Key Facts
- Bitcoin settled at US$63,402 unchanged on the day, holding its line after a week of consolidation in major crypto assets.
- Ethereum edged up 0.31% to US$1,884 as the Ethereum Foundation confirmed a pivot away from Poseidon in its post-quantum cryptography research.
- Solana rose 0.86% to US$76.18 after 6th Man Ventures argued its infrastructure could carry crypto apps into mainstream use.
- XRP added 0.37% to US$1.0081 in a session where no single macro or regulatory shock dominated the crypto tape.
- The CFTC will hold an Innovation Advisory Committee on August 20 to explore crypto asset, artificial intelligence and prediction market regulation without waiting for CLARITY.
- Public Bitcoin miners cut hashrate 13.4% as operators repurpose power and data centres for AI and high-performance computing revenue.
Today’s Focus
Bitcoin closed Thursday, August 13, 2026 at US$63,402, a move of exactly 0.00% on the day. Ethereum settled at US$1,884, up 0.31%, while Solana rose 0.86% to US$76.18 and XRP gained 0.37% to US$1.0081.
The flat session came as attention shifted to regulatory infrastructure rather than price catalysts. The CFTC will hold its Innovation Advisory Committee on August 20 to address crypto assets, artificial intelligence and prediction markets, adding to the SEC’s post-CLARITY exploration.
In the mining sector, public Bitcoin miners cut hashrate by 13.4% as AI and high-performance computing revenue reshapes the economics of power and data centres. Bullish shares jumped 10% after adjusted EBITDA more than tripled.
For Latin America, a steady Bitcoin price matters because it reduces volatility for remittance corridors and stablecoin on-ramps in Brazil, Argentina and El Salvador, where dollarised crypto rails remain a practical tool.
What matters today. A flat Bitcoin price does not mean a quiet crypto market, as regulatory and mining infrastructure news set the stage for the next move.
01 The session in one read
Bitcoin closed Thursday, August 13, 2026 at US$63,402, exactly flat on the day. Ethereum rose 0.31% to US$1,884, Solana gained 0.86% to US$76.18 and XRP added 0.37% to US$1.0081.
The session offered little price drama, but the underlying news flow was heavy. The CFTC set an August 20 date for its Innovation Advisory Committee to explore crypto asset regulation, while public Bitcoin miners reported a 13.4% cut in hashrate as they pivot to AI and high-performance computing revenue.
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02 The board
The four major crypto proxies all held their ground. Bitcoin’s 0.00% move at US$63,402 was the anchor, with Ethereum’s 0.31% gain to US$1,884 showing marginal strength in the smart-contract layer.
Solana’s 0.86% rise to US$76.18 made it the best performer among the four, helped by 6th Man Ventures’ argument that Solana can be the ‘everything chain’ as crypto apps go mainstream. XRP’s 0.37% increase to US$1.0081 kept it just above the one-dollar mark.
| Asset | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | US$63,402 | -0.00% |
| Ethereum | US$1,884 | +0.31% |
| Solana | US$76.18 | +0.86% |
| XRP | US$1.0081 | +0.37% |
Source: RT close, 2026-08-13. Where a commodity has no spot feed, an exchange-traded tracker or leading producer is shown as a labelled proxy.
Live Market IntelligenceThe live market board
Rio Times · Live Market Intelligence
Latin America — Cross-Market Board
| Instrument | Last | Change | YoY | Prev. | High | Low | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBOV | 172,040.96 | +0.42% | +9.49% | 171,324.31 | 172,677 | 171,132 | — |
| IPSA | 10,685.60 | +0.57% | — | 10,625.27 | 10,699 | 10,639 | — |
| IPC MEX | 71,811.20 | -0.27% | +14.28% | 72,006.05 | 71,981 | 71,389 | 3,751,346 |
| MERVAL | 2,848,945 | — | -10.97% | 2,859,051 | — | — | — |
| COLCAP | 2,444.17 | -0.36% | — | — | — | — | — |
| USD/BRL | 5.64 | -0.11% | +6.50% | 5.64 | 5.67 | 5.63 | — |
| EUR/BRL | 6.22 | +0.54% | +1.53% | 6.19 | 6.26 | 6.22 | — |
| USD/MXN | 18.53 | -0.41% | +1.29% | 18.60 | 18.63 | 18.51 | — |
| USD/CLP | 997.92 | +0.25% | +7.36% | 995.48 | 1,002 | 993.78 | — |
| USD/COP | 3,313 | +1.03% | -10.58% | 3,279 | 3,325 | 3,302 | — |
| USD/PEN | 3.40 | -0.27% | +0.66% | 3.41 | 3.41 | 3.39 | — |
| USD/ARS | 1,548 | +0.15% | +9.87% | 1,545 | 1,548 | 1,544 | — |
| USD/UYU | 40.59 | +2.33% | +3.41% | 39.67 | 40.59 | 40.52 | — |
| USD/PYG | 6,196 | +2.33% | -10.79% | 6,055 | 6,196 | 6,185 | — |
| USD/BOB | 11.59 | -0.37% | +72.02% | 11.63 | 11.60 | 11.55 | — |
| USD/DOP | 60.61 | +1.88% | -5.37% | 59.49 | 60.61 | 60.43 | — |
| USD/CRC | 442.74 | -0.10% | -9.70% | 443.16 | 445.25 | 442.74 | — |
| USD/GTQ | 7.64 | +2.06% | +2.02% | 7.49 | 7.65 | 7.64 | — |
03 What moved it
Regulatory headlines set the tone without moving prices sharply. The CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee meeting on August 20 will address crypto assets, artificial intelligence and prediction markets, a move that effectively bypasses the stalled CLARITY bill.
