Key Highlights

  • Bitcoin (BTC) slipped 1.2% to about USD 79,800 on October 26, 2026, just under USD 80,000, while US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded USD 169 million of net outflows that day.
  • Ether (ETH) fell 2.3% to about USD 2,303, and the previous Friday's USD 635 million of Bitcoin fund outflows was the largest daily figure since June, though the week still took in USD 443 million.
  • At about USD 79,800 the coin is roughly 37.8% below its record of USD 128,198 set on October 6, 2025, simple arithmetic on two published numbers, so the recovery path is far from complete.
  • The Federal Reserve decision on October 28, 2026 and a 10-year Treasury yield near 4.99% shape the risk-asset backdrop, and the close for October 26 should be checked later.

What Happened to Bitcoin

Bitcoin (BTC) fell 1.2% to about USD 79,800 on Monday, October 26, 2026, slipping just under the round USD 80,000 level that traders watch. US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded USD 169 million of net outflows, meaning more money left the funds than entered. The previous Friday's outflow of USD 635 million was the largest since June, but the full week still took in USD 443 million, so flows have been uneven rather than one-directional. Ether (ETH) fell more than Bitcoin, down 2.3% to about USD 2,303. The final close for October 26 was not available when this article was written, so the levels are approximate.

Drawdown and the Macro Backdrop

Bitcoin's record is USD 128,198, set on October 6, 2025. At about USD 79,800 the price is roughly 37.8% below that peak. One-year and five-year drawdown figures were not available for this article. Crypto trades with other risk assets when yields rise. The 10-year Treasury yield sat near 4.99% and the 30-year at 5.30% on October 26, and the Federal Reserve decision on October 28 could move both. A hawkish pause would raise the expected path of rates and could weigh on assets with no cash flows. A softer tone could do the opposite. Exchange-traded fund flows are a measure of demand from investors who use brokerage accounts.

Risks and What to Watch

Crypto prices can move several times faster than equities, and a break below USD 80,000 can trigger further selling by traders who use leverage. Holders of Bitcoin (BTC) should treat the round number as a reference level and not as a floor. Spot fund flows can reverse within days, as the swing between USD 635 million of outflows and USD 443 million of weekly inflows shows. Investors can watch daily fund flow data, the Federal Reserve statement on October 28, 2026, and results from Coinbase and Strategy on October 29. Any view on a future bull run is speculation, not a forecast, and the coin carries risks from regulation, custody and liquidity, as well as sharp swings in sentiment. Nothing in this article is investment advice.

Where Things Stand

The answer is that Bitcoin (BTC) slipped under USD 80,000 because spot fund outflows of USD 169 million and a cautious risk backdrop outweighed buyers, with Ether down 2.3% as well. The price is about 37.8% below the record of USD 128,198, which shows how far the market remains from its peak. The Federal Reserve decision on October 28, 2026 and the next fund flow figures are the next catalysts.