Cryptocurrency News: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 — Bitcoin Struggles for $63,000 Amid De-escalation in Iran and Crisis of Trust in Cold Wallets
The cryptocurrency market greets Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in a state of fragile equilibrium. Bitcoin's price fluctuates in the $62,500–$63,500 range; even the news of the United States halting planned strikes on Iran failed to provide prices with sustainable momentum. Investor sentiment is pressured by the fifth day of the ongoing incident with Coldcard hardware wallets, diminishing chances for the passage of a key U.S. digital asset regulation bill, and the cautious stance of institutional capital. We analyze the key cryptocurrency news, current quotes of the top 10 digital assets, and pivotal events that will shape market dynamics this week.
Key Highlights by Tuesday Morning
- Bitcoin is trading near $63,000; on Monday, the price opened at $63,497 but fell to $62,650 by midday.
- The total cryptocurrency market capitalization is around $2.25 trillion; Bitcoin dominance is approximately 56%, with Ethereum at about 10%.
- The U.S. announced a pause in planned airstrikes on Iran — a geopolitical de-escalation that the market received cautiously.
- The Coldcard hardware wallet exploit continues into its fifth day, with around 1,367 BTC stolen.
- Cardano emerged as the week’s best-performing asset in the top 100, gaining 11.5%.
- The Fear and Greed Index remains in the "fear" zone at around 28 points.
Bitcoin: Range $62,500–$63,500 and Focus on Monthly Close
The leading cryptocurrency is continuing its consolidation within a narrow corridor formed after the Fed's "hawkish" pause last week. Buyers are confidently buying the dips to $62,500; however, this is insufficient for a reversal of the downward trend that has been in effect since the October peak of $126,198. Since the beginning of the year, BTC has lost around 28%, and the asset's market capitalization hovers around $1.26 trillion.
An interesting point raised by analysts from 10x Research indicates that a monthly close above $63,000 would provide a technical confirmation of the establishment of a bear market bottom. On-chain data shows a gradual accumulation of positions by long-term holders, although the rise in U.S. Treasury yields and outflows from ETFs limit the potential for recovery.
Key levels for the upcoming sessions:
- Support: $62,400–$62,500, followed by the $61,750 zone and the June low near $58,200.
- Resistance: $63,500, then $65,000–66,500.
- Strategic level: $69,000 — the average cost basis for short-term holders and a condition for sustainable reversal.
Geopolitics: Iran De-escalation Not a Growth Catalyst
The White House's announcement to pause planned strikes on Iran has reduced tensions in the Middle East; however, the reaction of digital assets has been surprisingly tepid: after a positive open on Monday, prices turned downward. This restrained dynamics indicate that geopolitics is merely one of the factors exerting pressure; issues surrounding infrastructure security and stalled regulation in the U.S. are equally significant for global investors. Nevertheless, the reduction of military risks removes the scenario of a drastic flight to safety from the agenda, which supports the market in the medium term.
Coldcard Incident: A Blow to Trust in Self-Custody
The leading security issue this week has been the ongoing exploit of Coldcard hardware wallets linked to a vulnerability in key generation. According to current estimates, attackers have taken around 1,367 BTC, and the attack has now entered its third wave, targeting addresses with small balances. Observers are calling this incident the largest hardware wallet failure in Bitcoin’s history, undermining trust in the concept of cold storage as a whole.
Practical takeaways for investors:
- Immediately update device firmware and follow manufacturer recommendations;
- Diversify storage across multiple wallet types and multi-signature solutions;
- Keep in mind that, in the first half of 2026, industry losses from hacks exceeded $1 billion.
Institutional Capital: Strategy Sales and Record Profit for Tether
The corporate segment is sending mixed signals. Michael Saylor's Strategy sold Bitcoin worth about $216 million — funds have been directed to replenish reserves for dividend obligations on preferred stock. The sale by the largest corporate BTC holder was a psychologically sensitive event for the market, although it is technically driven.
At the same time, Tether reported a net operating profit of around $1.5 billion for the second quarter, supported by income from its U.S. Treasury bond portfolio, confirming the resilience of the stablecoin business. The institutional infrastructure continues to expand: Morgan Stanley products linked to Ethereum and Solana with staking began trading on NYSE Arca, and spot XRP funds are experiencing inflows despite the overall market caution.
Top 10 Cryptocurrencies: Current Quotes
The prices of leading digital assets as of the morning of August 4, 2026 (rounded):
- Bitcoin (BTC) — approximately $63,000; market capitalization around $1.26 trillion.
- Ethereum (ETH) — approximately $1,850; market capitalization around $230 billion.
- Tether (USDT) — $1.00; record quarterly profit for the issuer.
- XRP — approximately $1.07; consolidation supported by inflows into targeted ETFs.
- BNB — trading significantly below January levels in line with the overall market correction.
- Solana (SOL) — approximately $72.5; focus on the rollout of the Alpenglow update.
- USD Coin (USDC) — $1.00.
- TRON (TRX) — approximately $0.34; key settlement network for stablecoins.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — approximately $0.07; consolidation at multi-month support.
- Hyperliquid (HYPE) — approximately $52 after correction amid outflows from targeted products.
Altcoins: Surprising Leadership from Cardano
The biggest surprise of the week has been Cardano: ADA gained about 11.5% over the week (from $0.165 to $0.184), making it the best asset in the top 100 according to aggregators. Prices have risen above the 50- and 100-day moving averages — the first significant technical positive after months of weakness; the project's market capitalization is approaching $7 billion.
Ethereum remains around $1,850, technically being the strongest among major coins due to four weeks of inflows into targeted funds. Solana is trading around $72.5: institutional demand remains selective (weekly outflows from SOL products were $17 million), but the fundamental story strengthens due to the Alpenglow update and the network's leadership in the tokenization of real assets. XRP is consolidating around $1.07 with a neutral RSI: bulls need to reclaim the $1.09–$1.10 level for a reversal.
Regulation: Chances of the CLARITY Act Diminish
The regulatory agenda has become a significant disappointment this week. The probability of a vote on the CLARITY Act before the U.S. Senate recess on August 7 has fallen to approximately 28% according to predictive markets — lawmakers missed the procedural window. Grayscale and other industry participants publicly urge the Senate to hold a vote before the recess, warning that a delay to the fall will prolong the period of uncertainty for the entire global digital asset market. On the international front, South Africa has introduced a draft of rules for cross-border crypto transfers — another step toward forming global industry standards.
Week's Calendar: What's Next
- August 7 — start of the U.S. Senate recess (actual deadline for the CLARITY Act) and publication of U.S. employment data.
- August 8 — expected downward adjustment of Bitcoin network difficulty.
- August 12–13 — reports on consumer (CPI) and producer (PPI) inflation in the U.S. — key to the September Fed rate decision.
- August — activation window for soft fork BIP-110 in the Bitcoin network and continuation of Alpenglow deployment in Solana.
Conclusion for Investors
The cryptocurrency market is undergoing a resilience test on August 4, 2026, where geopolitical de-escalation is neutralized by a crisis of trust in hardware wallets and regulatory pauses in Washington. However, steady spot demand on dips, accumulation from long-term holders, and growth in "second-tier" altcoins indicate that the worst scenarios are likely already priced in. Key markers for the coming days include Bitcoin's ability to hold $62,400–$62,500, the fate of the CLARITY Act before August 7, and inflation statistics in the U.S. in August. A consolidation of BTC above $63,500–$65,000 will strengthen the case for the formation of a cycle bottom, while a loss of support will pave the way for a retest of June's lows.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individual investment advice. Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile asset class; please evaluate risks independently when making investment decisions.
