Bitcoin Steadies at US$81,629 as Ether Edges Up | Crypto Wrap, Oct 23
Key Facts
- Bitcoin closed at US$81,629 on Friday, up 0.39%, and ended the week almost unchanged (up 0.16% from 16 October).
- Ether rose 0.76% to US$2,404 but is 0.64% below its 16 October close.
- US stocks fell on Friday: the S&P 500 lost 0.52% and the Nasdaq 0.2%, after a 2.6% fall in the Nasdaq on Thursday.
- Coinbase shares fell 2.74% to US$164.45 while the bitcoin fund IBIT slipped 0.22% to US$45.96.
- Prediction markets: Polymarket gives 80.5% to bitcoin falling to US$80,000 in October (US$10.1 million traded; 8:39 pm ET, 23 October).
Today’s Focus
Bitcoin ended Friday, 23 October, at US$81,629, almost where it began the week. It rose 0.39% on the day after touching US$84,012 at Wednesday’s close.
Ether gained 0.76% to US$2,404. US stocks fell, which has weighed on crypto in recent sessions.
What matters today. Bitcoin held its ground through a week of swings, but it stays tied to Wall Street.
01 The session in one read
Bitcoin closed at US$81,629.20 on Friday. It was US$81,500.80 a week earlier, so the weekly change was only 0.16%, though it reached US$84,011.97 on Wednesday 21 October.
Ether closed at US$2,404.24, up 0.76% on the day and down 0.64% on the week.
On Thursday the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.6%, and bitcoin dropped 3.2% that day from its Wednesday close. Crypto moves have followed US stocks closely this week.
Bitcoin moved in a range of about US$81,300 to US$84,000 in closes this week. That suggests neither buyers nor sellers are in control.
A further fall in US stocks would probably pull crypto lower, while a rebound in tech shares could lift it.
02 The board
Bitcoin closed at US$81,629.20, up 0.39%. Ether closed at US$2,404.24, up 0.76%.
The bitcoin fund IBIT closed at US$45.96, down 0.22%. Strategy (MSTR) rose 0.14% to US$146.01, and Coinbase fell 2.74% to US$164.45.
| Asset | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (US$) | US$81,629 | +0.39% |
| Ether (US$) | US$2,404 | +0.76% |
| Bitcoin fund (IBIT) | US$45.96 | −0.22% |
| Strategy (MSTR) | US$146.01 | +0.14% |
| Coinbase (COIN) | US$164.45 | −2.74% |
Source: RT close, 2026-10-23. Where a commodity has no spot feed, an exchange-traded tracker or leading producer is shown as a labelled proxy.
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| Instrument | Last | Change | YoY | Prev. | High | Low | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBOV | 205,082.56 | +0.47% | +21.85% | 204,120.12 | 168,310 | 167,142 | — |
| IPSA | 10,746.36 | -0.31% | — | 10,780.31 | 11,210 | 10,984 | 1,513,213,483 |
| IPC MEX | 69,678.08 | -0.30% | +12.17% | 69,889.73 | 66,121 | 65,405 | 108,886,187 |
| MERVAL | 3,017,221 | — | +30.51% | 3,022,485 | 3,042,365 | 2,991,150 | — |
| COLCAP | 2,540.10 | +0.46% | — | 9.04 | 9.05 | 9.02 | 4,133 |
| BVL PERÚ | 57,021.19 | +0.13% | — | — | — | — | — |
| USD/BRL | 5.16 | +0.01% | -5.13% | 5.16 | 5.18 | 5.14 | — |
| EUR/BRL | 5.95 | +1.01% | -5.83% | 5.89 | 5.98 | 5.94 | — |
| USD/MXN | 17.06 | -0.24% | -8.58% | 17.10 | 17.08 | 17.01 | — |
| USD/CLP | 913.98 | +0.04% | -5.67% | 913.65 | 915.11 | 906.68 | — |
| USD/COP | 3,140 | +0.03% | -22.04% | 3,139 | 3,141 | 3,105 | — |
| USD/PEN | 3.36 | -0.66% | -4.82% | 3.38 | 3.38 | 3.35 | — |
| USD/ARS | 1,493 | +0.10% | +12.96% | 1,491 | 1,494 | 1,480 | — |
| USD/UYU | 40.27 | +1.24% | +1.80% | 39.77 | 40.27 | 40.23 | — |
| USD/PYG | 5,939 | +1.68% | -19.54% | 5,841 | 5,939 | 5,925 | — |
| USD/BOB | 11.64 | -0.76% | +72.04% | 11.73 | 11.72 | 11.64 | — |
| USD/DOP | 58.34 | +1.25% | -3.44% | 57.62 | 58.34 | 58.04 | — |
| USD/CRC | 445.92 | +0.89% | -9.71% | 441.97 | 448.50 | 445.92 | — |
03 What moved it
Stocks set the tone. The S&P 500 lost 0.52% on Friday and the Nasdaq 0.2%, after the Nasdaq’s 2.6% drop on Thursday.
The dollar index rose 0.14% and the US 10-year yield reached 5.00%. Higher yields tend to reduce the appeal of assets that pay no income.
US data were firm: the S&P Global Manufacturing PMI was 56.0 against 55.5 expected, the Services PMI 57.9 against 58.0 and the Composite PMI 57.6, in line with forecasts, according to the RT economic calendar. The University of Michigan survey showed 1-year inflation expectations of 4.7% and 5-year expectations of 3.5%, both as forecast.
04 The Latin American read
For Latin American savers, bitcoin’s price in local currencies matters. At Friday’s close one bitcoin cost about R$405,000 (US$81,629) in Brazil at 4.9654 reais per dollar, and about ARS125 million (US$81,629) in Argentina at the wholesale rate of 1,529.50 pesos.
Brazil’s real gained 1.57% on Friday, so bitcoin was slightly cheaper in reais than on Thursday.
05 The names to watch
IBIT is a major fund through which US investors hold bitcoin. Strategy holds bitcoin on its balance sheet, and Coinbase earns from trading volumes.
Coinbase fell more than bitcoin, which suggests investors are cautious about trading activity.
06 The outlook
The path for crypto depends on US stocks and on interest rates. The Federal Reserve decides on 28 October at 18:00 UTC.
A close above US$84,000 would mark a new weekly high, while a close below US$80,000 would break this week’s range.
07 What to watch
- US stocks: The Nasdaq’s direction sets the mood.
- The Fed: Decision on 28 October at 18:00 UTC.
- US$80,000: The level bettors expect bitcoin to test.
- The 10-year yield: A move above 5% adds pressure.
What Prediction Markets Say
Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market, gives 80.5% to bitcoin trading down to US$80,000 at some point in October, with about US$10.1 million traded on the contract (read 8:39 pm ET, 23 October 2026). For 2026 as a whole, it gives 51.5% to US$90,000 and 19.5% to US$100,000 (US$77.8 million traded).
These prices are bets, not forecasts.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is bitcoin worth?
Bitcoin closed at US$81,629 on Friday, 23 October 2026, up 0.39%.
How did bitcoin do over the week?
It rose 0.16% from the 16 October close of US$81,501.
Why did crypto swing this week?
Moves followed US stocks, including a 2.6% fall in the Nasdaq on Thursday.
What is IBIT?
A US-listed fund that holds bitcoin.
Market data: RT
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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