Bitcoin’s strongest weekly advance since March 2023 pushed the asset close to $80,000, but analysts said further gains may depend on easing US bond yields, continued spot ETF demand, and progress on the CLARITY Act.

Can Bitcoin hold near $80,000 after its strongest rally since 2023?

Bitcoin (BTC) traded near $79,800 on Aug. 24 after climbing from below $64,000 on Aug. 19. The cryptocurrency reached approximately $79,550 during the rally, its highest level since May.

The gain amounted to roughly 24% over the week, according to Gadi Chait, investment manager at Xapo Bank, making it Bitcoin’s strongest weekly advance since March 2023.

US policy developments helped trigger the move. On Aug. 19, the US Treasury announced that it would at least double the maximum size of its liquidity-support buybacks for nominal Treasury securities with maturities of 10 to 30 years.

The operations will increase from a maximum of $2 billion to at least $4 billion each, beginning Sept. 9. Markets interpreted the decision as an effort to improve liquidity in long-dated government debt after yields reached levels that weighed on risk assets.

Bitcoin also benefited from renewed expectations for clearer US crypto rules after President Donald Trump urged lawmakers to advance the CLARITY Act. The proposed legislation remains subject to action in the Senate, where its progress could provide the market with another policy catalyst.

ETF inflows strengthened the Bitcoin rally

Chait said the sources of demand behind the rally were as important as the size of the price increase.

“Approximately $1.9 billion flowed into US spot Bitcoin ETFs, providing evidence of genuine investor demand, while record short liquidations added further momentum.”

US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded five consecutive trading days of inflows during the week ending Aug. 21. The approximately $1.9 billion total marked a sharp return of institutional demand after funds struggled to attract consistent capital earlier in the year.

The inflows also showed that forced buying in derivatives markets was not the rally’s only source of support. Traders holding leveraged short positions were liquidated as Bitcoin broke through resistance levels, creating additional market orders that accelerated the advance.

Justin d’Anethan, head of research at Arctic Digital, said changing expectations around US rates brought investors back to an asset that had underperformed for several months.

“In the case of Bitcoin, with pent-up demand and a multi-month underperformance, the trade wrote itself and algos along with sophisticated trading firms and asset managers piled back in.”

He said leveraged traders were caught on the wrong side of the breakout, producing what he described as the largest single-day short liquidation event. Profit-taking and selling from investors who had been waiting to exit could now produce a short-term pullback as the market absorbs the move.

Rising bond yields test the Treasury narrative

Jeff Mei, chief operating officer of crypto exchange BTSE, said enthusiasm surrounding the Treasury buybacks had cooled as bond yields began rising again.

“The size of these buyback operations is relatively small compared to the overall Treasuries market, which is over $30 trillion.”

Treasury buybacks are designed to support market liquidity by replacing older, less actively traded securities with newly issued debt. They do not amount to quantitative easing because the Treasury must finance its operations, while Federal Reserve asset purchases create central bank reserves.

Mei said the market would need to see whether the Treasury expands the program beyond the initial $4 billion maximum for each operation. Without an increase, the program’s effect on the broader bond market may remain limited.

D’Anethan viewed rates as the rally’s main driver, arguing that ETF flows, regulatory developments and large investor activity had failed to move Bitcoin substantially until expectations surrounding Treasury policy changed.

Chait said the macro shift also strengthened Bitcoin’s longer-term case as US government debt continued rising.

“As rising debt fuels concerns about potential currency debasement, its fixed supply and independence from any government or central bank become increasingly relevant.”

Bitcoin could reach $90,000 if US catalysts hold

Mei said Bitcoin could establish a range between $80,000 and $90,000 if the Treasury expands its buybacks and the CLARITY Act makes material progress by mid-September. A Federal Reserve rate cut or another form of monetary support could provide further upside, he added.

The scenario remains conditional because higher yields increase the relative appeal of government debt while raising borrowing costs across the financial system. A lack of new policy support or weakening ETF demand could therefore leave Bitcoin vulnerable after its rapid advance.

“Without further positive catalysts and sustained investor confidence, it’s also possible that Bitcoin could give back recent gains and fall again to the $70k mark,” Mei said.

The CLARITY Act provides another near-term US catalyst, although its passage is not guaranteed. Investors will be watching whether lawmakers move the bill forward and whether proposed rules translate into clearer conditions for exchanges, token issuers and institutional market participants.

