.png){kind=logo}
Bitcoin stayed strong near $81K despite hot US CPI data, showing rising institutional demand and stronger market resilience.
ETF inflows, Schwab Crypto launch, and Strategy’s BTC buy boosted bullish sentiment across the crypto market.
Markets now watch the CLARITY Act vote and Fed leadership change as major catalysts for Bitcoin and altcoins.
Crypto prices today reflect a market absorbing macro shocks in stride. Bitcoin held firm near $81,200 despite a hotter-than-expected April CPI print. Institutional demand through ETF channels continues to act as a structural floor for prices. Most majors trade with modest losses, while XRP and Solana show relative strength as capital rotates selectively across the board.
The global crypto market cap stands near $2.69 trillion, with Bitcoin dominance at 60.1%. April's US CPI data came in at 3.8% annually, the sharpest rise since 2023, driven heavily by energy-linked inflation tied to ongoing geopolitical pressures. Rate cut expectations have shifted materially, with Bank of America now pushing its forecast to mid-2027. Despite that backdrop, Bitcoin's refusal to sell off signals a notable shift in how the market is processing macro headwinds.
Bitcoin traded at $81,200, down 1.2% over the past 24 hours. Trading volumes remained healthy, suggesting the market is digesting news rather than panic-selling. Bitcoin's Bull-Bear Cycle Indicator turned positive for the first time since March 2023, a structural signal that analysts are watching closely.
WazirX Market's Desk noted: "Bitcoin is holding near $81,000 with momentum intact. RSI at 61.11 and buy signals across 10 moving averages indicate steady demand, keeping crypto sentiment strong across markets today. Bitcoin's Bull-Bear Cycle Indicator turned positive for the first time since March 2023, marking a notable shift in the indicator's trend reading. Institutional participation also remained active, with Bitcoin ETFs recording inflows of $272 million, while Spot XRP ETFs saw their largest inflows since January."
Riya Sehgal, Research Analyst, Delta Exchange, added: "Bitcoin has staged a sharp 37% recovery from its February lows, reclaiming the $80,000 level, while Ethereum trades near $2,290, notably lagging Bitcoin and struggling to hold above its 200-day moving average. Technically, Bitcoin faces stiff resistance at the $82,500–$83,000 zone where the 200-day moving average sits. A decisive close above this level could open a run toward $85,000–$88,000."
Akshat Siddhant, Lead Quant Analyst at Mudrex, observed: "Bitcoin is holding steady above the $80,000 level despite a hotter CPI print, showing strong buyer conviction. Historically, 10 of the last 11 CPI releases were followed by short-term downside for Bitcoin, making the latest post-CPI resilience a likely shift in market behaviour. On-chain activity has also strengthened, with daily Bitcoin transactions rising 116% so far in May. After multiple rejections, the resistance at $83,000 becomes crucial to sustain BTC's momentum. On the downside, $78,000 continues to act as a major support zone."
Based on CoinMarketCap data at the time of writing.
Biggest Losers: Solana, Ethereum, XRP
Biggest Gainers: Cardano, BNB, TRON
Solana bore the sharpest losses today, slipping 3.41% as momentum cooled after a strong prior session. Ethereum continued its lag relative to Bitcoin, unable to sustain a push above the $2,320 level needed to rebuild bullish conviction.
On the other side, Cardano found footing after clearing the $0.25 resistance earlier in the week, with technical indicators supporting near-term continuation. BNB and TRON held up comparatively well, as ecosystem activity in both chains kept selling pressure contained.
Also Read: Solana ETF Inflows Gains Momentum as SOL Targets $120 Breakout
April's US CPI print came in at 3.8% annually. It marked the sharpest yearly rise since 2023. Energy prices accounted for a significant portion of the acceleration. As a result, Wall Street quickly revised its rate-cut expectations. Bank of America pushed its forecast to mid-2027, while JPMorgan floated the possibility of a hike in Q3 next year.
For most risk assets, a reading like this would trigger a sharp sell-off. However, Bitcoin dropped just 1.2%, and analysts at 21Shares said institutional buyers are now buying dips on hot macro data rather than selling, reflecting a structural shift in how digital assets are held and perceived.
The US Senate Banking Committee released the full 309-page text of the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act late on May 12. An executive session and markup are scheduled for May 14 at 10:30 a.m. ET. The bill aims to delineate jurisdiction between the SEC and CFTC while classifying most digital assets as commodities. It also seeks to protect DeFi developers who do not control user funds and strengthen stablecoin rules.
