Cryptocurrency News: Friday, July 31, 2026 – Bitcoin Holds at $64,000 After Fed's "Hawkish" Pause, and Capital Flows Back into Spot ETFs
The cryptocurrency market is concluding July in a state of tense equilibrium. The decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve to maintain interest rates unchanged, while adopting a hawkish rhetoric, set the tone for trading globally—from New York to Singapore. Bitcoin is guarding the psychological threshold of $64,000, with spot Bitcoin ETFs registering their first net inflow of capital in several days, while altcoins are experiencing mixed dynamics. The total market capitalization of digital assets remains around $2.29 trillion. We break down the key events and quotes from the top 10 cryptocurrencies that will shape investor sentiment in the final trading session of the month.
Key Takeaways: Daily Summary for Investors
- The U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates in the range of 3.50–3.75% with a vote of 9 to 3—marking the first time since 2016 that three committee members voiced support for an increase.
- Bitcoin is trading at $64,000 after a volatile move from $63,700 to $64,700 and back; the weekly low stands at around $62,400.
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of $32.1 million, breaking a streak of outflows; IBIT fund led the way.
- Ethereum funds, conversely, lost about $18.65 million—ETH's market dominance continues to decline.
- Forced liquidations over the day amounted to approximately $280–316 million, affecting around 90,000 traders.
- The U.S. Senate failed to consider the CLARITY Act before the August recess—the market assesses the likelihood of passing the document this year much lower than a month ago.
Federal Reserve Decision: A Pause with a "Hawkish" Accent
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) on July 29 left the key rate unchanged in the range of 3.50–3.75%. Formally, this is a pause; however, the details of the vote unsettled investors: three regional Fed presidents advocated for a 25 basis points increase. Such a considerable “hawkish” dissent is observed for the first time in a decade. The regulator cites persistent inflation around 4.1% and ongoing economic growth—conditions that delay the prospect of relaxing monetary policy.
An additional factor exerting pressure was the announcement that the U.S. public debt has now surpassed 100% of GDP for the first time since World War II. Treasury yields have risen, stock indices have diverged in performance, and cryptocurrencies have remained range-bound in anticipation of a new catalyst. For digital assets, which are sensitive to global liquidity, an extended period of high rates implies a restrained risk appetite—yet the absence of panic selling indicates market maturity.
Bitcoin: Defending the $64,000 Threshold
The first cryptocurrency reacted classically to the regulator's decision: an impulsive rise from $63,700 to nearly $64,700 was followed by profit-taking, after which quotes stabilized around $64,000. Technically, the picture is as follows:
- The nearest support is in the $63,000–63,500 zone, which buyers have held throughout the week.
- Resistance is in the $66,000 area, near recent local highs in July.
- BTC's market capitalization is about $1.28 trillion, solidifying the asset's dominant position in the market.
From the historical peak of $126,080, Bitcoin remains nearly 49% away, and 2026 continues to be a period of prolonged correction for the asset. Nonetheless, the return of institutional demand via ETFs, the absence of panic selling, and confirmed plans from the White House to create a strategic cryptocurrency reserve are forming a foundation for a potential turnaround in the latter half of the year.
ETF Flows: Institutions Opting for Bitcoin
ETF statistics as of July 29 highlighted a significant capital rotation:
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs: net inflow of $32.1 million—the first positive result after several days of outflows.
- Ethereum ETFs: outflow of approximately $18.65 million, continuing the trend of recent weeks.
- Solana ETFs: inflow of around $19 million—one of the best performances among altcoin funds.
- XRP products: a nominal but positive inflow of about $0.58 million.
The divergence in flows confirms: in an environment of macroeconomic uncertainty, institutional investors are returning to "digital gold," reducing exposure to Ethereum. At the same time, interest in Solana indicates a selective rather than a total exodus from altcoins.
Ethereum: Pressure on Dominance and Staking Queue
Ether is trading near $1,900, and its market share continues to decline amid capital flowing into Bitcoin. However, the network's fundamental metrics remain strong: over 2.5 million ETH—approximately 2% of the circulating supply—are awaiting entry into staking, creating a validator queue approximately 44 days long with virtually no demand for exit. An additional institutional impulse may come from the launch of cash payouts for staking rewards from the Grayscale fund, expected in early August. For long-term investors, this signals that despite weak price dynamics, "smart money" continues to lock ETH in the network.
Top 10 Cryptocurrencies: Current Quotes and Dynamics
The situation among the top ten by market capitalization on the morning of Friday appears as follows:
- Bitcoin (BTC) – around $64,000; consolidation under resistance at $66,000, market cap ≈ $1.28 trillion.
- Ethereum (ETH) – around $1,900; range-bound with declining dominance.
- Tether (USDT) – stable at $1; a key liquidity tool in the market.
- BNB (BNB) – around $572; support for quotes provided by the 36th quarterly burn, removing 1.62 million coins from circulation.
- XRP (XRP) – around $1.08; consolidation in the $1.05–1.11 range.
- Solana (SOL) – around $74; buyers are protecting the $73–74 zone, funds in SOL are attracting capital.
- USD Coin (USDC) – stable coin, second most significant dollar-denominated asset in the market.
- TRON (TRX) – around $0.32; one of the few large assets with positive dynamics since the beginning of the year due to leadership in USDT transfers.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – around $0.069; the meme segment remains under pressure.
- Cardano (ADA) – around $0.165; critical support at $0.164, resistance at $0.173.
Regulation: CLARITY Act Goes on Break
The key legislative intrigue of the month has resolved unfavorably for the industry: the U.S. Senate did not manage to bring the CLARITY Act on the structure of the crypto market to a vote before the August recess. Market participants have sharply reduced the likelihood of the document's approval by the end of the year. Nevertheless, the regulatory backdrop remains constructive: the SEC and CFTC previously confirmed that 16 major digital assets are not securities, and the U.S. administration has officially reaffirmed its course towards forming a strategic reserve in Bitcoin. Investors should expect a pause in regulatory news until September.
Security and Corporate News
The industry has reminded us of the ongoing operational risks. The Ostium platform disclosed information about a $24 million over-the-counter hack, emphasizing that smart contracts were not affected. The hack of Senator Cynthia Lummis's verified account on social media X, used to promote a fraudulent meme token, has once again raised concerns about phishing attacks targeting public figures. On the corporate front, Hyperliquid attracted its first Japanese corporate token buyer, while the Luno exchange announced further staff reductions as part of restructuring efforts.
Friday Forecast: What Will Move the Market
The final trading day of July will be marked by macro statistics: investors are awaiting data on inflation and consumer spending in the U.S., which will clarify the trajectory of the Fed's rate. The base scenario for Bitcoin is trading in the range of $63,000–66,000. A breakout of the upper boundary supported by inflows into ETFs would open the path for growth, while tough macro data could return quotes to weekly lows. For medium-term investors, key benchmarks remain unchanged: BTC's resilience above $63,000, stabilization of ETH above $1,860, and continued institutional inflows will serve as the first signals for establishing a base for market recovery in the second half of 2026.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individual investment advice. Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile asset class: when making investment decisions, assess risks independently.
