Key Takeaways

• Bitcoin edges up: The world’s largest crypto rose 0.4% to $77,175.4 after dipping near $76,000 at the start of the week.
• Off last week’s highs: Bitcoin has lost momentum after touching $82,000+ last week.
• Trump’s “very quickly”: The president said the Iran war could end rapidly if negotiations progress.
• Hour from striking: Trump revealed he was “an hour away” from authorizing another strike before standing down for diplomacy.
• Vance cautiously optimistic: The VP confirmed progress in talks while warning the U.S. remains “locked and loaded.”
• Oil eases slightly: Brent crude slipped but held above $110 per barrel.
• Yields at multi-year highs: The U.S. 10-year yield hit 4.687% — highest since January 2025; the 30-year touched 5.198%, last seen in 2007.
• Higher yields hurt crypto: Elevated rates increase the appeal of safer income-generating assets.
• Institutional momentum stalls: The rally driven by adoption and crypto-friendly regulation has been overshadowed by inflation fears.
• Nvidia earnings loom: Results due Wednesday are seen as a pivotal test for the AI-driven market rally.
• Altcoins subdued: Ethereum fell 0.4% to $2,126.45, XRP declined 1.1% to $1.37, while Solana, Cardano, and Polygon all eased.
• Dogecoin slips: The leading memecoin dropped 1%.

Bitcoin edged higher above $77,000 on Wednesday as investors cautiously weighed signs of progress in U.S.-Iran peace negotiations, although rising Treasury yields and caution ahead of Nvidia’s earnings kept broader risk appetite in check.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency last traded 0.4% higher at $77,175.4 by 01:58 ET (05:58 GMT).

Bitcoin slipped near $76,000 at the start of this week, losing momentum after hitting levels above $82,000 last week.

Traders Weigh Iran Peace Prospects; Nvidia Results Ahead

Market sentiment improved slightly after U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance struck a more optimistic tone on diplomatic talks with Iran.

Trump said on Tuesday the war with Iran could end “very quickly” if negotiations progress, while also revealing he had been “an hour away” from authorizing another strike before delaying military action to allow more time for diplomacy.

Vance said Washington and Tehran had made progress in ongoing talks, while adding the U.S. remained “locked and loaded” if negotiations fail.

Oil prices eased slightly on hopes of de-escalation, with Brent crude slipping but remaining above $110 per barrel. Analysts said any meaningful decline in oil prices could help ease inflation fears that have recently pressured cryptocurrencies and technology stocks alike.

Bitcoin has struggled to regain momentum after retreating sharply from last week’s highs above $82,000. The rally driven by optimism around institutional adoption and crypto-friendly U.S. regulation has recently been overshadowed by surging global bond yields and persistent inflation concerns.

The benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.687% — its highest level since January 2025 — while the 30-year yield touched 5.198%, levels last seen in 2007. Higher yields typically reduce demand for speculative assets such as cryptocurrencies by increasing the appeal of safer income-generating investments.

Investors were also reluctant to make large bets ahead of Nvidia’s quarterly earnings due later on Wednesday, seen as a key test for the artificial intelligence-driven rally that has underpinned broader market sentiment this year.

Crypto Price Today: Altcoins Remain Subdued

Most altcoins traded in tight ranges on Wednesday.

Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, fell 0.4% to $2,126.45.

XRP, ranked third globally, declined 1.1% to $1.37.

Solana and Cardano eased 0.5% each, while Polygon edged down 0.3%.

Among meme tokens, Dogecoin slipped 1%.