Overview

Bitcoin ticked slightly lower on Friday, slipping 0.4% to $79,259.3 as of 09:52 ET (13:52 GMT), remaining just under the $80,000 threshold and close to the three‑month high of over $81,000 recorded earlier in the week. The cryptocurrency was on track to add roughly 2% for the week, buoyed by optimism over regulatory progress in the United States and by U.S. Treasury intervention in the bond market, which redirected flows into alternative assets such as Bitcoin and gold.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh Speech

Kevin Warsh, a member of the Federal Reserve Board, is scheduled to speak later on Friday at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium. Market participants are closely watching his remarks for clues on the Fed’s future interest‑rate path. Warsh has so far remained tight‑lipped on policy but previously signaled that the central bank remains committed to its 2% annual inflation target.

Inflation and Rate Expectations

The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, was released earlier in the week and showed July prices still well above the 2% target. The data prompted a modest increase in market bets that the Fed may raise rates.

Treasury Bond‑Buyback Intervention

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a doubling of the Treasury’s bond‑buyback programme, a move that has been cited as a catalyst for the recent inflow into risk‑on assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Macro Context and Risk Appetite

Despite the positive catalysts, lingering uncertainty over the U.S.–Iran conflict and concerns about rising interest rates have tempered overall risk appetite, which could weigh on speculative assets like crypto.

Altcoin Performance

Broader crypto prices tracked Bitcoin’s sideways movement. Ether (ETH) rose 0.3% to $2,505.33, while XRP fell 1.4%. Solana declined about 1%, Cardano dropped over 2%, and BNB slipped 0.5%. Among meme coins, Dogecoin decreased 1.4% whereas the $TRUMP token surged more than 15%.

Publication Details

The article, authored by Ambar Warrick and contributed to by Vahid Karaahmetovic, was published by Reuters on 28‑08‑2026 at 12:12 pm and updated at 10:48 pm the same day.