Cryptocurrency News: Saturday, August 1, 2026 - The Market Wraps Up its Best Month in a Year, Bitcoin Consolidates at $64,000 Following Fed's Pause
The cryptocurrency market enters August on a positive note: July has been the best month for digital assets in the past year. Bitcoin holds above $64,000, institutional capital is returning to spot ETFs, and altcoins—from XRP to Solana—exhibit a steady inflow of funds through exchange products. Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve has maintained a wait-and-see stance on interest rates, allowing room for cautious optimism among investors. We delve into the key cryptocurrency news and the current market picture for global investors.
Highlights of the Day: Key Events in the Crypto Market
- Bitcoin trades in the range of $64,700–$64,900 with a market cap of approximately $1.3 trillion; BTC dominance stands at 57%.
- The US Fed kept the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.5%–3.75%, providing no new signals regarding future direction.
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of $233 million in the session on July 30, led by the IBIT fund from BlackRock.
- The CoinDesk 20 index finished July with the highest monthly increase since July 2025.
- The share of institutional participants in trading volume reached a record 72%.
- Industry losses from hacks in the first half of 2026 exceeded $1 billion—a historic record.
Bitcoin: Consolidation Above $64,000 After a Volatile Month
As August's first weekend approaches, the price of Bitcoin has stabilized within the range of $63,800–$65,300. Daily trading volume exceeds $26 billion, while the market capitalization of the leading cryptocurrency hovers around $1.3 trillion. Despite the positive dynamics of July, BTC remains approximately 49% below its all-time high of $126,198 reached in October 2025.
Analysts note a decline in the 30-day implied volatility, signaling that the market has entered an accumulation phase. At the same time, options traders exhibit caution, with the most popular contract for August being a put option with a strike price of $60,000. Key levels for investors include support in the $63,000–$64,000 zone and resistance at the $66,000 mark, the monthly high. A breakout from either boundary will set the direction for August's movements.
Fed's Decision: Interest Rate Stays 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, maintained the federal funds rate in the 3.5%–3.75% range and refrained from making predictions about future decisions. Inflation in the US remains around 4.1%, which does not rule out the possibility of an interest rate hike by the year's end.
For the cryptocurrency market, this means continued uncertainty: the regulator's dovish rhetoric traditionally directs capital into risk assets, while hawkish signals increase pressure on prices. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East also remain an additional risk factor. Investors should closely monitor upcoming inflation data, as it will be pivotal for the dynamics of digital assets in August.
ETF Flows: Institutional Capital Returns to the Market
After a tumultuous June, when the net outflow from spot Bitcoin ETFs amounted to approximately $4.5 billion—marking the worst monthly result since their launch—July saw a reversal in trend. The market registered three consecutive weeks of inflows, with funds attracting $233 million in a single session on July 30, of which approximately $183 million was from BlackRock's IBIT fund.
The statistics for altcoin ETFs launched since late 2025 are also noteworthy:
- XRP ETFs attracted about $1.5 billion since November 2025, showing only one negative month.
- Funds on Solana accumulated more than $1.1 billion in total inflow.
- Hyperliquid ETFs exceeded $190 million in less than three months—a record pace of fundraising.
- Products on Chainlink accumulated over $125 million without a single negative month since December 2025.
According to researchers, ETF flows account for about 45% of weekly Bitcoin price movements, transforming daily fund statistics from a sentiment indicator into a structural market driver.
Ethereum Enters its Second Decade
Ethereum marked the eleventh anniversary of its network launch, concluding a year of significant changes—from personnel shifts within the Ethereum Foundation to accelerated institutional adoption. ETH is trading around $1,920 with a market cap of approximately $230 billion, having gained about 40% since the beginning of 2026, making it the best-performing asset among large cryptocurrencies.
Institutional interest in the asset is growing: Morgan Stanley Investment Management has launched ETF products 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 are still significantly lagging behind Bitcoin, reflecting the current preferences of large capital.
Altcoins: XRP, Solana, and BNB in Investor Focus
The altcoin segment concluded July with mixed results but a prevailing positive sentiment. BNB gained over 4% in the last session of the week, trading around $592. XRP remains above $1.09 amid the formation of an institutional pipeline around XRP Ledger, evaluated at $4 billion. Solana is quoted in the range of $74–75; interest in the ecosystem is fueled by the decision of a South Korean digital bank with 15 million customers to use stablecoins on the Solana network for cross-border transfers.
Apart from this, the new S&P Pantera digital asset index, which excluded Bitcoin and XRP, is noteworthy—an event that sparked lively discussions about the criteria for classifying crypto assets by major index providers.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies: Current Quotes
The preliminary prices as of the morning of August 1, 2026, are as follows:
- 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; market cap of the stablecoin exceeding $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; growing use in stablecoin payments.
- USD Coin (USDC) — $1.00; second-largest stablecoin by market cap.
- Hyperliquid (HYPE) — around $55; record inflow speed into sector-specific ETFs.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — around $0.07; largest meme cryptocurrency.
- Cardano (ADA) — around $0.17; gains over 3% in a day.
Security: Losses from Hacks Exceeded $1 Billion in Six Months
The first half of 2026 has set a record for losses from cyberattacks: according to industry researchers, the sector lost over $1 billion, and the number of incidents exceeded last year's total. Nearly $600 million is 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, attackers extracted 594 BTC worth approximately $38 million. For investors, this serves as a reminder of the necessity for regular firmware updates, checking device integrity, and diversifying asset storage methods.
Institutionalization of the Market: 72% of Volume Driven by Professionals
According to a recent industry report, the share of institutional participants in cryptocurrency trading has reached a record 72%. This has resulted in lower 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 a dominance of algorithmic trading, market makers, and regulated products.
Forecast: What Investors Should Watch in August
Key factors for the coming weeks include:
- US Inflation Data — will determine the Fed's rhetoric and risk appetite in global markets.
- ETF Flow Dynamics — resilience of inflows will be the key indicator of institutional demand.
- $63,000 and $66,000 Levels for Bitcoin — boundaries of the range, breaking which will determine mid-term trends.
- US Regulatory Agenda — progress on crypto legislation following July delays.
The turnaround in flows in July and record institutionalization create a constructive backdrop; however, the combination of high inflation and rate uncertainty necessitates discipline in risk management from investors. 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.
