Cryptocurrency News: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 — Bitcoin Struggles for $63,000 Amid De-escalation Over Iran and Trust Crisis in Hardware Wallets
The cryptocurrency market greets Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in a state of fragile equilibrium. Bitcoin's price oscillates in the range of $62,500 to $63,500: even the news of the United States suspending planned strikes on Iran has failed to provide sustainable momentum for prices. Investor sentiment is pressured by the fifth day of the ongoing incident with Coldcard hardware wallets, a decrease in the odds of passing a key U.S. digital asset regulatory bill, and a cautious stance from institutional capital. We delve into the main cryptocurrency news, current quotes of the top 10 digital assets, and key events that will influence market dynamics this week.
Key Updates as of Tuesday Morning:
- Bitcoin is trading close to $63,000; it opened at $63,497 on Monday, but pulled back to $62,650 by midday.
- The total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies stands at approximately $2.25 trillion; Bitcoin's dominance is around 56%, while Ethereum's is about 10%.
- The U.S. has announced a pause in planned airstrikes on Iran — a geopolitical de-escalation that the market has received with caution.
- The exploit of Coldcard hardware wallets continues for the fifth day: approximately 1,367 BTC have been stolen.
- Cardano emerged as the best performing asset of the week within the top 100, registering an 11.5% increase.
- The Fear and Greed Index remains in the "fear" zone — around 28 points.
Bitcoin: Range of $62,500–$63,500 and Monthly Close Outlook
The leading cryptocurrency continues to consolidate within a narrow corridor formed after the Fed's "hawkish" pause last week. Buyers confidently absorb dips to $62,500, but this is not enough to reverse the downward trend that has been in place since the October high of $126,198. Since the start of the year, BTC has declined by around 28%, with the asset's market capitalization holding steady near $1.26 trillion.
Notably, analysts from 10x Research suggest that a monthly close above $63,000 would technically confirm the formation of a bottom in the bear market. On-chain data indicates a gradual accumulation of positions by long-term holders, although rising U.S. Treasury yields and outflows from ETFs are limiting recovery potential.
Key levels to watch for the coming sessions:
- Support: $62,400–$62,500, followed by the $61,750 zone and the June low around $58,200.
- Resistance: $63,500, then $65,000–66,500.
- Strategic Level: $69,000 — the breakeven cost for short-term holders and a condition for a sustainable reversal.
Geopolitics: Iran De-escalation Fails to Spark Growth
The White House’s announcement regarding the suspension of planned strikes on Iran has eased tensions in the Middle East. However, the reaction of digital assets has been surprisingly tepid: after a positive Monday opening, prices turned downward. This subdued dynamic indicates that geopolitics is currently just one of several pressure factors: equally significant for global investors are infrastructure security concerns and stalled regulation in the U.S. Nevertheless, reduced military risks remove the scenario of a sharp flight to safety from the agenda, which supports the market in the medium term.
Coldcard Incident: A Blow to Trust in Self-Custody
The major security story of the week continues to be the ongoing exploit of Coldcard hardware wallets related to a key generation vulnerability. Current estimates indicate that attackers have withdrawn approximately 1,367 BTC, and the attack has now entered a third wave, targeting addresses with small balances. Observers have dubbed this incident the largest failure of hardware wallets in Bitcoin's history, undermining trust in the concept of "cold" storage more broadly.
Practical takeaways for investors:
- Promptly update device firmware and follow manufacturer recommendations;
- Diversify storage across multiple types of wallets and multi-signature solutions;
- Note that losses from hacks in the industry have exceeded $1 billion in the first half of 2026.
Institutional Capital: Strategy Sales and Record Profit for Tether
The corporate segment is sending mixed signals. Michael Saylor's Strategy has liquidated Bitcoin worth around $216 million — funds that are allocated to replenish reserves for dividend obligations on preferred securities. This sale by the largest corporate holder of BTC has been a psychologically sensitive event for the market, although it is technically motivated.
