Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $79,093.85 on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 1.6% below Monday's opening price, and slipped further to $78,370.62 by 7:20 a.m. ET.

Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $2,489.84, down 1% from Monday's open, and edged lower to $2,473.66 as of 7:20 a.m. ET.

Cryptocurrency prices are sliding as the conflict between the U.S. and Iran continues. Fresh attacks on Tuesday followed military exchanges over the weekend that have pushed oil prices back near $100 a barrel, heightening inflation concerns one week before the Federal Reserve is set to meet on interest rates. The pullback is a reversal for a market that had been climbing: bitcoin is still up 21.9% from a month ago, and ethereum up 30.1%, even after Tuesday morning's declines.

Independent investors and members of the FOMC committee alike will get their final look at inflation data later this week, ahead of the Fed's two-day meeting beginning September 15. According to the CME Group's FedWatch tool, markets currently price in a 60% expectation that the Fed will raise rates next week. Higher rates are a natural headwind for crypto prices, since cryptocurrencies do not pay investors any interest. That dynamic has shaped crypto trading around Fed decisions before: during previous rate-tightening cycles, digital assets have repeatedly sold off alongside other risk-sensitive investments such as technology stocks when policy expectations shifted. With oil trading near $100 a barrel, the inflation data due later this week takes on added weight for both traditional and crypto markets.

Current prices of bitcoin and ethereum

Bitcoin

Bitcoin's price on the morning of Tuesday, September 8, 2026, was 1.6% lower than Monday's opening price. Changes in the opening bitcoin price versus prior periods:

• One week ago: +0.7%
• One month ago: +21.9%
• One year ago: -28.8%

Bitcoin's all-time high was $128,198.07, reached on October 6, 2025. Its all-time low was $0.04865 on July 14, 2010.

Ethereum

Ethereum's price on the morning of Tuesday, September 8, 2026, was 1% lower than Monday's open. Changes in the opening ethereum price versus prior periods:

• One week ago: +0.9%
• One month ago: +30.1%
• One year ago: -42.2%

Ethereum's all-time high was $4,953.73, reached on August 24, 2025. Its all-time low was $0.4209 on October 21, 2015.

Bitcoin, ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies are rapidly evolving. Follow the latest developments from Yahoo Finance and others.

What is Ethereum and how does it work?

Ethereum is the blockchain, while ether is the cryptocurrency that runs on it. When people say they're "buying ethereum," they're usually buying ETH — the digital asset used to run applications and store value.

Investors approach ETH in different ways: some trade short-term, others accumulate holdings gradually, and others earn a yield by locking up their ETH to help run the network — a process known as staking.

How to buy Ethereum

Ether, the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum platform, remains significantly more volatile than the S&P 500 for many investors, but it is now widely viewed as a foundational piece of a modern digital portfolio. The typical process for starting an ethereum investment involves:

1. Choose your Ethereum investment strategy
2. Pick the right platform
3. Complete identity verification (KYC)
4. Fund your Ethereum purchase
5. Execute the trade
6. Secure your investment

For further details, see How to buy Ethereum and what to know before you do.

Bitcoin and ethereum price data

Current and historical price data for bitcoin (BTC-USD) and ethereum (ETH-USD) is available from Yahoo Finance, including charts showing how each asset's value has moved over time.

More on crypto from the Yahoo Finance team

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• Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: Understanding the key differences — a comparison of BTC and ETH, from origins and supply to consensus mechanisms and real-world use cases
• What is Ethereum? A complete guide to the Ethereum blockchain — a beginner-friendly guide to the blockchain, smart contracts, DeFi, and how ETH differs from Bitcoin
• How to navigate a crypto meltdown: 'Be willing to hold on'
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