In the legal arena, the Blockchain Association is backing Custodia in its Supreme Court fight over Federal Reserve master accounts. The group argues that broad Fed discretion could push crypto firms out of the banking system, a concern that resonates beyond the United States.
On the technology side, the Ethereum Foundation is pivoting away from Poseidon for post-quantum cryptography, as advances in compact proofs erased Poseidon’s previous performance advantage. More than 40 Bitcoin and crypto firms also asked leading AI labs this week to let independent security researchers use their strongest models before public release.
04 The Latin American read
For Brazil, Argentina and El Salvador, a stable Bitcoin price reduces the volatility that can deter everyday use in remittances and everyday payments. When Bitcoin does not gap overnight, stablecoin on-ramps and dollar-linked crypto rails become more predictable for households.
The mining shift toward AI infrastructure also matters for Latin America. Paraguay and Argentina have cheap electricity and attracted Bitcoin miners, but the global move to repurpose power and data centres for AI and HPC could change where capital flows in the region’s energy-rich zones.
Hawaii’s decision to ban cash deposits at crypto ATMs is a reminder that consumer protection rules are tightening. Latin American regulators have watched similar moves, and any US restriction on Fed master accounts could encourage more crypto activity to run through non-US and offshore rails.
05 The names to watch
Custodia is the name in the legal spotlight, with the Blockchain Association pushing the Supreme Court to hear its case on Fed master accounts. The outcome could define how digital asset firms access the US banking system.
Bullish jumped roughly 10% after reporting that Q2 adjusted EBITDA more than tripled, with subscription and services revenue hitting a record. Metaplanet denied selling US$320 million in Bitcoin, saying a 5,014 BTC transfer was a custody move, not a sale.
Delio CEO Jeong Sang-ho was sentenced to 15 years in prison on crypto fraud charges in South Korea, a signal that enforcement remains a live risk for exchange operators worldwide.
06 The outlook
The next major catalyst is the CFTC’s August 20 Innovation Advisory Committee meeting. If it produces a concrete rulemaking path for crypto assets and prediction markets, it could set a template that Latin American regulators watch closely.
The Supreme Court’s willingness to take up the Custodia case is the second variable. A ruling that narrows Fed discretion over master accounts would reassure crypto firms worldwide, while a refusal could deepen the banking-access squeeze that pushes activity offshore.
07 What to watch
- CFTC committee, August 20: Whether the CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee produces a concrete crypto rulemaking path or only signals direction.
- Custodia Supreme Court case: If the Supreme Court takes the case, a narrowing of Fed discretion over master accounts would reshape US crypto banking access.
- Mining hashrate shift: The 13.4% cut in public miner hashrate suggests AI and HPC are absorbing power capacity, with implications for energy-rich Latin American hubs.
- Ethereum Foundation crypto pivot: The move away from Poseidon for post-quantum cryptography could reshape Ethereum security roadmaps and developer priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Bitcoin close flat on Thursday?
Bitcoin settled at US$63,402, a 0.00% move, as regulatory and mining infrastructure news dominated without providing a sharp price catalyst.
What did Ethereum do on Thursday?
Ethereum rose 0.31% to US$1,884, helped by news that the Ethereum Foundation is pivoting away from Poseidon in post-quantum cryptography.
What is the CFTC doing on crypto regulation?
The CFTC will hold its Innovation Advisory Committee on August 20 to address crypto assets, artificial intelligence and prediction markets without waiting for CLARITY.
How does this affect Latin America?
A stable Bitcoin price makes remittances and stablecoin use more predictable in Brazil, Argentina and El Salvador, while US banking-access fights could push more activity onto offshore rails.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated AI newsroom. Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. The Rio Times also runs Ask Rio Times, which answers from 100,000+ of our own articles, the daily Latin America Power Map, and prediction-market odds on elections and markets.. How we use AI · Report an error
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