TLDR
- Bitcoin rose 0.4% to $77,175, recovering slightly after dipping near $76,000 earlier this week
- U.S.-Iran peace talk optimism lifted sentiment, with Trump saying the war could end “very quickly”
- Treasury yields hit multi-year highs, with the 10-year at 4.687% and the 30-year at 5.198%
- Stock futures pointed slightly higher, with Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.4% ahead of Nvidia’s earnings report
- Most altcoins traded lower, with Ethereum down 0.4%, XRP down 1.1%, and Dogecoin slipping 1%
Bitcoin edged back above $77,000 on Wednesday as traders watched two key developments: possible progress in U.S.-Iran peace talks and the release of Nvidia’s quarterly earnings.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency rose 0.4% to $77,175. That follows a drop near $76,000 at the start of the week, after Bitcoin had climbed above $82,000 just last week.
Iran Peace Talks Lift Sentiment
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the war with Iran could end “very quickly” if talks move forward. He also revealed he had been “an hour away” from ordering a military strike before pausing to allow more time for diplomacy.
“We’re going to end that war very quickly. They want to make a deal so badly. They’re tired of this”
President Trump predicts a deal to end the war with Iran is going to happen “fast” — and that oil prices will plummet when the agreement is reached. pic.twitter.com/Q0t8Bp8RWx
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 19, 2026
Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. and Iran had made progress in negotiations but warned Washington remained “locked and loaded” if talks break down.
Oil prices dipped slightly on the news, though Brent crude stayed above $110 per barrel. Analysts said a meaningful drop in oil prices could help ease inflation pressure that has weighed on both crypto and tech stocks.
Bitcoin’s recent rally, which was driven by optimism around institutional adoption and crypto-friendly U.S. regulation, has run into headwinds from rising bond yields and persistent inflation.
Treasury Yields Hit Multi-Year Highs
The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.687%, its highest point since January 2025. The 30-year yield touched 5.198%, a level not seen since 2007.
Higher yields tend to pull investors away from riskier assets like crypto by making safer, income-generating investments more attractive.
That dynamic has kept broader risk appetite in check, even as diplomatic news offered some relief.
Stock futures were modestly higher ahead of Nvidia’s report. Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.4%, while S&P 500 futures edged up 0.1%. Dow futures were flat.
On Tuesday, stocks fell as tech shares pulled back and Treasury yields surged.
Nvidia’s earnings are closely watched as a gauge of AI spending. Big Tech companies have been pouring money into AI infrastructure, and investors want to know if that trend is holding.
Concerns about inflation and the possibility of Federal Reserve rate hikes have dampened appetite for growth stocks, including AI-related names.
Altcoins Slide
Most altcoins struggled on Wednesday. Ethereum fell 0.4% to $2,126. XRP dropped 1.1% to $1.37. Solana and Cardano each eased 0.5%, while Polygon slipped 0.3%. Dogecoin declined 1%.
Traders were largely sitting on their hands, waiting for Nvidia’s results after the market close for clearer direction.
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