Published: August 4, 2026
Cryptocurrency markets traded cautiously on Tuesday, with Bitcoin and Ether posting only modest moves despite a powerful risk-on rally across U.S. equity markets.
Bitcoin changed hands at approximately $63,600–$64,000 during the U.S. session, while Ether hovered near $1,875. The restrained performance contrasted sharply with Wall Street, where the Nasdaq Composite surged 2.6% and the S&P 500 reached a record closing high.
The divergence suggested that digital-asset investors remain reluctant to increase exposure following months of volatility, continued institutional outflows and renewed selling by Strategy, one of the world’s largest corporate holders of Bitcoin.
Unlike traditional stock exchanges, cryptocurrency markets trade continuously. Prices in this article represent a snapshot of the market on August 4, 2026, rather than an official daily close.
Cryptocurrency market snapshot
| Cryptocurrency | Approximate price | Session trend |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | $63,600–$64,000 | Flat to slightly higher |
| Ether | Around $1,875 | Little changed |
| XRP | Around $1.06 | Subdued |
| Solana | Around $73 | Subdued |
| Dogecoin | Around $0.07 | Little changed |
Prices can vary between trading platforms and change rapidly outside traditional market hours.
Bitcoin struggles to follow the equity rally
Bitcoin briefly approached $64,000 but failed to generate the kind of momentum seen in technology stocks.
MarketWatch reported that Bitcoin was up approximately 0.7% during part of the U.S. session, while Ether gained around 0.4%. At the same time, the Russell 2000 climbed 1.8%, the S&P 500 advanced 1.8% and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.6%. MarketWatch
This relative weakness is notable because Bitcoin has frequently behaved like a high-volatility technology asset. On Tuesday, however, renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence primarily benefited listed companies such as Palantir, Nvidia and semiconductor manufacturers rather than digital assets.
Bitcoin remained near the middle of its recent trading range, without a sufficiently strong catalyst to produce a sustained breakout.
Strategy’s Bitcoin sale weighs on sentiment
The market was also digesting the decision by Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, to sell part of its Bitcoin holdings.
The company sold 1,638 bitcoins for approximately $105 million during the previous week. The proceeds are expected to help finance preferred-share dividends and share repurchases.
The transaction was significant because Strategy had spent years positioning itself as one of Bitcoin’s most committed institutional buyers. Although the company still holds approximately 842,138 bitcoins, further sales could remove an important source of structural demand from the market. The Wall Street Journal
Strategy has indicated that it may sell additional Bitcoin to meet financial obligations, including interest payments and preferred-stock dividends. That possibility has created uncertainty among traders, particularly after prolonged outflows from U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.
Ether holds near $1,875
Ether traded near $1,875 and recorded only a small gain during the session.
The second-largest cryptocurrency has struggled to establish a decisive recovery after the sector’s earlier correction. Ether remains sensitive to several competing factors, including activity on the Ethereum network, competition from other blockchains, institutional ETF flows and broader demand for decentralised-finance applications.
Tuesday’s limited move showed that the strong rebound in AI and technology shares was not enough to trigger a broader speculative rotation into Ether or other large altcoins.
Altcoins remain subdued
Trading among the largest alternative cryptocurrencies was generally restrained. XRP remained close to $1.06, Solana traded around the low-$70 area and Dogecoin stayed near $0.07.
The lack of decisive direction indicates that traders continue to favour liquidity and capital preservation. In previous crypto-market cycles, a sustained Bitcoin advance often encouraged investors to move into smaller tokens. That rotation has not yet developed convincingly in the current market.
Several altcoins remain far below their previous highs, while limited liquidity can amplify sudden moves in either direction.
Geopolitical signals fail to generate a crypto rally
Traditional markets benefited from hopes that progress could be made toward an agreement involving Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Those expectations pushed oil prices sharply lower and contributed to declining Treasury yields. Lower yields would normally provide support for speculative assets by reducing the opportunity cost of holding investments that do not generate income.
Nevertheless, Bitcoin did not respond strongly. Barron’s reported that the cryptocurrency remained under pressure near $63,600 as investors continued to assess geopolitical uncertainty and the sale by Strategy. Barron’s
Conflicting messages surrounding possible negotiations with Iran may have encouraged crypto traders to remain cautious. Because the cryptocurrency market operates continuously, it can also react immediately to geopolitical developments outside regular equity-market hours.
U.S. crypto legislation remains uncertain
Regulatory developments in Washington continued to attract attention.
U.S. lawmakers have been considering legislation intended to provide a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets. However, uncertainty remains over whether the proposed market-structure legislation can advance before the congressional recess.
A clearer division of responsibilities between securities and commodities regulators could eventually encourage greater institutional participation. Delays, political disagreements or restrictive provisions could have the opposite effect.
Investors.com reported that expectations for the legislation’s passage had weakened, even as ARK Invest purchased additional shares of crypto-related companies including Coinbase and Circle. Investor’s Business Daily
Crypto-related equities deliver mixed performance
Shares linked to the cryptocurrency industry did not move uniformly during Tuesday’s session.
Coinbase and Circle remained sensitive to the outlook for U.S. regulation and trading activity. Bitcoin-mining companies were influenced by the relatively weak Bitcoin price, electricity costs and their growing efforts to diversify into artificial-intelligence infrastructure.
Some miners have attempted to convert their access to power and data-centre capacity into AI-related revenue. This strategy could reduce their dependence on cryptocurrency prices, but it also requires considerable capital investment and carries execution risks.
Key levels to watch
Bitcoin’s immediate challenge is to establish a sustained move above the $64,000–$65,000 area. A convincing breakout could improve short-term sentiment and open the way toward higher resistance levels.
On the downside, the $60,000 area remains an important psychological and technical support zone. A break below that level could revive concerns about forced liquidations and renewed ETF outflows.
For Ether, holding above approximately $1,800 will be important for maintaining the current stabilisation attempt. A recovery above $2,000 would provide a stronger indication that buyers are returning.
These levels should be treated as market reference points, not price predictions.
Outlook
Tuesday’s session showed that cryptocurrency markets have not yet regained the momentum visible in U.S. equities.
Falling oil prices, lower bond yields and a technology-led stock-market rally created a generally favourable environment for risk assets. Yet Bitcoin, Ether and the largest altcoins remained largely subdued.
Investors appear to be waiting for stronger evidence of institutional inflows, regulatory progress or a decisive technical breakout. The market must also absorb the possibility of additional Bitcoin sales from Strategy and other large holders.
For now, Bitcoin remains stable near $64,000—but its failure to participate fully in Wall Street’s rally suggests that confidence in the broader crypto market is still fragile.