Committee Chairman Tim Scott described the effort as delivering "certainty, safeguards, and accountability." However, the conflict-of-interest provision covering public officials remains a sticking point, as Democrats insist it must be included before lending support, while Polymarket currently prices the bill's passage this year at 74%.
Charles Schwab officially launched Schwab Crypto, giving its retail brokerage clients direct access to Bitcoin and Ethereum trading. The service is being rolled out in phases, starting with internal testing before a broader public launch. With over $12 trillion in client assets, Schwab’s entry into spot crypto trading marks one of the biggest institutional distribution events in crypto history.
The platform charges a 0.75% fee per transaction, while Paxos handles custody services. This move follows Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF drawing $194 million in early inflows. Goldman Sachs also filed for a Bitcoin income ETF, showing Wall Street’s crypto expansion is accelerating.
MicroStrategy's parent firm Strategy acquired an additional 535 BTC for approximately $43 million, bringing its total holdings to 818,869 BTC. Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs collectively absorbed an estimated 4,500 to 5,000 BTC per day in recent sessions. This comes against a post-halving mining output of just 450 BTC daily. That 10:1 demand-to-supply ratio continues to act as a structural price floor.
At the same time, spot XRP ETFs saw their largest single-day inflows since January, pulling in $25.8 million, while total Bitcoin ETF AUM crossed a new 2026 high of $109 billion.
The US Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in a 51-45 vote. Senator John Fetterman was the only Democrat supporting the nomination.
Warsh is widely expected to replace Jerome Powell as Fed Chair when his term officially ends May 15. Markets are now assessing whether a Warsh-led Fed would adopt a more flexible rate posture over time. This outcome would be broadly constructive for risk assets, including crypto, while adding uncertainty to an already complex macro week.
Also Read: Crypto Prices Today: Bitcoin Holds Above $81K, ETH Falls 0.88% as Iran Tensions Shake Markets
The crypto market is navigating a compressed macro calendar this week. CPI data absorbed a beat without triggering a breakdown. The CLARITY Act moves toward a decisive vote. And a new Fed Chair is taking shape in Washington. Bitcoin's ability to hold above $80,000 through each of these events reflects genuine structural demand, not retail speculation.
Near term, the $82,500 to $83,000 resistance band remains the key technical level. A clean four-hour close above the 200-day moving average at $82,228 could open a path toward the CME futures gap near $84,000, and potentially $85,000 to $88,000 beyond that. On the downside, the $78,000 to $79,000 range continues to function as a significant support zone where buyers have historically stepped in.
For altcoins, the rotation story is selective. XRP, with strong ETF inflows and a technical Cup and Handle setup forming near $1.44, remains a space to watch. Cardano's break above $0.25 resistance adds another pocket of strength. Broader altcoin recovery, however, is likely to trail Bitcoin until a decisive regulatory catalyst arrives. The CLARITY Act vote on May 14 carries that potential.
1. Why is the crypto market down today?
Crypto prices are under mild pressure after April's US CPI data came in at 3.8% annually, the highest since 2023. Hot inflation data pushed back rate cut expectations across Wall Street, reducing risk appetite for assets like crypto. That said, Bitcoin's relatively contained decline signals the market has grown more resilient to macro headwinds than in prior cycles.
2. What is the latest crypto news today?
Key developments include Bitcoin holding near $80,800 despite a hot CPI print, Charles Schwab's Schwab Crypto launch giving $12 trillion in client assets access to direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading, Kevin Warsh's confirmation to the Federal Reserve board, and the CLARITY Act markup scheduled for May 14, with 74% odds of passage this year per Polymarket.
3. What is Bitcoin's price today?
Bitcoin is trading near $80,814, down 1.2% over the past 24 hours. The coin has held above the key $80,000 psychological level through a week of dense macro events, supported by strong ETF inflows and steady on-chain activity including a 116% rise in daily transactions so far in May.
4. What is the CLARITY Act and how does it affect crypto?
The CLARITY Act is a US Senate bill that would formally define how digital assets are regulated, splitting jurisdiction between the SEC and CFTC, classifying most tokens as commodities, and establishing rules for stablecoin issuers and DeFi protocols. A committee markup is set for May 14. Passage would be a major catalyst for institutional adoption and price clarity across the digital asset sector.
5. Why does the CPI data matter for Bitcoin?
CPI measures consumer inflation. When inflation runs hot, the Federal Reserve is less likely to cut interest rates, which tends to pressure risk assets. However, Bitcoin's muted response to the latest 3.8% print suggests the market is now treating BTC more like a macro hedge and less like a pure risk asset, a meaningful structural shift from prior cycles.
Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp
_____________
Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance on cryptocurrencies and stocks. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be risky, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more about the financial risks involved here.
