Bitcoin has started August 24 on a strong note after one of its best weekly moves in years. BTC opened today at about $77.7K and has traded in a range of about $76.9K to $78K. The move comes after a sharp rise last week, when Bitcoin gained about 24% from Monday and reached levels above $77,000.
The current price shows that Bitcoin has held much of its recent rise. That is important because a fast price jump often brings a quick fall as traders take profit. So far, Bitcoin has stayed close to the $77K area.
The wider crypto market also has a strong tone today. Yet the market is not moving as one group. Bitcoin remains the main asset to watch, while Ethereum has gained more attention from large investors and traders.
Ethereum Tests the $2,500 Level
Ethereum is also a major part of today’s crypto story. ETH has moved close to the $2,500 level after a sharp rise over the past week. Recent market data shows that the coin rose by about 18% at one point as spot trading volume grew across major exchanges.
A key reason for the rise is demand for US spot Ethereum ETFs. These funds had a very strong week, with about $697 million in net inflows. The figure marks the strongest weekly flow for Ethereum ETFs since October 2025.
The recent daily figures also show the scale of that demand. Ethereum ETFs saw about $189 million in net inflows on August 19, around $221 million on August 20, and about $185 million on August 21. BlackRock’s ETHA fund took a large share of that demand.
This flow gives Ethereum a strong base. It also helps explain why traders now pay close attention to the $2,500 mark.
Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs Had a Big Week
ETF demand has become one of the main forces in the crypto market. A report published today says Bitcoin and Ethereum funds had their biggest inflow week of 2026 as fresh capital entered the market along with a short squeeze.
This matters because ETF demand can bring large sums of money into crypto without the buyer having to use a normal crypto exchange. Investors can buy shares of an ETF through traditional financial markets.
The recent flow data also shows that interest is not limited to Bitcoin. Ethereum has received a large share of the new demand. That has helped ETH gain faster than Bitcoin over parts of the recent rally.
For the crypto market, this is a major change from periods when ETF demand was weak. It suggests that large investors have become more willing to add crypto exposure after the recent price rise.
A Bitcoin Miner Now Favors Ethereum
Another notable crypto story today comes from Jiang Zhuoer, founder of the Bitcoin mining pool BTC.TOP.
Jiang has changed his earlier view on Ethereum. He now expects ETH to outperform Bitcoin during this market cycle and plans to move his remaining capital toward Ethereum.
The change is notable because Jiang comes from the Bitcoin mining sector. His view does not mean that Bitcoin has lost its value or that Ethereum will certainly beat BTC. It does show how fast market views can change after a major price move.
Ethereum has gained attention due to ETF demand, strong price action, and wider use of its network. Bitcoin, on the other hand, remains the largest crypto asset by market value and continues to lead the wider market.
Stablecoins Gain More Use in Payments
Crypto use is also expanding outside price speculation. New data cited today shows that crypto card spending reached about $1.04 billion in July. That was close to three times the earlier level, with stablecoins as a major source of the growth.
Stablecoins are crypto tokens that aim to keep a stable value, often close to the US dollar. They can offer a simple way to move digital dollars across borders and between platforms.
The rise in card use matters because it shows a move toward normal payments. If stablecoins become easier to use for daily purchases, crypto could have a wider role beyond trading.
This area will be important to watch as more payment firms, exchanges, and financial companies build services around stablecoins.
Binance Brings AI Agents Into Crypto
Another major theme today is the link between crypto and artificial intelligence.
Binance has introduced Agent OS, a platform that lets AI agents access market data, watch accounts, and execute trades under user-controlled permissions.
The idea is simple. An AI agent can perform certain tasks for a user instead of requiring the user to make each action by hand. The user can set the rules and limits for what the agent can do.
This could create a new part of the crypto market. At the same time, it also raises questions about risk. An AI system that can trade assets needs clear limits because a wrong action can lead to a real financial loss.
For now, the launch shows that major crypto firms see AI as an important part of the next stage of digital finance.
Altcoins Still Face a Tougher Market
Bitcoin and Ethereum have had a strong move, but the same strength does not apply to every altcoin.
The CoinMarketCap Altcoin Season Index is reported at 41. A score at this level suggests that Bitcoin still has better performance than much of the wider altcoin market over the measured period.
That is a useful signal for traders. A strong Bitcoin rally does not always mean that a full altcoin rally has started.
Some smaller tokens can rise fast when market demand grows, but they can also fall much faster if traders take profits. The current index suggests that the market still has a clear preference for larger crypto assets.
Aster Recovers After a Sharp Drop
ASTER is another token in focus today. The token gained about 3.7% after a sharp fall tied to derivatives activity and a later recovery. Liquidations and a fall in open interest played a role in the price move.
The case shows how fast crypto prices can change when leverage is high. Derivatives let traders take larger positions with less capital, but this also creates a risk of forced sales when prices move against them.
ASTER’s move is therefore less about the whole market and more about the risks that can affect individual tokens.
Zcash and LightLink Are Also in Focus
Zcash has a major governance event ahead. ZEC holders have an eligibility snapshot on August 24 before a vote on whether the network should remove its halving system.
The vote could matter for the future supply of ZEC. A change to the halving system could affect how new coins enter the market, so traders are likely to watch the result closely.
LightLink also has a token event today. About 7.78 million LL tokens, worth around $155K, are set to unlock on August 24.
Token unlocks can create extra supply in the market. The effect depends on whether the new tokens are sold or held by their owners.
What Crypto Traders Are Watching Today
The crypto market on August 24 has several clear themes. Bitcoin remains close to $77K after a major weekly rally. Ethereum has moved toward $2,500, helped by strong ETF demand. Bitcoin and Ethereum funds have also seen their best weekly inflows of 2026 so far.
At the same time, the market has not reached a point where every crypto asset moves higher. The Altcoin Season Index at 41 shows that Bitcoin still has a stronger position than many smaller coins.
The biggest question now is whether Bitcoin can hold its recent gains and whether Ethereum can stay above the $2,400 area and break past $2,500 with strength.
For today, the market remains positive but highly sensitive to price moves, ETF flows, leverage, and new crypto developments. After a major rally, the next test is not only how high prices can go, but also whether the market can hold the gains it already made.
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