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Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Friday, August 28, 2026: Bitcoin moves above $81,000 before falling back
Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at$80,261.86 on Friday, August 28, 2026, 1.5% higher than Thursday’s opening price. As of 7:00 a.m. ET this morning, the price of bitcoin moved down to $79,560.02.
Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $2,511.31 on Friday, August 28, 2026, up 0.2% from Thursday’s opening price. The price of ethereum moved lower this morning to $2,505.68 as of 7:00 a.m. ET.
Opening prices for bitcoin and ethereum continue to hit weekly highs this week as a confluence of factors influences crypto pricing. For bitcoin, it’s the highest opening price we’ve observed since May 15. For ethereum, prices have been cresting the $2,500 mark a few different times over the past week.
There’s a lot happening at the moment that has and will continue to influence bitcoin’s price:
[From Wednesday, 8/26/26] The bigger issue for crypto traders right now might be timing. Over the next 48 hours, five separate catalysts converge on top of each other: economic data, a giant options expiry, a new Fed chair’s first big speech, Nvidia’s earnings, and a rate decision now three weeks away.
Each one pulls a different lever on Bitcoin’s price, and together they make this one of the more consequential stretches of the year for Bitcoin.
Current price of bitcoin and ethereum
Bitcoin
The price of bitcoin this morning was 1.5% higher than Thursday’s opening price. Here’s a look at how the opening bitcoin price has changed versus last week, month, and year:
The all-time high for bitcoin was $126,198.07 on Oct. 6, 2025. The all-time low value for bitcoin was $0.04865 on July 14, 2010.
Ethereum
The price of ethereum this morning was 0.2% higher than Thursday’s open. Here’s a look at how the opening ethereum price has changed versus last week, month, and year:
The all-time high for ethereum was $4,953.73 on Aug. 24, 2025. The all-time low value for ethereum was $0.4209 on Oct. 21, 2015.
Bitcoin, ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies are rapidly evolving.Follow the latest developments from Yahoo Finance and others here.
Can you buy your next house with crypto?
So, you put a little mad money into bitcoin a few years ago. Now, your crypto-fueled profit means you have a sweet nest egg to put toward a house.
But can you buy a house with crypto rather than using cash or a traditional mortgage loan? What are the roadblocks? And what about taxes?
President Trump wants the United States to be “the crypto capital of the world.” In that spirit, in late June, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) William J. Pulte ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to “prepare their businesses to count cryptocurrency as an asset for a mortgage.”
The FHFA supervises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that fund a major portion of the mortgage industry.
Pulte said the housing system “needs a massive upgrade,” adding, “I want people who own cryptocurrency to be able to buy homes like everyone else. I believe cryptocurrency is an asset. I believe Americans should be able to use their crypto if they want to. It’s time the housing system caught up.”
This signals what could be a fundamental change to how cryptocurrency may be used to qualify for a mortgage.
Learn more:Want to buy a house with crypto? Here’s what to expect.
Bitcoin and ethereum price charts
Whether you’re brand new to tracking the value of bitcoin and ethereum or a more seasoned crypto investor, Yahoo Finance’s price-of-bitcoin chart and price-of-ethereum chart below show a visual history of how the currencies’ value continues to move and evolve.
(BTC-USD)
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79,385.03-836.28(-1.04%)
As of 2:42:45 PM UTC. Market Open.
(ETH-USD)
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2,508.17-9.48(-0.38%)
As of 2:42:44 PM UTC. Market Open.
More information on crypto from the Yahoo Finance team:
Want to buy a house with crypto? Here’s what to expect.
There are several ways to buy a house with cryptocurrency rather than a regular mortgage. Find out which option is best, plus the benefits and risks of each.
Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: Understanding the key differences
Compare Ethereum and Bitcoin. Learn the key differences between BTC and ETH, from origins and supply to consensus mechanisms and real-world use cases.
How to navigate a crypto meltdown: ‘Be willing to hold on’
Financial advisors are reversing course on cryptocurrencies as an investment. So what happens when the next crypto crash occurs?
Better and Coinbase issue the first crypto-backed conventional mortgage
Better and Coinbase have issued their first Fannie Mae-backed crypto mortgage to a couple in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Is this the first in a new movement?
Crypto-backed mortgages are hitting the mainstream. Here’s how they work.
Fannie Mae recently announced it will begin accepting crypto as collateral for conventional mortgages. Here’s how crypto-backed mortgages work.
<img src="https://cryptoz7.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/https-3A-2F-2Fs.yimg_.com-2Fos-2Fcreatr-uploaded-images-2F2025-07-2F6998e0b0-6632-11f0-b713-801fd8c7feb3.jpg" alt="What is Ethereum? A complete guide to the Ethereum blockchain.”>
What is Ethereum? A complete guide to the Ethereum blockchain.
What is Ethereum? Here’s your beginner-friendly guide to the blockchain, smart contracts, DeFi, and how ETH differs from Bitcoin. Learn the basics before you invest.
