NEW YORK, August 22, 2026, 11:03 EDT — Bitcoin was quoted at $76,963 as of 10:58 a.m. EDT Saturday, sustaining much of its 22% gain for the week following a peak of $79,463 on Friday. This marks the cryptocurrency’s strongest weekly rise since March 2024. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $1.918 billion across five sessions, underpinning the rally with significant inflows and highlighting a policy backdrop ahead of Jackson Hole.
- Bitcoin traded at $77,006 as of 4 p.m. EDT on Friday, rising 22% over the week.
- Between August 17 and August 21, US spot Bitcoin ETFs received inflows totaling $1.918 billion.
- The policy-fueled rally gained momentum from Treasury buybacks and suggested US crypto regulations.
- US inflation figures and Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s speech at Jackson Hole are top events on next week’s agenda.
Scale is significant. The $77,006 figure posted on Friday points to a previous week’s reference level close to $63,120. This means bitcoin gained nearly $13,900 per coin over the week. By late Saturday morning in New York, it had fallen roughly 0.1% from Friday’s mark.
Washington delivered the initial move. The US Treasury announced plans to at least double the maximum size for liquidity-support buybacks of 10- to 30-year nominal bonds. The per-operation cap will increase from $2 billion to a minimum of $4 billion on September 9. Following the news, the dollar softened and appetite for scarce assets increased.
Policy delivered a second boost. The Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday put forward “Regulation Crypto Assets,” which features specific offering exemptions and a conditional safe harbor. A day later, President Donald Trump asked Congress to advance a “fair version” of the Clarity Act, with the legislation still blocked in the Senate. The SEC proposal awaits finalization, and the Clarity Act remains unapproved. SEC proposal; Reuters
| Week in numbers | Level | Investor context |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin, Friday 4 p.m. EDT | $77,006 | Rose 22%, marking the strongest week since March 2024 |
| Friday high | $79,463 | $80,000 remains the nearest resistance level |
| Saturday 10:58 a.m. EDT | $76,963 | Trading 0.1% below Friday’s 4 p.m. benchmark |
| US spot ETF inflows | $1.918 billion | Extended streak to five sessions with inflows |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust NASDAQ:IBIT | $1.331 billion | Accounted for 69.4% of total weekly ETF inflows |
ETF demand picked up as prices climbed. Net inflows increased from $297.5 million on Monday to $606.3 million by Thursday. Friday brought in an additional $307.5 million. All sessions posted gains, offsetting $248.4 million in net outflows recorded during August 12–14.
The contrast between flow and supply is notable. Splitting $1.918 billion by $76,963 yields a cash value equal to around 24,920 bitcoin. The network produces about 3,150 new bitcoin weekly, calculated at 450 per day. ETF inflows were thus 7.9 times greater than the network’s weekly new coin issuance, though inflows into funds do not always translate directly into same-day bitcoin purchases.
| US spot Bitcoin ETF flows | Net inflow | Portion of weekly sum |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, August 17 | $297.5 million | 15.5% |
| Tuesday, August 18 | $189.3 million | 9.9% |
| Wednesday, August 19 | $517.2 million | 27.0% |
| Thursday, August 20 | $606.3 million | 31.6% |
| Friday, August 21 | $307.5 million | 16.0% |
| Total | $1.918 billion | 100% |
The iShares Bitcoin Trust NASDAQ:IBIT contributed $1.331 billion of the overall sum. Holding a 69.4% portion, this underscores the continued concentration of the rebound. More sustained momentum may depend on whether rival funds can continue to draw inflows after the effects of the price shock diminish.
Analyst updates remain mixed, with Jefferies Financial Group NYSE:JEF adopting a cautious approach and requesting further confirmation. Bernstein Research, the partnership between Société Générale EPA:GLE and AllianceBernstein NYSE:AB, highlighted stronger liquidity and rising ETF demand but did not set a fresh Bitcoin target in its latest Friday commentary. Nicolai Søndergaard at Nansen commented, “Sustained acceptance above $70,000 would keep the outlook constructive.” The Block
| Fresh analyst recommendation or decision rule | Date | Published stance | Confirmation test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferies Financial Group NYSE:JEF | Aug. 20 | Cautious; considers it “premature” to call for the next leg up | CLARITY Act progress and final SEC rules |
| Gautam Chhugani-led Bernstein team / Société Générale EPA:GLE-AllianceBernstein NYSE:AB joint venture | Aug. 21 | Positive on a potential momentum turn; sets no revised target | Liquidity levels and ETF demand must keep increasing |
| Nicolai Søndergaard, Nansen | Aug. 20 | Positive view only if spot buying maintains the breakout | Must hold above $70,000; $69,700–$69,000 support on retest |
| Mati Greenspan, Quantum Economics | Aug. 21 | Bullish; identifies the pattern as aligning with a bottom | No stated target or described confirmation test |
| Jason Fernandes, AdLunam | Aug. 21 | Cautious until ETF inflows show consistency | Macro conditions need to show clear signs of easing |
Citigroup NYSE:C maintains a 12-month base target of $82,000, presenting a 6.5% potential gain from Saturday’s close. The projection from July was based on an assumption of no net ETF inflows for the coming year. However, this week’s $1.918 billion in inflows calls that outlook into question, though Citigroup has not yet issued any formal update.
Next week condenses numerous macro data releases into two mornings. On Wednesday, markets await the second reading of second-quarter GDP, July’s personal income and outlays, and figures for durable goods orders. Friday’s focus is on Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s keynote at the Jackson Hole summit, scheduled for 10 a.m. EDT. Monthly expiries at Deribit and CME Group NASDAQ:CME could intensify market moves via hedging and contract rolls, though they do not dictate direction. Weaker inflation data or dovish indications would support the rally, while the opposite might boost real yields and the dollar.
| Date and time (EDT) | Event | Bitcoin transmission channel |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Aug. 25, 10:00 a.m. | July new-home sales data | Expectations for growth and rates |
| Tuesday–Thursday, 1:00 p.m. | Auctions of $183 billion in 2-, 5-, and 7-year Treasuries | Demand for government debt and trends in medium-dated yields |
| Wednesday, Aug. 26, 8:30 a.m. | Q2 GDP, July PCE, and durable goods figures | Impacts on inflation, real yields, and dollar strength |
| Friday, Aug. 28, 4:00 a.m. | Monthly Bitcoin options expiry on Deribit | Dealer hedging activity and strike-driven volatility |
| Friday, Aug. 28, 10:00 a.m. | Fed Chair Warsh speaks at Jackson Hole | Outlook for policy rate and liquidity |
| Friday, Aug. 28, 11:00 a.m. | CME Group NASDAQ:CME settles August Bitcoin futures | Institutional position rolls and settlement-related flows |
Risks: The bulk of the rally’s advance came within three sessions, but momentum stalled beneath $80,000. Should ETF flows turn negative and upcoming inflation data on Wednesday or remarks on Friday drive real yields up, recent buying support may fade rapidly. Falling through the $69,300 zone, where trading opened on Thursday, would wipe out the last two days’ breakout gains and undermine the argument for flows as the main driver.
Bitcoin trades around the clock, but the next clear demand indicator will come when US ETFs start trading again on Monday. If Bitcoin stays above $73,000 and posts another day of net inflows, it would indicate allocations held through the first weekend. However, if Bitcoin fails to break through $80,000 and inflows slow, the week may turn out to be a short squeeze fueled by policy catalysts, rather than establishing a lasting trend.
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