At the same time, Tether reported a net operating profit of approximately $1.5 billion for the second quarter, driven by income from its U.S. Treasury bond portfolio, reaffirming the stability of the stablecoin business. The institutional infrastructure continues to expand: Morgan Stanley has begun trading Ethereum and Solana products on NYSE Arca with staking, while spot XRP funds are witnessing inflows despite overall market caution.
Top 10 Cryptocurrencies: Current Quotes
As of the morning of August 4, 2026, the prices of leading digital assets (rounded) are:
- Bitcoin (BTC) — around $63,000; market capitalization of approximately $1.26 trillion.
- Ethereum (ETH) — around $1,850; market capitalization of about $230 billion.
- Tether (USDT) — $1.00; record quarterly profit for the issuer.
- XRP — around $1.07; consolidation supported by inflows into specialized ETFs.
- BNB — trading considerably below January levels due to overall market correction.
- Solana (SOL) — around $72.5; focus is on the deployment of the Alpenglow update.
- USD Coin (USDC) — $1.00.
- TRON (TRX) — around $0.34; key network for transactions in stablecoins.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — around $0.07; consolidation near multi-month support.
- Hyperliquid (HYPE) — around $52 after correction amid outflows from specialized products.
Altcoins: Cardano's Unexpected Leadership
The main surprise of the week is Cardano: ADA gained approximately 11.5% over seven days (from $0.165 to $0.184), becoming the best asset in the top 100 according to aggregators. Prices climbed above the 50-day and 100-day moving averages — the first significant technical positive after months of weakness; the project's market capitalization approached $7 billion.
Ethereum holds steady around $1,850, remaining technically strong among the majors due to four weeks of inflows into niche funds. Solana is trading near $72.5: institutional demand remains selective (weekly outflows from SOL products totaled $17 million), but the fundamental outlook is strengthening due to the Alpenglow update and the network's leadership in real asset tokenization. XRP is consolidating around $1.07 with a neutral RSI: for a bullish reversal, bulls need to regain the $1.09–$1.10 level.
Regulation: Chances for the CLARITY Act Dwindle
The regulatory agenda is becoming the main disappointment of the week. The probability of a vote on the CLARITY Act before the U.S. Senate goes on recess on August 7 has fallen to around 28%, according to predictive markets — lawmakers missed the procedural window. Grayscale and other industry participants are publicly urging the Senate to conduct a vote before the break, warning that a postponement until the fall will prolong the period of uncertainty for the entire global digital asset market. Notably, South Africa has proposed a draft regulation for cross-border crypto transfers — another step towards establishing global industry standards.
Week's Calendar: What’s Next
- August 7 — the start of the U.S. Senate's recess (the effective deadline for the CLARITY Act) and the publication of U.S. employment data.
- August 8 — anticipated downward recalibration of Bitcoin's network difficulty.
- August 12–13 — reports on consumer (CPI) and producer (PPI) inflation in the U.S. — key to the Fed's September rate decision.
- August — activation window for the BIP-110 soft fork in the Bitcoin network and the continued deployment of Alpenglow in Solana.
Conclusions for Investors
The cryptocurrency market is undergoing a test of resilience on August 4, 2026: geopolitical de-escalation has been neutralized by a crisis of trust in hardware wallets and regulatory pause in Washington. Nonetheless, sustained spot demand on dips, accumulation by long-term holders, and the rise of "second-tier" altcoins suggest that the worst scenarios may already be priced in. Key markers for the coming days include Bitcoin's ability to hold above $62,400–$62,500, the fate of the CLARITY Act by August 7, and August inflation statistics in the U.S. A firm BTC hold above $63,500–$65,000 would strengthen the arguments of those claiming a cycle bottom formation, while a loss of support would pave the way for a re-test of June lows.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individual investment advice. Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile asset class; assess risks independently when making investment decisions.
