Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Wednesday, August 26, 2026: 'Bitcoin is having a price gusher to close out August'

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure .

Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) opened at $78,528.41 on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 , 0.5% lower than Tuesday's opening price. As of 8:25 a.m. ET this morning, the price of bitcoin moved up to $78,585.58.

Ethereum ( ETH-USD ) opened at $2,442.30 on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 , down 1.6% from Tuesday's opening price. The price of ethereum moved higher this morning to $2,469.90 as of 8:25 a.m. ET.

The price of bitcoin cleared $80,000 yesterday for the first time in over three months. Prices hit a high of $81,235.03 on Tuesday.

The rally follows a surprise move by the U.S. Treasury Department to double its long-term bond-buying program. And this latest price run has bitcoin bulls out in full force.

Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi published another great crypto article this morning that outlines how bitcoin's August "price gusher" might only be the start of some long-term gains in the years ahead:

"In our base case, we expect bitcoin to reach new all-time high of $150K by mid-2027 and $300K by 2029 end. However, given the macro regime shift, if institutional capital actively chases bitcoin, we could see an accelerated timeline, with bitcoin potentially peaking at $500K in 2029 and rapid recovery to new all-time highs of ~$200K by mid-2027. We maintain our bitcoin price forecast of ~$1 M million by 2033 end across the base and bull case," Chhugani said in a note on Wednesday.

The price of bitcoin this morning was 0.5% lower than Tuesday'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 Tuesday'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 .

You generally owe taxes when you sell cryptocurrency for more than you paid for it. This also applies when you exchange one digital asset for another. Converting bitcoin into ethereum, for example, isn't "just a trade" in the eyes of the IRS. It's a taxable event if the value changes.

Crypto taxes aren't paid at the time of the transaction, but instead, they're reported on your tax return for the year in which the transaction took place. So, if you sold crypto for a profit at any point during 2025, that activity is reported when you file your 2025 return in early 2026.

How much tax you pay depends on two main factors:

How long you held the asset before selling

Your overall taxable income and filing status

Hold it for less than a year, and you'll usually face higher rates. Hold it longer, and the rates tend to be lower.

This holding-period distinction matters more than most people realize. A few days can make a difference of as much as 17% or more — so timing matters.

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 and price-of-ethereum charts below show a visual history of how the currencies' value continues to move and evolve.

More on crypto from the Yahoo Finance team:

Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: Understanding the key differences

Compare Ethereum and Bitcoin. Learn the key differences between BTC and ETH, from origins and supply to consensus mechanisms and real-world use cases.

How to navigate a crypto meltdown: 'Be willing to hold on'

Financial advisors are reversing course on cryptocurrencies as an investment. So what happens when the next crypto crash occurs?

What is Ethereum? A complete guide to the Ethereum blockchain.

What is Ethereum? Here's your beginner-friendly guide to the blockchain, smart contracts, DeFi, and how ETH differs from Bitcoin. Learn the basics before you invest.

Is bitcoin's price volatility an investing opportunity? How to buy bitcoin.

Bitcoin's price has swung sharply in recent months. Here's how to buy and store bitcoin as safely as possible.

How to invest in cryptocurrency: A beginner's guide

Before you place your first trade, it's important to understand what cryptocurrency is and how it works. Learn how to invest in crypto in 3 steps.

How to buy ethereum — and what to know before you do

Ethereum is becoming a staple in modern digital portfolios. Learn how to choose your investment strategy, pick the right platform, execute the trade, and more.