Cryptocurrency News: Friday, July 31, 2026 - Bitcoin Holds $64,000 After "Hawkish" Fed Pause, Capital Returns to Spot ETFs
The cryptocurrency market concludes July in a state of tense equilibrium. The U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates unchanged but with a hawkish rhetoric has set the tone for trading worldwide — from New York to Singapore. Bitcoin is defending the psychological mark of $64,000, spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen a net capital inflow for the first time in several days, and altcoins are displaying mixed dynamics. The total market capitalization of digital assets remains around $2.29 trillion. Let's analyze the key events and quotes of the top 10 cryptocurrencies that will shape investor sentiment in the last trading session of the month.
Key Highlights for Investors
- The U.S. Fed maintained the interest rate in the range of 3.50-3.75%, with a vote of 9 to 3 — for the first time since 2016, three committee members advocated for a rate increase.
- Bitcoin is trading around $64,000 after a volatile movement from $63,700 to $64,700 and back; the weekly low was about $62,400.
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of $32.1 million, breaking a series of outflows; the IBIT fund led the way.
- Ethereum funds, on the other hand, lost around $18.65 million — the dominance of ETH in the market continues to decline.
- Liquidations over the past day amounted to about $280-316 million and affected around 90,000 traders.
- The U.S. Senate was unable to review the CLARITY Act before the August recess — the market assesses the chances of the document's passage this year as significantly lower than a month ago.
Fed's Decision: A Pause with a "Hawkish" Emphasis
On July 29, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) left the key interest rate in the range of 3.50-3.75%. Formally, this is a pause; however, the details of the vote alarmed investors: three regional Fed presidents advocated for a 25 basis point increase. Such widespread hawkish dissent has not been observed in a decade. The regulator cites persistent inflation around 4.1% and ongoing economic growth — a combination that pushes back the prospect of easing monetary policy.
An additional pressure factor came from the news that the U.S. public debt has exceeded 100% of GDP for the first time since World War II. Treasury yields rose, stock indices diverged, and cryptocurrencies remained in a sideways range while awaiting new catalysts. For digital assets, which are sensitive to global liquidity, a prolonged period of high rates means a restrained risk appetite — yet the absence of panic selling reflects market maturity.
Bitcoin: Defending the $64,000 Line
The first cryptocurrency reacted to the regulator's decision classically: an impulse rise from $63,700 to nearly $64,700 was followed by profit-taking, after which quotes stabilized around $64,000. Technically, the picture is as follows:
- Immediate support is the $63,000–63,500 range, which buyers have maintained throughout the week.
- Resistance is around $66,000, the recent local highs of July.
- BTC's market capitalization is about $1.28 trillion, solidifying the asset's dominant position in the market.
Bitcoin remains nearly 49% away from its historical maximum of $126,080, and 2026 continues to be a year of protracted correction for the asset. Nevertheless, the return of institutional demand through ETFs, the absence of panic selling, and confirmed plans from the White House to create a strategic cryptocurrency reserve form a foundation for a potential turnaround in the second half of the year.
ETF Flows: Institutions Choose Bitcoin
ETF statistics on July 29 reflected a notable capital rotation:
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs: Net inflow of $32.1 million — the first positive result after a multi-day series of outflows.
- Ethereum ETFs: Outflow of approximately $18.65 million, continuing the trend of recent weeks.
- Solana ETFs: Inflow of around $19 million — one of the best results among altcoin funds.
- XRP products: A symbolic but positive inflow of approximately $0.58 million.
The divergence in flows confirms that, amid macroeconomic uncertainty, institutional investors are returning to "digital gold," reducing exposure to Ethereum. Meanwhile, interest in Solana indicates a selective rather than a total retreat from altcoins.
Ethereum: Pressure on Dominance and Staking Queue
Ether is trading near $1,900, and its market share continues to decline amid the capital flow into Bitcoin. However, the fundamental metrics of the network remain strong: over 2.5 million ETH — about 2% of the circulating supply — are awaiting entry into staking, forming a validator queue of about 44 days with practically no demand for exit. The upcoming launch of cash payouts for staking rewards from the Grayscale fund, expected in early August, may provide additional institutional momentum. For long-term investors, this is a signal: despite the weak price dynamics, "smart money" continues to lock ETH into the network.
Top 10 Cryptocurrencies: Current Quotes and Dynamics
The situation within the top ten by market capitalization looks as follows as of Friday morning:
- Bitcoin (BTC) — around $64,000; consolidation below resistance at $66,000, capitalization ≈ $1.28 trillion.
- Ethereum (ETH) — around $1,900; moving sideways while dominance declines.
- Tether (USDT) — stable at $1; a key liquidity instrument in the market.
- BNB (BNB) — around $572; support for quotes is provided by the 36th quarterly burn, which removed 1.62 million coins from circulation.
- XRP (XRP) — around $1.08; consolidation in the range of $1.05–1.11.
- Solana (SOL) — around $74; buyers are defending the $73–74 range, funds in SOL are attracting capital.
- USD Coin (USDC) — stable coin, the second most significant dollar-denominated asset in the market.
- TRON (TRX) — around $0.32; one of the few major assets with positive dynamics since the beginning of the year due to its leadership in USDT transfers.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — around $0.069; the meme segment remains under pressure.
- Cardano (ADA) — around $0.165; critical support at $0.164, resistance at $0.173.
Regulation: CLARITY Act Goes on Recess
The key legislative intrigue of the month resolved not in favor of the industry: the U.S. Senate failed to bring the CLARITY Act regarding the structure of the crypto market to a vote before the August recess. Participants in predictive markets sharply lowered the probability of the document's passage by the end of the year. However, the regulatory backdrop remains generally constructive: the SEC and CFTC previously confirmed that 16 major digital assets are not securities, and the U.S. administration has officially reaffirmed its course towards forming a strategic reserve in Bitcoin. Investors should anticipate a pause in regulatory news until September.
Security and Corporate News
The industry was reminded of the persistent operational risks. The Ostium platform disclosed information about an over-the-counter hack of $24 million, emphasizing that smart contracts were not affected. The hacking of Senator Cynthia Lummis's verified account on social media X, used to promote a fraudulent meme token, once again raised the issue of phishing attacks on public figures. On the corporate front, Hyperliquid attracted its first Japanese corporate buyer of tokens, while the Luno exchange announced another round of layoffs as part of its restructuring.
Forecast for Friday: What Will Drive the Market
The last trading day of July will be marked by macro statistics: investors await data on inflation and consumer spending in the U.S. that will clarify the trajectory of the Fed's rate. The baseline scenario for Bitcoin is trading in the range of $63,000–66,000. A breakout of the upper boundary, supported by inflows into ETFs, will open the way for growth, while tough macro data could bring quotes back to weekly lows. For medium-term investors, the key benchmarks remain unchanged: sustaining BTC above $63,000, stabilization of ETH above $1,860, and ongoing institutional inflows will be the first signals for the formation of a base for market recovery in the second half of 2026.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individual investment advice. Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile asset class; assess risks independently when making investment decisions.