Bitcoin charts point to a possible trend reversal

D’Anethan said bullish engulfing patterns had appeared on Bitcoin’s daily and weekly charts, while a similar monthly signal was developing but had not yet been confirmed by the candle’s close.

The patterns followed an extended period in which several momentum indicators remained in oversold territory. Their recovery may support a longer-term reversal, although the speed of the recent rally increases the possibility of consolidation or profit-taking.

Bitcoin’s immediate challenge is holding the area around $77,000 to $80,000 after reaching its three-month high. A sustained break above $80,000 would support Mei’s $80,000–$90,000 scenario, while a deeper retracement would bring $70,000 back into focus.

The mid-$60,000 range could become a broader accumulation area for long-term investors if Bitcoin fails to hold $70,000, according to d’Anethan. Near-term direction, however, will likely depend on bond yields, ETF demand and whether US policy developments produce concrete action after the initial rally.

Zcash price surged more than 70% over the past week to an eight-year high near $885 before retreating below $820, as Grayscale’s ETF conversion plan and an NU7 governance vote drew traders toward ZEC.

Zcash price pulls back after reaching $885

According to data from crypto.news, Zcash (ZEC) price traded near $820 at the time of writing after reaching approximately $885 earlier in the session, according to exchange data. The privacy coin gained more than 70% during the past seven days and reached its highest level since 2018.

The rally accelerated after ZEC cleared $562.50, which marked the upper boundary of its previous trading range on the daily chart. Buyers then pushed through successive levels at $625, $687.50, and $750.

ZEC moved as much as 77% above its August consolidation area near $500 before sellers emerged around $875. Its daily candle subsequently fell about 4%, with the price slipping from an opening level near $854 to approximately $820.

The retreat has not yet erased the wider breakout. ZEC remains above the former $750 resistance identified by Rand Group, which said the level would need to become support for another bullish wave to develop.

The daily Bull Bear Power reading stood at 376.58, showing that buying pressure remained elevated despite the pullback. However, the size of the indicator’s recent increase also reflects how far and quickly ZEC has moved away from its earlier range.

Grayscale ETF filing adds an institutional catalyst

The price advance followed Grayscale Investments’ latest amended registration statement for the Grayscale Zcash Trust.

Grayscale is seeking to convert the existing trust into an exchange-traded product expected to trade on NYSE Arca under the ticker ZCSH. An accompanying filing said shares were anticipated to begin trading on or around August 25, subject to regulatory approvals.

The proposed structure would give eligible US investors exposure to ZEC through a regulated brokerage product without requiring them to hold the token directly. The registration statement does not mean the SEC has approved the conversion, and the planned listing date remains subject to completion of the regulatory process.

The filing also disclosed non-binding discussions involving DCG International Investments Ltd., a Digital Currency Group subsidiary. Under the potential transaction, the company could contribute about 200,000 ZEC to the trust in exchange for shares.

At the valuation cited when the amendment was reported, the proposed contribution was worth approximately $110 million. The filing describes the transaction as being under discussion, meaning it should not be treated as a completed ZEC purchase or confirmed capital allocation.

Grayscale reported that the trust had about $263.5 million in assets under management as of August 21. The proposed conversion would bring a privacy-focused crypto asset into the US spot ETF market, although Zcash continues to face regulatory and exchange-access risks linked to its privacy features.

NU7 vote follows the Ironwood snapshot

A separate Zcash-specific event may have added demand for shielded ZEC ahead of the rally. According to the NU7 vote announcement on the Zcash Community Forum, Valar Group and Project Tachyon scheduled an approximately 18-day coinholder vote beginning August 25.

Voting eligibility was based on spendable, shielded ZEC held in the Ironwood pool at mainnet block height 3,459,350. The snapshot was expected at approximately 19:00 UTC on August 24, after which holders could move their funds without losing their voting rights.

Voting is scheduled to close on September 14 at 19:00 UTC. The process requires at least 1 million eligible ZEC to meet its minimum participation threshold, while supported wallets allow holders to vote privately and publish only aggregated results.

The ballot will help determine the scope of the planned NU7 network upgrade, including possible changes to Zcash’s issuance schedule and block-production model. The snapshot may have encouraged some holders to transfer tokens into the Ironwood shielded pool, but available data does not establish how much of the price increase came directly from voting-related transfers.

