Bitcoin Falls 2.08% to US$84,383 on 23 September 2026, and Stablecoins Still Carry Latin America’s Crypto Trade
Key Facts
- Bitcoin settled lower on Wednesday it closed at US$84,383, down 2.08 percent from the prior session on profit-taking.
- Ethereum and major altcoins fell harder Ethereum closed at US$2,685, down 2.47 percent, while XRP dropped 4.53 percent to US$1.5006.
- Stablecoins dominate Brazilian crypto turnover dollar-linked tokens represented 98 percent of US$6.9 billion in reported first-quarter 2026 Brazilian volume.
- Argentina leans heavily on dollar tokens USDT and USDC accounted for more than 70 percent of Argentine crypto purchases as inflation protection.
- El Salvador holds a large Bitcoin treasury the sovereign stockpile was about 7,660 BTC as of May 2026, worth over US$500 million at the time.
- Remittances still favour stablecoins regionally stablecoins rose from 3 percent of Latin American remittances in 2023 to 11 percent in 2025.
Today’s Focus
Bitcoin closed Wednesday at US$84,383, down 2.08 percent, after a retreat from earlier strength above US$87,000. The pullback reflected profit-taking and consolidation following strong inflows into US spot-Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.
Major tokens tracked Bitcoin lower. Ethereum settled at US$2,685, down 2.47 percent, while Solana fell 2.98 percent to US$114.98. XRP lost 4.53 percent to US$1.5006, the sharpest decline among the major names.
For Latin America, the more consequential story remains stablecoins. Dollar-linked tokens made up 98 percent of Brazil’s reported first-quarter crypto turnover and more than 70 percent of Argentine purchases, reflecting their use as inflation hedges and payment rails.
El Salvador’s large Bitcoin treasury has not translated into broad remittance use. Digital-currency remittances reached only US$35.4 million in the first half of 2026, just 0.7 percent of total remittances.
What matters today. The daily Bitcoin move matters less for Latin America than the region’s deepening reliance on dollar-linked stablecoins for savings, salaries and cross-border payments.
01 The session in one read
Bitcoin closed Wednesday at US$84,383, a decline of 2.08 percent, as traders locked in gains after the coin’s push above US$87,000. The drop came despite a run of strong inflows into US spot-Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.
The wider crypto market followed the flagship lower. Ethereum settled at US$2,685, down 2.47 percent, while Solana lost 2.98 percent to US$114.98 and XRP slid 4.53 percent to US$1.5006.
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02 The board
Ethereum’s 2.47 percent decline outpaced Bitcoin’s 2.08 percent fall, a sign that traders rotated away from riskier altcoins during the pullback. Solana’s drop to US$114.98 left it the weakest of the major smart-contract tokens.
XRP was the session’s clear laggard at minus 4.53 percent, settling at US$1.5006. The sharper loss reflected thinner liquidity and the token’s sensitivity to regulatory headlines after the Senate failed to advance the CLARITY Act.
| Asset | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | US$84,383 | -2.08% |
| Ethereum | US$2,685 | -2.47% |
| Solana | US$114.98 | -2.98% |
| XRP | US$1.5006 | -4.53% |
Source: RT close, 2026-09-23. Where a commodity has no spot feed, an exchange-traded tracker or leading producer is shown as a labelled proxy.
