Bitcoin was trading at $79,707.18 at 7:15 a.m. Eastern Time, up $961.23, or 1.22%, from the previous morning. It was up 22.50% from $65,064.17 a month earlier but about $31,560 below its price of $111,269.13 a year ago, a decline of 28.36%. Bitcoin, the original and most widely followed cryptocurrency, has a market capitalization of around $1.33 trillion, well ahead of Ethereum’s approximately $233 billion. Its decentralized, peer-to-peer design allows users to transfer value without a central bank, government or traditional financial institution. Bitcoin’s long-term gains have attracted investors seeking inflation protection or portfolio diversification, although its sharp price swings and steep corrections make it a high-risk asset. The market is influenced by speculation, corporate adoption, economic conditions and regulation. Investors can gain exposure by buying Bitcoin on a cryptocurrency exchange, using a Bitcoin ETF, purchasing shares of crypto-related companies or opening a Bitcoin IRA. As of 7:15 a.m. on Aug. 27, 2026, Ethereum was priced at $2,508.30, Tether (USDT) at $0.99 and XRP at $1.42. Bitcoin may suit investors with a long-term horizon and tolerance for volatility, but it should not be treated as a sure thing or replace a diversified portfolio. Some models project prices above $700,000 by 2030, while conservative estimates are closer to $300,000; the outcome remains unknowable.