Bitcoin, Ethereum post strong weekly gains: BTC up 23%, ETH nearly 29%

Staggered accumulation, smaller position sizes, and controlled leverage remain preferable, suggests crypto analysts.
Dipen Pradhan
August 26, 2026 / 12:08 IST

• Bitcoin fell to $79,087, up 23.06% for the week.
• BTC peaked above $81,000 on August 25.
• Fed speech at Jackson Hole could impact crypto.

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Bitcoin fell just below $78,000 in early trade on August 26, but later eased to $79,087 (11:15 IST), representing 2.04 percent decline over the past 24, though it’s up 23.06 percent for the week.

BTC surged peak just above $81,000 on August 25, hitting its highest peak since mid-month in May 2026, with institutional flows, regulatory optimism and improving liquidity expectations all contributing to sentiment.

Crypto analysts noted that crypto markets showed modest growth over the past 24 hours, with total market capitalization falling 1.27 percent to $2.65 trillion and the on-chain crypto index CMC20 (CoinMarketCap 20 Index DTF) declining 1.58 percent.

CoinDCX noted that Stacks, SPX6900 & LayerZero were top gainers for the day, with 16.21 percent, 13.16 percent and 8.22 percent jumps. Polygon and Binance Life prices have also surged by 6.37 percent and 4.09 percent. Besides, Monad and OFFICIAL TRUMP plunged over 11 percent each, followed by Dash & Pepe by more than 9 percent and Zcash, Ethena & Sui by more than 8 percent each.

Here’s how major cryptocurrencies moved over the past 24 hours.

“Bitcoin, Ethereum, and major altcoins traded lower. Liquidations reached $641.79 million, including $489 million in longs, confirming downside pressure. Yet sentiment remains optimistic, with the Fear and Greed Index standing at 80. Positive ETF flows of $10.13 million show continued institutional interest,” Nischal Shetty, Founder of WazirX, said.

According to Prateek Gupta, Head of Business at Mudrex, the broader uptrend remains intact. “Market momentum has improved sharply, with CryptoQuant’s Bull Score rising from 30 to 80 in just one week, its highest level since October 2025. However, profit-taking is emerging, with short-term holder whales realizing a record $1.2 billion in profits over the past three days. This makes the week ahead crucial for Bitcoin’s next move.”

He estimates that for Bitcoin, a sustained close above its 365-day moving average near $83,000 confirms a stronger bullish breakout.

What should investors watch for

Today’s US GDP revision and PCE inflation release, followed by Friday’s Federal Reserve Chair’s speech at Jackson Hole, could move the dollar and yields, potentially amplifying crypto volatility.

According to Harish Vatnani, Head of Trade at ZebPay, the renewed optimism has brought higher leverage and volatility. “Around $424.5 million in crypto positions were liquidated over the past 24 hours, with longs accounting for $334.2 million and shorts for $90.3 million. The imbalance suggests that the latest moves have caught heavily leveraged traders on the wrong side of the market.”

Attention now turns to Jackson Hole, where Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is set to deliver his first keynote address at 10 a.m. ET on August 28. “The speech could offer fresh clues on the Fed’s thinking around monetary policy, financial innovation and the broader economic outlook, making it an important event for both traditional and crypto markets,” Vatnanis said.

Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Giottus, believes the broader trend has improved; however, he cautioned investors to avoid chasing Bitcoin after its sharp August rise. “Staggered accumulation, smaller position sizes, and controlled leverage remain preferable. For BTC, $78,000 is the immediate level to monitor, while a sustained break above $81,250 would strengthen the case for another leg higher.”

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Dipen Pradhan is the Editorial Consultant for Moneycontrol. He has over 10 years of experience in the field of journalism and covers personal finance topics. He has previously worked at Forbes Advisor India, Outlook Money, Entrepreneur, Inc42, and The Statesman. When he is not writing he loves to travel to explore rural hotspots.
first published: Aug 26, 2026 12:08 pm

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