Overnight from September 18 to 19, bitcoin rose 5%. At the time of writing, it is trading around $81,000.
At one point, the price reached $81,600.
The rally lifted the broader crypto market. Ethereum gained 5.8% to $2,600. Solana added more than 7% to $112, and Hyperliquid’s token set a new all-time high above $90.
The move was accompanied by large-scale liquidations. Over 24 hours, 118,139 traders saw positions forcibly closed totaling $613.7 million. Most of that — $536 million — came from shorts.
Inflows into U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs also returned. On September 17 they attracted $159 million, and on the 18th — $433 million.
Market rebounds after CLARITY Act
On September 15, bitcoin fell to about $75,000 after the U.S. Senate failed to advance the CLARITY Act.
The next day, the Federal Reserve raised the rate by 25 basis points, to 3.75-4%. Despite two negative events in a row, there was no further decline.
On September 17, the SEC introduced an exemption for trading tokenized stocks via blockchain platforms. The next day, the CFTC sent the White House a draft of new rules for cryptocurrency transactions and markets.
The Block linked the market’s recovery in part to ongoing regulatory actions amid the CLARITY Act delay.
Pantera Capital founder Dan Morehead noted that the SEC and CFTC continue to take steps that could be incorporated into crypto market structure legislation. In his view, the industry can develop without the CLARITY Act being passed immediately.
What traders and analysts say
Michaël van de Poppe called the market “bullish” even before the break above $80,000. He viewed $76,700 as a potential level for continuation toward the top of the range.
It’s very simple.
Any flip in this level at $76,700 for #Bitcoin is a phenomenal long entry to the range high.
Markets are bullish. pic.twitter.com/3cogUQKa2B
— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) September 18, 2026
A CryptoQuant analyst known as Darkfost highlighted the $71,300–$79,800 range the day before the rally. The lower bound corresponds to the average cost of bitcoin’s active supply. In his view, it could act as support.
By contrast, $79,800 repeatedly acted as resistance due to investor selling after reaching break-even. On September 18, the first cryptocurrency moved above that level.
Bitcoin’s range narrows between active supply support and capital break-even resistance
➤ For now, bitcoin:native continues trading above the key active supply cost basis level.
This is a cost basis calculation where the oldest BTC have been deliberately excluded, keeping… pic.twitter.com/ZDiizgiSTY
— Darkfost (@Darkfost_Coc) September 17, 2026
Santiment pointed to three themes that weighed on sentiment during the week: the CLARITY Act setback, the Fed’s rate hike, and new security incidents.
Analysts suggested that large buyers may have become more active amid heightened fear, but there is no direct confirmation.
Trader Altcoin Sherpa considers the next key level to be around $82,000. In his view, a firm break above that level could open the way toward $100,000. Until that happens, he does not rule out continued range-bound trading.
Technical analyst Crypto Patel also highlighted $80,000 as a key level. In his model, holding above it would confirm a breakout from a “bullish flag,” with $82,250 and $98,000 as the next targets.
Bitcoin Bullish Flag Pattern: Could $BTC Rally Toward $98,000 Next?
8H TECHNICAL STRUCTURE: #BTC Is Currently Trading Inside A Bullish Flag, A Classic Continuation Pattern Following The Previous Impulsive Move.
🟢 BULLISH SCENARIO: Break + 8H Close + Hold Above $80,000 → Flag… pic.twitter.com/8HVDDAWlLQ
— Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) September 18, 2026
A return below $75,000 would open a move down to $71,000 and $68,000, he emphasized.
After the CLARITY Act setback, Bitwise said the crypto market can continue to grow without the bill’s passage.
