Bitcoin marks best opening in months

Bitcoin opened trading on Monday at $82,164.43, marking its strongest opening price since January 31. By 7:16 a.m. Eastern Time, Bitcoin had slipped to $80,971.89.

Ethereum opened trading at $2,369.40, its highest opening level since April 27. Ethereum later eased to $2,331.11 during morning trading by 7:16 a.m. Eastern Time.

Global markets continue to digest the latest developments in the Middle East after US President Donald Trump firmly rejected Iran’s response to the American peace proposal, describing it in a post on Truth Social as “totally unacceptable.”

Monday morning saw gold prices decline, while oil prices rose, US stock futures stabilized, and US Treasury yields moved higher. As for the world’s two largest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin continues to hover near the $82,000 level but is struggling to maintain stability above it for extended periods, while Ethereum continues to show resilience near the $2,300 mark.

Bitcoin traded 1.9% higher on Monday morning compared to Sunday’s opening. Its opening price also rose 4.6% compared to last week and 12.6% from a month ago, though it remains down 21.5% compared to the same period last year.

Bitcoin reached its all-time high of $126,198.07 on October 6, 2025, while its all-time low stood at $0.04865 on July 14, 2010.

Meanwhile, Ethereum rose 1.8% on Monday morning compared to Sunday’s opening. Its opening price increased 2% from last week and 5.5% from last month, while remaining down 8.3% year-on-year.

Ethereum’s all-time high reached $4,953.73 on August 24, 2025, while its all-time low was recorded at $0.4209 on October 21, 2015.

Bitcoin is a type of cryptocurrency that exists only in digital form and operates without direct government or banking oversight. Unlike traditional currencies such as the US dollar, euro, or Canadian dollar, Bitcoin has no physical version and is issued independently of governments.

Bitcoin relies on a public digital ledger known as the blockchain, which records transactions and verifies ownership. The system is decentralized and distributed across a global network of servers.

Decentralization is considered one of the core features of cryptocurrencies, allowing direct transactions between users without the need for banking intermediaries, while also offering greater security and reducing manipulation risks.

In 2026, Bitcoin can be purchased through several channels, including cryptocurrency exchanges, fintech applications, and traditional brokerage firms offering access to Bitcoin-linked exchange-traded funds.

Experts advise investors to determine before buying whether they want to directly own the cryptocurrency and its private keys, or simply gain price exposure through regulated and more accessible investment products.

Despite growing institutional interest in digital assets, Bitcoin is still considered a highly risky and volatile asset compared to many other investment classes, with prices capable of experiencing sharp swings over short periods and without warning.