Cryptocurrency News: Saturday, 1st August 2026 — The Market Ends its Best Month of the Year, Bitcoin Consolidates at $64,000 Following Fed Pause
The cryptocurrency market enters August on a positive note: July proved to be the best month for digital assets in the past year. Bitcoin maintains a level above $64,000, institutional capital is returning to spot ETFs, and altcoins—from XRP to Solana—are showcasing a robust influx of funds through exchange-traded products. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve (Fed) has adopted a wait-and-see approach regarding interest rates, leaving investors with a cautious sense of optimism. Here, we analyse the key cryptocurrency news and the current market picture for global investors.
Daily Highlights: Key Events in the Crypto Market
- Bitcoin is trading in the range of $64,700–$64,900 with a market capitalisation of approximately $1.3 trillion; BTC dominance stands at 57%.
- The Federal Reserve has maintained the base rate in the range of 3.5%–3.75%, without providing any new signals regarding its future trajectory.
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs observed a net inflow of $233 million during the session on 30th July, led by the IBIT fund from BlackRock.
- The CoinDesk 20 Index concluded July with the highest monthly gain since July 2025.
- The share of institutional participants in trading volume has reached a record 72%.
- Losses in the industry from hacks in the first half of 2026 exceeded $1 billion—a historical record.
Bitcoin: Consolidation Above $64,000 After a Volatile Month
As the first weekend of August approaches, Bitcoin's price has stabilised in the range of $63,800–$65,300. The daily trading volume exceeds $26 billion, and the market capitalisation 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, achieved in October 2025.
Analysts note a decrease in the 30-day implied volatility—a sign that the market has entered an accumulation phase. Furthermore, options traders are exhibiting caution: the most popular contract for August is a put option with a strike price of $60,000. Key levels for investors are support in the $63,000–$64,000 zone and resistance at the $66,000 mark, which is the monthly high. A breach of either boundary will set the direction for August.
Fed Decision: No Change to Rates; Inflation Remains a Concern
The main macroeconomic event of the past week was the Federal Reserve's meeting. The regulator, led by Kevin Warsh, has maintained the federal funds rate in the 3.5%–3.75% range and refrained from making predictions regarding future decisions. Inflation in the US remains around 4.1%, which does not rule out the possibility of a rate increase by year-end.
For the cryptocurrency market, this indicates continued uncertainty: soft rhetoric from the regulator traditionally directs capital towards riskier assets, while hard signals intensify pressure on quotes. Additionally, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain a risk factor. Investors should closely monitor upcoming inflation data, as it will be crucial for the trajectory of digital assets in August.
ETF Flows: Institutional Capital Returns to the Market
Following a challenging June, when net outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs amounted to around $4.5 billion—marking the worst monthly performance since the products’ launch—July saw a reversal of this trend. The market recorded three consecutive weeks of inflow, with funds attracting $233 million in one session on 30th July, of which approximately $183 million was attributed to BlackRock's IBIT.
The statistics for altcoin ETFs launched since late 2025 are also noteworthy:
- XRP ETFs attracted about $1.5 billion since November 2025, registering only one negative month.
- Funds based on Solana gathered over $1.1 billion in total inflows.
- Hyperliquid ETFs surpassed $190 million in less than three months—a record pace of fundraising.
- Chainlink products have accumulated over $125 million without a single negative month since December 2025.
According to researchers' estimates, ETF flows explain around 45% of weekly price movements in Bitcoin, transforming daily fund statistics from a sentiment indicator into a structural driver of the market.
Ethereum Enters its Second Decade
Ethereum celebrated the eleventh anniversary of its network launch, concluding a year of significant changes—from personnel shifts within the Ethereum Foundation to increased institutional adoption. The ETH price is around $1,920, with a market capitalisation of approximately $230 billion, while the asset has gained around 40% since the beginning of 2026, remaining the best performer among major cryptocurrencies.
Institutional interest in the asset is rising: Morgan Stanley Investment Management has launched exchange-traded products on Ethereum and Solana on the NYSE Arca with a fee of 0.14%—one of the lowest in the segment. However, the inflow into spot ETH ETFs is currently lagging behind Bitcoin, reflecting the current preferences of large capital.
Altcoins: XRP, Solana, and BNB in Investors' Focus
The altcoin segment concluded July with mixed results, yet favouring positivity. BNB rose by more than 4% in the last session of the week and is trading around $592. XRP holds above $1.09 amidst the formation of an institutional pipeline around the XRP Ledger, valued at $4 billion. Solana is priced in the $74–$75 range: interest in the ecosystem is bolstered by a decision from a South Korean digital bank with 15 million clients to use stablecoins on the Solana network for cross-border transfers.
Particular attention is drawn to the new S&P Pantera digital asset index, from which Bitcoin and XRP have been excluded—an event that sparked lively discussions about the classification criteria of crypto assets by leading index providers.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies: Current Quotes
Approximate prices as of the morning of 1st August 2026:
- Bitcoin (BTC) — around $64,800; capitalisation ~$1.3 trillion, dominance 57%.
- Ethereum (ETH) — around $1,920; capitalisation ~$230 billion.
- Tether (USDT) — $1.00; stablecoin capitalisation exceeds $183 billion.
- XRP (XRP) — around $1.09; leader in inflow to altcoin ETFs.
- BNB (BNB) — around $592; top daily performance among major assets (+4%).
- Solana (SOL) — around $74.7; increasing application in stablecoin payments.
- USD Coin (USDC) — $1.00; second largest stablecoin by market capitalisation.
- Hyperliquid (HYPE) — around $55; record inflow speed into niche ETFs.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — around $0.07; the largest meme cryptocurrency.
- Cardano (ADA) — around $0.17; gains over 3% daily.
Security: Losses from Hacks Exceed $1 Billion in the First Half of the Year
The first half of 2026 set a record for losses from cyberattacks: according to industry researchers, the sector has suffered over $1 billion in losses, with the number of incidents surpassing those of all of 2025. 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, hackers stole 594 BTC worth around $38 million. This serves as a reminder for investors of the need for regular firmware updates, integrity checks on devices, and diversification of asset storage methods.
Market Institutionalisation: 72% of Volume Captured by Professionals
According to a recent industry report, 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 tokenised asset segment. The digital asset market increasingly resembles traditional financial markets in structure—with dominance by algorithmic trading, market makers, and regulated products.
Outlook: What Investors Should Watch in August
Key factors to monitor in the coming weeks:
- US inflation data — will determine the Fed's rhetoric and the risk appetite in global markets.
- ETF flow dynamics — the sustainability of inflows will be the main indicator of institutional demand.
- Levels of $63,000 and $66,000 for Bitcoin — the boundaries of the range, a breakout of which will dictate the medium-term trend.
- US regulatory agenda — progress on crypto legislation following July delays.
The July trend reversal and record institutionalisation provide a constructive backdrop; however, the combination of high inflation and uncertainty regarding rates necessitates discipline in risk management for 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.
