since November 2025, showing only one negative month.
- Funds focused on Solana collected over $1.1 billion in total inflows.
- Hyperliquid ETFs exceeded $190 million in less than three months — a record speed of fund attraction.
- Chainlink products accumulated more than $125 million with no negative months since December 2025.
According to researchers, ETF flows explain about 45% of weekly price movements of Bitcoin, turning daily fund statistics from sentiment indicators into structural market drivers.
Ethereum Enters Its Second Decade
Ethereum recently celebrated the eleventh anniversary of its network launch, concluding a year of significant changes—from staff restructuring at the Ethereum Foundation to accelerated institutional adoption. The ETH price hovers around $1,920 with a market cap of approximately $230 billion, having gained about 40% since the beginning of 2026, making it the best performer among major cryptocurrencies.
Institutional interest in the asset is growing: Morgan Stanley Investment Management has launched trust products focused on Ethereum and Solana on the NYSE Arca with a fee of 0.14%—one of the lowest in the segment. However, inflows into spot ETH ETFs lag significantly behind Bitcoin, reflecting the current preferences of large capital.
Altcoins: XRP, Solana, and BNB in the Spotlight of Investors
The altcoin segment wrapped up July with mixed outcomes, but overall positivity prevailed. BNB gained more than 4% in the last session of the week and is trading around $592. XRP remains above $1.09 amidst the formation of an institutional pipeline around XRP Ledger, valued at $4 billion. Solana is trading in the $74–75 range: interest in its ecosystem is fueled by a decision from a South Korean digital bank with 15 million customers to use stablecoins in the Solana network for cross-border transfers.
A notable mention is the new S&P Pantera Digital Asset Index, which excluded Bitcoin and XRP, sparking lively discussions about the classification criteria for crypto assets by the leading index providers.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies: Current Prices
Approximate prices as of the morning of August 1, 2026:
- Bitcoin (BTC) — around $64,800; market cap ~$1.3 trillion, dominance 57%.
- Ethereum (ETH) — around $1,920; market cap ~$230 billion.
- Tether (USDT) — $1.00; stablecoin market cap exceeds $183 billion.
- XRP (XRP) — around $1.09; leader in inflows into altcoin ETFs.
- BNB (BNB) — around $592; best daily performance among major assets (+4%).
- Solana (SOL) — around $74.7; increasing use in stablecoin payments.
- USD Coin (USDC) — $1.00; second by market capitalization stablecoin.
- Hyperliquid (HYPE) — around $55; record influx speed in specialized ETFs.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — around $0.07; largest meme cryptocurrency.
- Cardano (ADA) — around $0.17; gaining more than 3% per day.
Security: Losses from Hacks Exceeded $1 Billion in the First Half
The first half of 2026 set a record for losses due to cyberattacks: according to industry researchers, the sector lost more than $1 billion, with incidents surpassing the total number from 2025. Nearly $600 million of these losses are attributed to groups linked to North Korea, including attacks on Drift ($285 million) and KelpDAO ($292 million).
A recent incident also affected the hardware wallet segment: due to a vulnerability in the firmware of one popular device, criminals siphoned off 594 BTC worth approximately $38 million. This serves as a reminder for investors to regularly update firmware, check device integrity, and diversify asset storage methods.
Market Institutionalization: 72% of Volume Controlled by Professionals
According to a recent industry study, the share of institutional participants in cryptocurrency trading has reached a record 72%. This has led to decreased volatility, more selective flows into altcoins, and accelerated growth in the tokenized asset segment. The digital asset market increasingly resembles traditional financial markets in structure—with dominance from algorithmic trading, market makers, and regulated products.
Outlook: What Investors Should Watch in August
Key factors to watch in the coming weeks include:
- US inflation data — which will dictate the Fed's rhetoric and risk appetite in global markets.
- ETF flow dynamics — which will determine the sustainability of inflows and be a key indicator of institutional demand.
- Bitcoin levels at $63,000 and $66,000 — boundaries of the range that, when breached, will set the medium-term trend.
- US regulatory agenda — progress in crypto legislation following delays in July.
The July turnaround in flows and record institutionalization create a constructive backdrop, however, the combination of high inflation and uncertainty regarding interest rates requires investors to exercise discipline in risk management. Cryptocurrencies remain a highly volatile asset class, and one strong month does not negate the need for portfolio diversification.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individual investment advice.