Zcash price faces resistance at $875

The 4-hour chart shows that ZEC remains above the Bollinger Bands’ middle line near $803.35. Holding that level would keep the short-term breakout structure intact, while a sustained drop below it could expose the psychological $800 level.

ZEC’s 4-hour Relative Strength Index fell to 62.89 after previously moving into overbought territory. The indicator’s moving average remained higher at 72.14, suggesting that momentum has cooled as the price pulled back from its peak.

The first upside barrier sits between $870 and $875. The daily Murrey Math chart marks $875 as an extreme overshoot level, while the upper 4-hour Bollinger Band stands near $910.56.

A decisive close above $875 could allow buyers to test $910 and then $937.50. The latter is identified on the daily chart as a zone where the risk of a bearish reversal may increase.

On the downside, $812.50 is the first key level to monitor. ZEC was trading only slightly above that line at the time of the chart capture, making it the immediate test for buyers after the intraday reversal.

Below $812.50, the Bollinger midpoint near $803 and the former breakout level at $750 provide the next support areas. A fall below $750 would weaken the breakout and could open a deeper correction toward $696 and $687.50.

Liquidation clusters could increase ZEC volatility

CoinGlass’ 24-hour liquidation heatmap showed concentrated leveraged positions on both sides of ZEC’s market price.

The largest nearby upside liquidity cluster appeared around $872 to $874, matching the chart’s immediate resistance zone. Additional liquidation levels were visible around $882 to $886, which could attract price if ZEC regains upward momentum.

Below the market, a strong concentration appeared near $818 to $820, with further liquidity around $808 and $800. ZEC briefly moved toward these lower clusters during its late-session decline before rebounding above $817.

Liquidation heatmaps show where leveraged positions may face forced closure, but they do not predict which level the price will reach first. With ZEC trading between dense clusters near $800 and $875 after a weekly gain exceeding 70%, a sharp move in either direction could trigger another round of liquidations.

Stand With Crypto, the pro-crypto advocacy group launched by Coinbase in 2023, has endorsed 32 candidates for the 2026 US House elections, positioning the slate as part of a broader campaign to influence federal digital-asset policy ahead of the midterms.

In a notice released on Monday, the organization said its endorsements target lawmakers it describes as “proven digital asset policy champions,” with an emphasis on competitive districts where it believes its influence can most directly affect outcomes. Stand With Crypto also framed crypto voters as an increasingly dependable voting bloc during close races.

Key takeaways

• Stand With Crypto is backing 32 House candidates for the 2026 midterms based on their digital asset policy positions.
• The group says it will focus resources on winnable, competitive races where its advocacy is most likely to sway results.
• Stand With Crypto executive director Mason Lynaugh argues crypto voters could “swing” congressional outcomes as candidates look beyond traditional constituencies.
• The endorsements arrive amid uncertainty over whether the Senate will advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act before the 2026 election.
• Recent political momentum around CLARITY includes calls from President Donald Trump to pass a “fair version,” though questions about conflicts remain in public polling.

A targeted endorsement slate for the 2026 midterms

According to Stand With Crypto, the 32-candidate program is designed to increase pressure on Washington to adopt clearer rules for digital assets. The organization’s framing suggests that endorsements are not simply symbolic, but strategically selected to shape outcomes during the 2026 House elections.

Stand With Crypto executive director Mason Lynaugh said crypto voters are now “durable” and motivated enough to matter in national politics. In his remarks, he linked the group’s push to what he described as a policy “inflection point” for digital assets in Washington—arguing that candidates from both parties may miss an important constituency if they do not engage crypto voters.

The notice also referenced how the advocacy strategy has evolved. Earlier coverage from the period surrounding its debut program noted that Stand With Crypto launched its first wave of endorsements in March. That initial slate included six candidates—three Republicans and three Democrats—each of whom advanced through their primaries to compete in November.

Crypto’s growing role in election spending and lobbying

The political emphasis on digital assets is occurring alongside rising involvement from crypto-related political spending. During the 2024 election cycle, organizations and political action committees backed by crypto companies spent more than $170 million supporting candidates they believed would be favorable to the industry, many of whom won their races, according to the organization’s statement.

Stand With Crypto also claimed that more than 270 “pro-crypto” candidates were sent to Congress in 2025, positioning its endorsement program as part of a continuing effort to shape legislative outcomes on matters affecting the sector. One example highlighted in its notice was the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.

