Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Monday, August 31, 2026: Higher rate expectations pressure crypto prices lower

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Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) opened at $77,695.48 on Monday, August 31, 2026 , 0.7% lower than Sunday's opening price. As of 9:06 a.m. ET this morning, the price of bitcoin moved up to $ 77,999.80 .

Ethereum ( ETH-USD ) opened at $2,417.98 on Monday, August 31, 2026 , down 1.6% from Sunday's opening price. The price of ethereum moved higher this morning to $ 2,453.78 as of 9:06 a.m. ET.

Last week we featured an article titled, " Bitcoin's Next Test Is $80,000 as Jackson Hole Meeting Looms ."

Despite prices rising in early trading this morning, both bitcoin and ethereum are down significantly from Friday's opening prices.

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's Jackson Hole speech reiterated the Fed's duty to lower prices, saying the committee has "work to do." Additionally, U.S. airstrikes on Iranian rocket launchers over the weekend renewed hostilities in the Middle East, pushing oil prices higher, further raising expectations that rate hikes are imminent this year.

The price of bitcoin this morning was 0.7% lower than Sunday's opening price. Here's a look at how the opening bitcoin price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

The all-time high for bitcoin was $126,198.07 on Oct. 6, 2025. The all-time low value for bitcoin was $0.04865 on July 14, 2010.

The price of ethereum this morning was 1.6% lower than Sunday's open. Here's a look at how the opening ethereum price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

The all-time high for ethereum was $4,953.73 on Aug. 24, 2025. The all-time low value for ethereum was $0.4209 on Oct. 21, 2015.

Bitcoin, ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies are rapidly evolving. Follow the latest developments from Yahoo Finance and others here .

Bitcoin is a type of cryptocurrency, which is a currency that exists only in digital form and operates without government or banking oversight. By comparison, the U.S. dollar, the EU euro, the Canadian dollar, and other national currencies have paper versions and are issued by their respective governments.

Bitcoin relies on a public digital ledger that validates and records transactions and verifies bitcoin ownership. This ledger is called the blockchain, and it is globally distributed — that is, decentralized — across a broad, worldwide network of servers.

Decentralization is a fundamental aspect of cryptocurrencies. Decentralization facilitates peer-to-peer payments with no banking intermediary, enhanced security, and defense against manipulation attempts.

There are several ways to buy Bitcoin. You can go through a crypto exchange, a fintech app, or a traditional brokerage that will allow you to buy into a bitcoin ETF.

Before placing a trade, though, decide what you actually want: full ownership of your bitcoin and private keys — or easy price exposure inside a familiar, regulated system.

Whichever avenue you take, it's important to remember that bitcoin remains a high-risk, highly volatile asset compared to many other investments. Prices can surge or drop quickly, sometimes without warning. If you're considering buying bitcoin, assume volatility is part of the deal.

Whether you're brand new to tracking the value of bitcoin and ethereum or a more seasoned crypto investor, Yahoo Finance's price-of-bitcoin chart and price-of-ethereum chart below show a visual history of how the currencies' value continues to move and evolve.

More on crypto from the Yahoo Finance team:

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