Bitcoin Surges Past $80,000 on September 18 After Recovering From Tuesday's Senate Clarity Act Defeat, Up 5.4 Percent on the Day

Bitcoin rose past $80,000 on Friday September 18, trading at $77,991 as of 7:25 AM ET and later topping $80,000 during the session, according to Yahoo Finance, Fortune, and Bloomberg. The cryptocurrency opened Friday at $76,350.68, up 0.3 percent from Thursday's opening price, and climbed steadily through the morning. The recovery marks a sharp reversal from Tuesday September 16, when Bitcoin fell to $75,586 after the US Senate failed to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in a 49-50 vote. The rally came as investors moved past the Clarity Act defeat and responded to declining oil prices, with Brent crude falling from over $107 per barrel on Wednesday to $98.46 on Friday morning, easing one component of near-term inflation pressure. The Federal Reserve had raised rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday to 3.75-4 percent, its first hike in three years, with Chair Kevin Warsh stating that inflation remains elevated. Ethereum also climbed, opening at $2,445.49 on Friday, up 1.2 percent from Thursday, and rising to $2,501.16 by mid-morning. The move higher matters because it demonstrates that crypto markets have decoupled from the immediate legislative disappointment and are tracking broader macro sentiment around energy costs, even as the Fed signals further rate hikes may be needed. Bitcoin's ability to rally past $80,000, rising roughly 5.4 percent on the day despite a tightening monetary policy environment, suggests investors are treating crypto as a hedge against persistent inflation rather than as a rate-sensitive asset. The all-time high for Bitcoin remains $126,198.07, set on October 6, 2025.