Bitcoin has recovered to around $78,000 after dipping below $75,000, demonstrating resilience despite recent market challenges. According to latest reports, Bitcoin ETFs attracted roughly $159 million, pushing Bitcoin above $77,000 and showing strong institutional interest. This recovery comes after Bitcoin was down roughly 4% at around $75,908 on September 15 following the U.S. Senate's failure to advance the CLARITY Act, which added regulatory uncertainty to an already macro-sensitive market.
According to reports from The Economic Times, Bitcoin has gained 61.7% over five years, significantly outperforming both Ethereum and Solana. Bitcoin's price rose from $48,306 on September 18, 2021, to $78,131, while Ethereum declined from $3,396 to $2,507, representing a 26.2% decline. Solana also moved lower, slipping from $147 to $106, down approximately 27.9% during the same period. The performance data is based on data from Binance.
U.S. spot Ether ETFs experienced net outflows for the third consecutive day, losing about $39 million on Thursday despite Ether's 2% price rise to $2,470. This continued weakness in Ether-focused investment products contrasts sharply with Bitcoin's strong ETF performance, highlighting the divergent institutional sentiment between the two major cryptocurrencies. The sustained outflows suggest that despite Ether's recent price gains, investors remain cautious about the altcoin's prospects. As of September 18, 2026, Ethereum trades at $2,505.98, representing a $76.13 jump from yesterday but a $2,083 fall compared with one year ago.
As reported by The Economic Times, the gap between the three assets becomes more pronounced when measured against their all-time highs. Bitcoin's record high of $126,198.07, reached on October 7, 2025, puts its current price approximately 38.1% below its peak. Ethereum is around 49.4% below its all-time high of $4,953.73, recorded on August 25, 2025. Solana remains the furthest from its record, trading roughly 64% below its $294.33 peak reached on January 19, 2025. Zcash has shown remarkable recent performance, surging 10% to $1,488 and drawing nearly $47 million into its sole U.S. fund, contributing to over $230 million inflows this month.
According to The Economic Times, Ryan Lee, Chief Analyst at Bitget, attributed Bitcoin's relative outperformance to its increasingly established role as a macro and institutional asset. Lee explained that Bitcoin's price direction is strongly supported by greater ETF access and narrative around its limited supply. He noted that the latest ETF inflows prove institutional demand is largely concentrated in Bitcoin, while other assets are beginning to attract capital as well. The broader crypto market has advanced alongside stocks and bonds as falling oil prices eased inflation concerns after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates, signaling a mixed but generally positive environment for crypto investors.
