Crypto Remains Stalled; Trump Could Be a Catalyst
Bitcoin strengthened during the European session on Tuesday (August 18). BTC traded around US$64,186—up approximately 1.34% for the day—after moving within a range of US$63,246 to US$64,507. Although it has reclaimed the US$64,000 level, price action remains constrained as investors have not yet fully returned to risk-taking.
Primary pressure stems from the US-Iran conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude has risen to around US$91.22 per barrel following a deterioration in peace prospects, while vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below normal levels. High energy prices are keeping inflation concerns alive and could prolong tight US interest rate policies—conditions that tend to limit the upside for risk assets like cryptocurrency.
Investors are also awaiting a crucial White House meeting on Wednesday, expected to involve President Donald Trump, US regulators, and executives from the crypto, prediction market, traditional finance, and AI sectors. This will be followed on Thursday by a meeting of the CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee to discuss regulations regarding digital assets, AI, and prediction markets.
Regulatory certainty is one of the catalysts most eagerly awaited by the market. The US Senate has previously advanced the CLARITY Act—designed to clarify the division of authority between the SEC and CFTC and establish a federal framework for digital assets—but the legislative process remains incomplete. The outcomes of this week's meetings could provide new clues regarding the direction of US crypto policy.
Altcoin performance remains mixed. Ethereum is trading around US$1,624.95, XRP near US$1.059, Solana at US$77.97, and BNB around US$602.23. Cardano fell approximately 1.2% to US$0.1729, while Dogecoin weakened slightly to around US$0.0698.
Newsmaker Analysis: Bitcoin is currently caught in a tug-of-war between a technical rebound and pressures stemming from oil prices, inflation, and geopolitical uncertainty. The US$64,500–US$65,000 range serves as the immediate resistance level; a breakout here would reopen the path toward US$66,000. Conversely, a failure to hold the US$63,000–US$63,200 zone could see BTC retest lower levels. A White House meeting scheduled for Wednesday could act as a key catalyst in determining the asset's next direction. (arl)
Source: Newsmaker.id
