Cryptocurrency News: Friday, 31 July 2026 — Bitcoin Holds Steady at $64,000 After 'Hawkish' Fed Pause, Capital Flows Back into Spot ETFs
The cryptocurrency market closes July in a state of tense equilibrium. The decision by the US Federal Reserve to maintain interest rates, albeit with a hawkish tone, set the tone for trading worldwide — from New York to Singapore. Bitcoin is defending the psychological mark of $64,000, spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded a net inflow of capital for the first time in several days, while altcoins exhibit mixed dynamics. The total market capitalisation of digital assets remains around $2.29 trillion. Let us examine the key events and quotes from the top 10 cryptocurrencies that will shape investor sentiment in the final trading session of the month.
Key Highlights of the Day: Quick Overview for Investors
- The US Federal Reserve maintained interest rates in the range of 3.50–3.75% in a vote of 9 to 3 — for the first time since 2016, three committee members expressed the need for a rate hike.
- Bitcoin is trading at $64,000 after a volatile move from $63,700 to $64,700 and back; the weekly low was around $62,400.
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of $32.1 million, ending a streak of outflows; the leading fund was IBIT.
- Ethereum funds, on the other hand, lost around $18.65 million — ETH dominance in the market continues to decline.
- Forced liquidations over the day amounted to approximately $280–316 million, affecting about 90,000 traders.
- The US Senate did not manage to review the CLARITY Act before the August recess — the market now assesses the chances of the document being passed this year as significantly lower than a month ago.
Fed Decision: A Pause with a 'Hawkish' Emphasis
On 29 July, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) left the key interest rate within the range of 3.50–3.75%. Formally, this is a pause, however, the details of the voting have alarmed investors: three regional Fed presidents voted for a 25 basis point hike. Such a 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 the prospect of easing monetary policy further into the future.
An additional pressure factor was the report that US public debt has surpassed 100% of GDP for the first time since World War II. Treasury yields have risen, stock indices have diverged in their dynamics, and cryptocurrencies have remained in a sideways range awaiting a new catalyst. For digital assets, which are sensitive to global liquidity, a prolonged period of high rates signifies a restrained appetite for risk — yet the absence of panic sell-offs indicates market maturity.
Bitcoin: Defending the $64,000 Threshold
The first cryptocurrency reacted to the regulator's decision in a classic manner: an impulsive surge from $63,700 almost to $64,700 was followed by profit-taking, after which prices stabilised around $64,000. Technically, the picture looks as follows:
- The nearest support lies in the $63,000–63,500 zone, which buyers have maintained throughout the week.
- Resistance is around $66,000, the recent local highs of July.
- BTC's market capitalisation stands at approximately $1.28 trillion, solidifying the asset's dominant position in the market.
Bitcoin is still nearly 49% below its historical high of $126,080, and 2026 remains a period of prolonged correction for the asset. However, the return of institutional demand through ETFs, the absence of panic sales, and confirmed plans by the White House to establish a strategic cryptocurrency reserve are forming a foundation for a potential turnaround in the second half of the year.
ETF Flows: Institutions Opt for Bitcoin
Statistics from exchange-traded funds on 29 July revealed a notable rotation of capital:
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs: net inflow of $32.1 million — the first positive result following a multi-day streak 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 performances among altcoin funds.
- XRP products: a symbolic, yet positive inflow of about $0.58 million.
The divergence in flows confirms that in the face of 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, with its market share continuing to decline amidst capital flows into Bitcoin. However, the fundamental metrics of the network remain strong: over 2.5 million ETH — approximately 2% of the circulating supply — are awaiting entry into staking, forming a validator queue of around 44 days with virtually no demand for exit. An additional institutional boost could come from the launch of cash payouts for staking rewards by Grayscale, anticipated in early August. For long-term investors, this is a signal: despite weak price dynamics, 'smart money' continues to lock ETH in the network.
Top 10 Cryptocurrencies: Current Quotes and Dynamics
The situation in the top ten by market capitalisation as of Friday morning is as follows:
- Bitcoin (BTC) — around $64,000; consolidation below the resistance at $66,000, market cap ≈ $1.28 trillion.
- Ethereum (ETH) — around $1,900; moving sideways with declining dominance.
- Tether (USDT) — stable at $1; a key liquidity instrument in the market.
- BNB (BNB) — around $572; support for prices 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 zone, funds in SOL are attracting capital.
- USD Coin (USDC) — stable coin, the second most significant dollar asset in the market.
- TRON (TRX) — around $0.32; one of the few large assets with positive dynamics since the beginning of the year, thanks 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 has not resolved in favour of the industry: the US Senate failed to bring the CLARITY Act on the crypto market structure to a vote before the August recess. Participants in forecasting markets have sharply reduced the probability of the document being passed by the end of the year. Nonetheless, the regulatory backdrop remains generally constructive: the SEC and CFTC have previously confirmed that 16 of the largest digital assets are not securities, and the US administration has officially solidified its stance on establishing a strategic reserve in Bitcoin. Investors should anticipate a pause in regulatory news until September.
Security and Corporate News
The industry has been reminded of ongoing operational risks. The Ostium platform disclosed information about an off-exchange hack amounting to $24 million, emphasising that smart contracts were not affected. A hack of the verified account of Senator Cynthia Lummis on the social network X, used to promote a fraudulent meme token, has once again raised concerns about phishing attacks on public figures. On the corporate front, Hyperliquid attracted its first Japanese corporate buyer for tokens, while the Luno exchange announced yet another round of staff reductions as part of its restructuring.
Friday Forecast: What Will Drive the Market
The last trading day of July will be marked by macro statistics: investors are awaiting data on inflation and consumer spending in the US, which will clarify the Fed's interest rate trajectory. The baseline scenario for Bitcoin involves trading within the $63,000–66,000 range. A breakout of the upper boundary supported by inflows into ETFs would pave the way for growth, while tough macro data may lead to prices returning to weekly lows. For medium-term investors, key benchmarks remain unchanged: BTC resilience above $63,000, ETH stabilisation above $1,860, and continued institutional inflows will be the initial signals for forming 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: when making investment decisions, evaluate risks independently.
