Bitcoin gained about 1% to approximately $78,600 during Asian trading hours on Monday, as digital-asset markets showed signs of stabilizing after a turbulent stretch. The cryptocurrency had fallen to around $77,600 late Sunday before buyers pushed it back above $78,500 within hours, according to CoinDesk's report.

Altcoins Join Bitcoin in the Recovery

Zcash (ZEC) led major cryptocurrencies, rising 3% to nearly $1,280. Ether (ETH) and BNB each advanced almost 2%, with Ether trading just above $2,300 and BNB at approximately $713. XRP and TRX gained around 1%, while Solana (SOL) showed little movement at roughly $95, based on CoinDesk data.

The gains followed a turbulent period for digital assets after Binance disclosed a $6.3 billion hack last week. The incident was described in the report as the largest theft from a cryptocurrency exchange on record — a sum that exceeds other major exchange breaches in recent years, among them the roughly $1.5 billion theft from Bybit in February 2025 — and it contributed to downward pressure on crypto prices. Monday's price action suggested that buyers were returning, although the recovery remained closely tied to broader financial-market conditions: the direction of technology stocks and expectations for interest rates could continue to influence demand for cryptocurrencies, an asset class that has often traded in step with tech shares.

Asian Stocks and U.S. Futures Recover

Equity markets also showed signs of stabilization after a difficult Friday session. The Nasdaq 100 dropped 3.5%, marking its worst daily performance since June, while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, which tracks U.S.-listed chipmakers, plunged 7%. By Monday, futures tied to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 had risen by at least 0.4%.

Major stock benchmarks also advanced in South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan. Chinese equities gained after a report that regulators would meet with banks and brokerages on Monday to discuss measures to support the market.

Commodity markets moved in different directions. Brent crude fell 3% to approximately $110 a barrel after a report said U.S. President Donald Trump wanted to give diplomacy with Iran more time before potentially resuming strikes after Tuesday's midterm elections. Gold rose about 1% to roughly $3,910 an ounce, recovering from its lowest closing level in more than a year, which it hit on Friday.

Interest Rates Remain a Concern for Bitcoin

Jeff Mei, chief operating officer at cryptocurrency exchange BTSE, warned that monetary policy could continue to weigh on digital assets. In an email to CoinDesk, Mei said he expected macroeconomic pressures following the Federal Reserve's comments the previous week to keep interest rates elevated, potentially restricting liquidity for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies over the coming months.

Mei said market participants would closely monitor whether technology stocks could recover or extend their recent losses. He suggested that a modest rebound in equities could indicate that markets had reached a bottom and potentially create a buying opportunity for Bitcoin while its price remained below $80,000. His assessment points to the importance of broader risk sentiment in determining crypto-market direction: a recovery in technology shares could support investor appetite for digital assets, while continued weakness and tighter financial conditions could limit further gains.

U.S. Midterm Elections and the CLARITY Act in Focus

Political developments in the United States are another factor investors are watching this week. Polls are scheduled to close across the country on Tuesday night, with results expected to begin arriving during Asian trading hours on Wednesday, though close contests can take longer to settle. Voters will decide all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and roughly one-third of the Senate, setting the balance of power in Congress.

Mei said the midterm elections could have a significant effect on markets. He argued that a Democratic majority in Congress could affect the outlook for the CLARITY Act, legislation intended to establish rules for U.S. cryptocurrency markets, including which regulatory agency would oversee different tokens — a question that centers on the split in authority between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Mei also suggested that a Democratic congressional majority could put pressure on the Iran conflict to end sooner. In his view, a shorter conflict could reduce oil prices and inflationary pressures, potentially supporting a recovery in stocks and cryptocurrencies. These outcomes remain conditional on political developments and how markets respond.

With Bitcoin approaching $79,000, traders are monitoring several interconnected factors: the aftermath of the Binance hack, the performance of technology shares, expectations for interest rates, developments involving Iran and the outcome of the U.S. midterm elections. The recent gains offer signs of stabilization, but the market's next direction will depend partly on how these risks evolve.

Source: Bitcoin claws back toward $79,000 as markets shake off crypto's biggest hack — CoinDesk