Bitcoin news for September 18, 2026
Bitcoin is around $81K as markets digest rebounding U.S. bond yields tied to global oil concerns and the Bank of Japan raising rates to a 31-year high of 1.25%. U.S. regulation is also in focus, with renewed talks among seven Democrats on the CLARITY Act alongside an SEC-CFTC path, and the SEC rejecting another XRP short ETF. Fund flows are drawing attention, with reports of $159M in inflows returning to Bitcoin and BlackRock adding about $1B while Grayscale reduced holdings, set against about $1.11 billion in declines reported across Bitcoin and Ethereum.
How the day unfolded
Bitcoin traded around $76,000 to $77,000 after the Senate vote on the CLARITY Act failed to advance, with follow-up talks and a possible SEC-CFTC path under discussion. The decline coincided with over $260 million in liquidations, about $450 million leaving Bitcoin ETFs in their largest outflow since June, and a whale exchange of 866 BTC for ETH. This matters for Bitcoin because ETF flows and forced position closures show how the legislative setback is affecting market participation around the instrument.
Bitcoin traded around the $75K-$77K area after a Senate vote failed to advance the Clarity Act, with Bitcoin ETFs recording their worst day since June and crypto liquidations surpassing $260 million. Nearly $2 billion in Bitcoin was sent to exchanges at a loss, while reports note renewed talks among lawmakers alongside a possible SEC-CFTC path for regulation.
Bitcoin moved from highs above $77K after the Bank of Japan lifted rates to 1.25% to tests near $75K. The action follows the failed CLARITY Act vote, after which Bitcoin ETFs saw their weakest day since June, Bitcoin and Ethereum funds dropped $1.11 billion, and nearly $2 billion in Bitcoin was sent to exchanges at a loss. Large-holder flows are also in focus after a whale exchanged 866 BTC for 26,924 ETH and reports of BlackRock adding about $1B in Bitcoin while Grayscale reduced holdings.
Bitcoin traded in a range between topping $77K after the Bank of Japan raised rates to 1.25% and later testing $75K. The failed Clarity Act vote was linked to the weakest day for Bitcoin ETFs since June, nearly $2 billion in Bitcoin moved to exchanges at a loss, and continued discussion of a SEC-CFTC path forward. Activity was also shaped by a whale rotating 866 BTC into ETH ahead of a sharp price move, alongside contrasting large institutional flows involving BlackRock and Grayscale.
Bitcoin moved past $80K with about $180M in liquidations reported, rising with major tokens including a 23% jump in Zcash despite the Federal Reserve's first rate hike since 2023. Focus is also on the Bank of Japan raising rates to a 31-year high. Bitcoin ETFs posted their worst day since June after the failed Clarity Act vote, with $1B in Bitcoin activity reported at BlackRock versus opposite moves at Grayscale as debate continues over whether the Clarity Act is delayed.
Bitcoin rose past $80,000 to around $81,000, with reports noting about $180 million in shorts liquidated and U.S. bond yields rebounding on global oil concerns. The move comes alongside macro rate developments including the Bank of Japan hiking rates to a 31-year high and the Fed's first hike since 2023, while bitcoin and other major tokens rose. Headlines also point to large institutional flows with BlackRock adding about $1 billion in Bitcoin while Grayscale sold, plus ongoing U.S. regulatory focus around CLARITY Act talks, the SEC-CFTC path, and an SEC decision on an XRP short ETF.
Bitcoin traded above $80,000 to around $81,000, with reports noting about $180 million in liquidations, while broader crypto moves included a 23% jump in Zcash and about $1.11 billion in moves involving Bitcoin and Ethereum. Activity comes amid shifting macro and policy headlines, including rebounding U.S. bond yields linked to oil concerns, rate hikes by the Bank of Japan to a 31-year high and the Fed's first hike since 2023, plus renewed talks around the CLARITY Act and SEC-CFTC oversight and reported large positioning involving BlackRock and Grayscale in opposite directions.
Headlines (19)
- XRP sinks 10% as the Clarity Act fails and bitcoin slides toward $76,000www.coindesk.com · Sep 16, 03:38 UTC
- Bitcoin ETFs shed $450M in biggest outflow since Junecointelegraph.com · Sep 16, 04:11 UTC
- Bitcoin, Ether longs lose $380M after Senate votecrypto.news · Sep 16, 06:16 UTC
- Nearly $2 Billion of Bitcoin Sent to Exchanges at Loss as Clarity Act Failsu.today · Sep 16, 11:31 UTC
- Whale Sells 866 BTC for 26,924 ETH Hours Before Bitcoin Price Tankednews.bitcoin.com · Sep 16, 11:32 UTC
- Bitcoin ETFs Had Their Worst Day Since June Following Failed Clarity Act Votedecrypt.co · Sep 16, 15:52 UTC
- Bitcoin price tests $75K as Supertrend turns bearishcrypto.news · Sep 16, 20:52 UTC
- Zcash jumps 23% as bitcoin and major tokens rise despite Fed’s first hike since 2023www.coindesk.com · Sep 17, 04:47 UTC
- CLARITY Act Dead or Delayed? Seven Democrats Reopen Talks as SEC-CFTC Path Takes Overcoingape.com · Sep 17, 08:21 UTC
- SEC Rejects 19th XRP Short ETF While Bitcoin and Ethereum Drop $1.11 Billion: Main Crypto News This Morningu.today · Sep 17, 13:13 UTC
- Stani’s Aave “Uber plan” could turn everyday crypto savers into Washington’s worst political nightmarecryptoslate.com · Sep 17, 16:39 UTC
- Crypto Liquidations Surge Past $260M as Bitcoin’s Price Touches $77Knews.bitcoin.com · Sep 17, 17:33 UTC
- BlackRock Snaps Up $1B in Bitcoin While Grayscale Dumpszycrypto.com · Sep 17, 17:39 UTC
- Bitcoin price tops $77K after BOJ lifts rates to 1.25%crypto.news · 06:34 UTC
- Bitcoin Price Forecast as Bank of Japan Hikes Rates to a 31-Year Highcoingape.com · 12:16 UTC
- Bitcoin Price Suddenly Rockets Past $80K Leaving $180M in Shorts Liquidatedcryptopotato.com · 14:16 UTC
- Bitcoin hits $81K as US bond yields rebound on global oil woescointelegraph.com · 15:41 UTC
- Bitcoin Returns to Inflows With $159M as Zcash ETF Draws $46.6Mnews.bitcoin.com · 16:33 UTC
- Bitcoin rallies after BOJ’s 1.25% hike, but the real yen-carry test starts next weekcryptoslate.com · 20:35 UTC
Not investment advice. For informational purposes only.