Macro Worries Pull Bitcoin Below $64,000 and the SEC May Have a Regulatory Plan
As of early evening on Aug. 11, Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) fell 0.6% to $63,685.99, Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) rose 0.4% to $1,882.06, and Solana (CRYPTO:SOL) fell 0.3% to $76.10. The crypto market cap slipped 0.5% to $2.26 trillion as rising oil prices and inflation concerns pressured major coins.
What’s driving crypto markets
Bitcoin failed to hold above $64,000 today as traders await tomorrow’s inflation data and monitor rising oil prices. Last week’s hopes that the U.S. and Iran might reach an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz proved over-optimistic, and there’s concern that disruptions to oil supplies will continue until next year. If the Federal Reserve hikes interest rates to combat oil-fueledinflation, it will likely weigh on crypto prices.
Crypto ETF snapshot
The recent $130 million Coldcard hack has boosted inflows to crypto ETFs as investors look for alternative ways to keep their digital assets safe. Criminals managed to steal coins from cold wallets, which are kept offline and have long been viewed as a safe way to store crypto. Spot Bitcoin ETFs use custodians to protect funds, meaning individual investors aren’t responsible for securing their Bitcoin.
What this means for investors
The crypto industry had been optimistic that the Clarity Act would pass in the first half of this year, giving clear rules and definitions on how digital assets would be regulated. Unfortunately, lawmakers did not make progress before breaking for the summer, leaving the hoped-for legislation in limbo.
Putting macro concerns aside, news that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) might step in with a viable alternative could be crucial for investors. A clear framework — whether it comes from the government or the SEC — could improve sentiment and help pull crypto out of its slump. Watch for the outcomes from the SEC’s open meeting this week.
Top 10 crypto performance
Ranked by market cap. Data: CoinGecko, as of August 11, 2026 20:16 UTC.
Should you buy stock in Bitcoin right now?
Before you buy stock in Bitcoin, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Bitcoin wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