For investors and market participants, the practical impact of these political efforts typically lies in how Congress responds to key regulatory questions—especially those tied to stablecoins and market structure. Even when bills move slowly, endorsement drives and campaign messaging can influence negotiations, committee priorities, and the willingness of lawmakers to take up complex rulemakings.

CLARITY’s timeline and the Senate’s decision window

Beyond election endorsements, one of the most immediate legislative uncertainties involves the fate of the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. The House passed CLARITY in July 2025 with bipartisan support, but the Senate has not advanced it in the same way. The remaining hurdles have included debate tied to ethics considerations as well as questions associated with tokenization and stablecoin rewards.

According to reporting referenced in the notice, CLARITY is expected to face a cloture motion once the Senate returns from recess on Sept. 15. However, the Senate’s calendar appears tight: the chamber would have only 14 days in session before it breaks ahead of the November election.

After the midterms, the Senate is expected to have another 22 days before 2027—creating a later opportunity for senators to return the bill to the House if additional steps are needed. If that pathway holds, CLARITY could still progress to the president for approval, but the timing remains uncertain as the election approaches.

That sequencing matters. For market participants, “delay risk” can translate into continued regulatory ambiguity—especially in areas where exchanges, custody providers, and other intermediaries want clearer rules on how digital assets fit into existing securities and commodities frameworks.

Trump’s call for a “fair version” and questions over conflicts

In the lead-up to the Senate’s next procedural phase, political attention has also focused on statements by President Donald Trump. Stand With Crypto’s broader context included references to Trump urging the Senate to pass a “fair version” of CLARITY alongside crypto industry executives.

Yet, concerns about conflicts can complicate the political environment around the bill. The notice pointed to a poll finding that a majority of Americans said Trump’s crypto investments were not “appropriate.” While public opinion does not determine legislative outcomes by itself, it can influence how senators weigh ethics arguments and how lawmakers respond to pressure from both supporters and critics.

For readers watching CLARITY, the key question remains whether the Senate can align its procedural path—including any amendments or debate around tokenization and stablecoin rewards—within the brief pre-election window. If senators do not move quickly, the legislative timetable may effectively shift the decision toward the post-midterm period.

As the 2026 campaign cycle ramps up, Stand With Crypto’s endorsements will likely serve as one signal of where the pro-crypto policy push is concentrating its political leverage. The most important thing to watch next is whether the Senate can progress CLARITY before the election, or whether the bill’s fate is deferred into the longer 2027 timeline—leaving market participants to navigate continued regulatory uncertainty.

The European Central Bank (ECB) is defending the privacy design of its planned central bank digital currency (CBDC).

In an Aug. 10 interview published Monday, ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said the digital euro’s design would limit the amount of transaction information available to the central bank.

“The Eurosystem would not be able to identify the users making or receiving payments,” Cipollone said.

Cipollone said only banks involved in transactions would be able to identify users, including for anti-money laundering purposes, while the Eurosystem would not be able to directly link specific individuals to digital euro payments. Meanwhile, offline digital euro transactions would allow payment details to be available only to the payer and payee.

Despite the ECB’s efforts to quell privacy concerns over the planned digital euro, lawmakers, privacy advocates and crypto community members have warned that government-issued digital currencies could expand financial surveillance.

In the US, President Donald Trump prohibited federal agencies from developing or promoting a CBDC in January 2025, citing risks to financial stability, individual privacy and US sovereignty. House lawmakers have separately advanced the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which seeks to prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC.

Related: ECB picks 36 payment providers to test digital euro ahead of 2027 pilot

Digital euro pitched as payment sovereignty tool

Beyond privacy, the ECB has presented the digital euro as part of Europe’s effort to strengthen its payments infrastructure and reduce reliance on non-European payment providers. 

In an April public lecture held in Latvia, Cipollone said that Europe’s reliance on non-European payment providers creates a strategic vulnerability. He said two-thirds of euro-area card transactions are governed by non-European companies, and that the digital euro could reduce that dependence and provide European-controlled payment infrastructure.

The European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee backed its position on the digital euro legislation in June, while lawmakers later cleared the proposal for negotiations with the Council in July.

The ECB has said a digital euro could be issued as early as 2029, provided the necessary legislation is adopted and the project clears its remaining technical and operational stages.

Magazine: The digital euro: Surveillance money, or a better alternative to cash?