Bitcoin Hits $66.3k, ETF Inflows Surge

Bitcoin Hits $66.3k, ETF Inflows Surge

Bitcoin climbed 1.6% to $66,342.6 by 17:19 ET (21:19 GMT) on 21 July 2026, reaching its highest price since 15 June and setting an over‑one‑month high. Spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) recorded two consecutive weeks of net inflows, with $75.7 million in the first week and $197.4 million in the following week, according to data from aggregator SoSoValue, signalling a modest recovery in institutional demand.

Altcoins largely tracked Bitcoin’s upward move but remained in deep loss territory for 2026. Ether rose 1.1% to $1,924.44, XRP gained 2.9%, Solana and BNB increased 0.3% and 0.4% respectively, Cardano advanced 2.2%, Dogecoin rose 1.9%, and the meme token $TRUMP edged up 0.1%.

The broader cryptocurrency market continues to nurse significant losses for the year, while heightened volatility in artificial‑intelligence‑related equities has prompted some investors to shift capital back into crypto assets.

Geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran intensified, marking a tenth consecutive day of tit‑for‑tat strikes on 21 July. The U.S. responded to the death of three service members over the weekend by expanding its attack scope, while Iran kept the Strait of Hormuz closed and the U.S. maintained a naval blockade. Reports of regional mediators submitting a new peace proposal and statements from Iranian and U.S. officials offered limited optimism for de‑escalation, though the Iran‑backed Houthi group in Yemen threatened to open a new front by imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.

Oil prices remained near five‑week highs on the same day, reflecting the ongoing conflict‑driven supply concerns.

The article was contributed by Vahid Karaahmetovic and Anuron Mitra and published by Reuters on 21 July 2026, with an update on 22 July 2026.