Bitcoin Nears $80,000 as Schwab Adds Solana, Avalanche

Bitcoin rose over 1% to trade just under $80,000 on Monday, reaching levels not seen since May, as institutional demand returned and Charles Schwab announced an expansion of its crypto offerings [1, 2]. The move extends a rally that saw Bitcoin gain more than 20% over three days last week, its largest such rally since 2023, driven by a macro shift and significant spot ETF inflows [1].

Market Movement and Catalysts

Bitcoin's recent surge pushed it near $80,000, while Ether gained 2% to approximately $2,470, nearing its highest level since January [1]. This rally follows a macro shift last week, where the Treasury's decision to double purchases of longer-dated government bonds briefly lowered yields, reviving demand for risk assets like Bitcoin and scarce assets like gold [1]. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $1.92 billion in inflows last week, their largest weekly inflow since October, coinciding with over $4 billion in bearish crypto positions being liquidated [1].

Crypto treasury stocks also saw gains, with Strive climbing 8%, Strategy adding 2%, and ETH treasury names Bitmine and Sharplink gaining 5% and 4% respectively [1]. Investment manager Gadi Chait noted that Bitcoin's 23% rise last week was its strongest weekly advance since March 2023, with the composition of the rally showing genuine investor demand alongside short liquidations [3]. Bitfire Research highlighted that the crypto Fear and Greed Index is now elevated, and the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) is near 78, suggesting potential for a pullback [3].

Schwab Expands Crypto Offerings

Charles Schwab is preparing to expand its retail digital-asset service, Schwab Crypto, by adding Solana (SOL), Avalanche (AVAX), and Chainlink (LINK) for eligible clients [2]. These three assets will join Bitcoin and Ethereum, which have been the only tokens available for direct trading since Schwab Crypto's phased rollout began in May 2026 [2]. Joe Vietri, Schwab’s head of digital assets, stated the expansion aims to provide clients more ways to integrate digital assets into their portfolios within Schwab's existing investing environment [2].

Schwab Crypto is offered through Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB, an FDIC-member bank, and allows clients to view crypto holdings alongside traditional investments on Schwab.com and other platforms [2]. The service charges 75 basis points per transaction and includes research, educational materials, and 24/7 support [2]. Availability is limited to all US states except New York and Louisiana [2]. Schwab emphasizes that cryptocurrencies are not securities, are not SIPC-protected, not FDIC-insured, and are highly volatile [2]. The firm plans to continue adding digital assets gradually, aligning with its strategy of entering the market after clearer US regulatory paths emerged [2].

What to watch

• Bitcoin Price Levels: Monitor whether Bitcoin can reclaim and hold above $80,000 after leverage normalizes, with near-term resistance seen around $78,500 to $82,000 and support around $73,500 to $72,400 [3].
• ETF Inflows and Spot Demand: Watch whether spot Bitcoin ETF inflows remain positive at higher prices and if the Coinbase premium turns positive again, signaling renewed spot demand [3].
• Regulatory Developments: Attention will center on the procedural vote on the Clarity Act around September 15 and the SEC’s 60-day consultation on its crypto-asset framework [3].
• Ethereum's Glamsterdam Upgrade: A possible delay of Ethereum’s Glamsterdam upgrade into the fourth quarter could reduce near-term fundamental catalysts for ETH [3].

While the latest rally shows a meaningful improvement in market structure, some analysts caution that it is not yet a definitive confirmation of a broader cycle turn, with on-chain and market-structure signals remaining mixed [3].