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Latin America — Cross-Market Board
| Instrument | Last | Change | YoY | Prev. | High | Low | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBOV | 168,498.45 | +1.39% | +9.89% | 166,191.45 | — | — | — |
| IPSA | 10,536.54 | +0.68% | — | 10,465.25 | 10,617 | 10,435 | — |
| IPC MEX | 71,393.57 | +0.43% | +13.16% | 71,087.56 | 71,469 | 70,635 | 145,640,378 |
| MERVAL | 2,848,945 | — | -4.19% | 2,859,051 | — | — | — |
| COLCAP | 2,485.26 | +0.03% | — | — | — | — | — |
| USD/BRL | 5.50 | -0.17% | +2.56% | 5.51 | 5.50 | 5.50 | — |
| EUR/BRL | 6.13 | +0.07% | -0.35% | 6.13 | 6.17 | 6.12 | — |
| USD/MXN | 18.60 | -0.05% | +0.04% | 18.61 | 18.60 | 18.60 | — |
| USD/CLP | 975.74 | +0.00% | +3.43% | 975.74 | 975.74 | 975.74 | — |
| USD/COP | 3,240 | +0.03% | -15.48% | 3,238 | 3,240 | 3,240 | — |
| USD/PEN | 3.44 | -0.15% | +3.80% | 3.45 | 3.46 | 3.42 | — |
| USD/ARS | 1,545 | +0.00% | +6.50% | 1,545 | 1,545 | 1,545 | — |
| USD/UYU | 40.31 | +3.48% | +2.73% | 38.95 | 40.31 | 40.22 | — |
| USD/PYG | 6,358 | +8.23% | -8.70% | 5,875 | 6,358 | 6,358 | — |
| USD/BOB | 11.81 | +0.40% | +75.39% | 11.76 | 11.92 | 11.81 | — |
| USD/DOP | 60.56 | +0.43% | -5.45% | 60.30 | 60.59 | 59.79 | — |
| USD/CRC | 448.27 | +1.89% | -8.45% | 439.97 | 449.63 | 448.27 | — |
| USD/GTQ | 7.64 | +3.24% | +2.07% | 7.40 | 7.64 | 7.64 | — |
03 What moved it
Profit-taking was the main driver. Bitcoin’s retreat followed a rally that took it above US$87,000, and traders used the strength to reduce exposure before Friday’s US$15.9 billion Bitcoin options expiry on Deribit.
Regulatory uncertainty added weight. The Senate’s inability to advance the CLARITY Act, which sought clearer treatment for digital assets, kept a cautious tone across altcoins, hitting XRP hardest.
04 The Latin American read
The day’s price moves matter far less to Latin American users than the stablecoin economy. In Brazil, dollar-linked tokens represented 98 percent of US$6.9 billion in reported first-quarter 2026 crypto turnover, supported by Pix instant payments and central-bank virtual-asset rules in force since February 2, 2026.
Argentina shows the same pattern. With roughly 11.2 million crypto holders in 2025, USDT and USDC made up more than 70 percent of purchases, and about 75 percent of workers paid in crypto chose stablecoin salaries as a shield against inflation.
El Salvador’s case is more mixed. The sovereign treasury holds about 7,660 BTC, but digital-currency remittances reached only US$35.4 million in the first half of 2026, up 39.1 percent yet still just 0.7 percent of total remittances.
05 The names to watch
Strategy shares drew attention after President Donald Trump disclosed a July purchase of the stock worth up to US$100,000. The disclosure links the administration’s crypto policy push to direct financial exposure.
Coinbase expanded borrowing against Bitcoin at a fixed rate through the Morpho Midnight deployment, letting users lock in repayment dates on USDC loans. The shift away from variable-rate on-chain lending could make crypto credit more predictable.
06 The outlook
Friday’s options expiry is the near-term catalyst. A book stacked with calls could pull Bitcoin toward a key strike level as market makers hedge, adding volatility to an already consolidating market.
Beyond the expiry, the structural story for Latin America is unchanged: dollar-linked stablecoins now handle more than 90 percent of the region’s digital-asset transaction volume, making them the real payments layer.
07 What to watch
- Friday options expiry: A US$15.9 billion Bitcoin options expiry on Deribit could amplify volatility as market makers hedge around key strike prices.
- CLARITY Act fallout: The Senate’s failure to advance the bill leaves US digital-asset rules unresolved, weighing on altcoin sentiment.
- Brazil stablecoin rules: Central-bank virtual-asset rules in force since February 2026 are shaping how exchanges report dollar-linked token turnover.
- El Salvador remittances: The gap between the sovereign Bitcoin treasury and tiny crypto remittance share shows adoption has not followed official holdings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Bitcoin fall on Wednesday?
Bitcoin closed down 2.08 percent at US$84,383 as traders took profits after a rally above US$87,000, despite strong spot-ETF inflows.
Which major crypto fell the most?
XRP fell 4.53 percent to US$1.5006, the sharpest decline among the major tokens, pressured by regulatory uncertainty.
What role do stablecoins play in Latin America?
Dollar-linked tokens dominate local activity, making up 98 percent of reported Brazilian crypto turnover and more than 70 percent of Argentine purchases.
Is El Salvador using Bitcoin for remittances?
Only marginally. Digital-currency remittances hit US$35.4 million in the first half of 2026, just 0.7 percent of total remittance flows.
Market data: RT
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated AI newsroom. Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. How we use AI · Report an error
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