Daily Crypto Briefs 
NEW YORK, Aug. 12, 2026
Bitcoin traded near $63,388 on Wednesday after U.S. consumer prices rose 0.1% in July, with the annual inflation rate easing to 3.4% and the largest cryptocurrency down about 0.2% from its 24-hour open as markets assessed the first inflation report since the Federal Reserve’s July decision.
The July Consumer Price Index report showed inflation cooled from June’s 3.5% annual pace, but it did not repeat June’s unusually large 0.4% monthly decline. Bitcoin’s response was restrained: Kraken data showed the asset had traded between roughly $63,137 and $64,409 during the prior 24 hours.
Bitcoin changed hands at about $63,388 when Daily Crypto Briefs checked Kraken market data, compared with a $63,541 24-hour open. Kraken showed 1,132 BTC in BTC/USD volume over the period, while Ethereum traded near $1,886 after a 24-hour range of about $1,860 to $1,923.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics report said, “The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in July after falling 0.4 percent in June.” Shelter accounted for roughly two-thirds of the monthly all-items increase, while the energy index fell 1.5%, the agency said.
The new reading is a distinct monthly update from the June CPI report that sent Bitcoin above $64,000. In that release, consumer prices had fallen 0.4% in one month and annual CPI had fallen to 3.5%; July instead brought a modest monthly rise alongside a further 0.1-percentage-point annual easing.
Bitcoin
BTCJuly CPI Edges Higher as Annual Inflation Cools
The all-items index rose 3.4% over the 12 months through July, down from 3.5% through June. The index excluding food and energy rose 0.2% during the month and 2.5% over the year, after a 2.6% annual increase in June.
The details show why the headline decline in annual inflation did not amount to broad price relief. Food rose 0.1% in July and food away from home rose 0.3%, according to the BLS, while the energy index’s 1.5% monthly fall included a 2.9% decline in gasoline.
July’s price action also left Bitcoin below its July 21 close of about $66,512. The one-month chart shows the asset rebounded from roughly $62,822 on July 31 to nearly $64,901 on Aug. 8 before sliding again into the CPI release.
The report gives macro traders a newer inflation baseline without, by itself, dictating the path for crypto or policy. A softer annual headline rate can reduce one source of pressure on risk assets, but core inflation, labor data, energy costs and the Federal Reserve’s own assessment still shape the policy outlook.
Bitcoin ETF Flows Turn Mixed Before the CPI Release
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF flows had already become less uniform before Wednesday’s report. Farside Investors data showed $144.6 million in net outflows on Aug. 10, followed by a $7.8 million net inflow on Aug. 11; Aug. 12 figures were not yet final when this article was published.
That followed a stronger run earlier in the month, including net inflows of $170.1 million on Aug. 3, $211.5 million on Aug. 4 and $244.4 million on Aug. 5. The reversal does not establish why Bitcoin moved on any particular day, but it provides a separate institutional-demand measure beside the CPI release.
Kraken’s 24-hour figures showed activity without a broad breakout: Bitcoin’s range spanned about $1,272, from the $63,137 low to the $64,409 high. Its market capitalization was about $1.27 trillion, based on the exchange’s circulating-supply estimate, while its price remained about 49.8% below Kraken’s stated all-time high of $126,080.
The move also differs from the sharp reaction after June’s report, when Daily Crypto Briefs recorded Bitcoin trading above $64,000. This time, the reported monthly CPI increase and mixed ETF flows left the market closer to a consolidation range than a single data-driven surge.
September Fed Meeting Becomes the Next Macro Test
The Federal Reserve’s next scheduled policy meeting is Sept. 15 to 16 and includes a Summary of Economic Projections, according to the Fed’s calendar. That makes the next employment report, August inflation data due Sept. 11 and the meeting itself the clearest calendar markers after Wednesday’s release.
The Fed held its policy rate at 3.75% to 4.00% at its July 28 to 29 meeting, as Daily Crypto Briefs reported when Bitcoin traded near $63,000 after the decision. July CPI arrived after that meeting, so officials will have further labor and inflation reports before their September decision.
Crypto sentiment remained in the Fear category. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index read 27 on Aug. 12, down from 29 a day earlier, a reading that does not forecast price direction but points to continued caution despite the annual inflation easing.
Fear & Greed Index
Aug. 12, 2026The immediate unknown is whether the next flow reports show a sustained ETF reversal and whether incoming U.S. data changes the rate discussion before September. Wednesday’s confirmed facts are narrower: monthly CPI rose 0.1%, annual CPI eased to 3.4%, and Bitcoin remained near $63,000 rather than extending a post-release rally.
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Primary sources and further reading
| Source | Title |
|---|---|
| | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: July 2026 Consumer Price Index |
| | Kraken: Bitcoin price and market data |
| | Farside Investors: U.S. Bitcoin ETF flows |
| | Federal Reserve: 2026 FOMC meeting calendar |
| | Alternative.me: Crypto Fear & Greed Index |
Fact-checked by: Daily Crypto Briefs Fact-Check Desk
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the July 2026 CPI reading?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said the Consumer Price Index rose 0.1% in July on a seasonally adjusted basis and 3.4% over the 12 months through July.
What happened to Bitcoin after the July CPI report?
Bitcoin traded near 63,388 dollars when Daily Crypto Briefs checked on Aug. 12. Kraken showed it down about 0.2% from its 24-hour open after trading between roughly 63,137 dollars and 64,409 dollars.
What was core CPI in July 2026?
The CPI excluding food and energy rose 0.2% in July and 2.5% over the preceding 12 months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
When is the next Federal Reserve meeting?
The Federal Reserve's next scheduled policy meeting is Sept. 15 to 16, 2026, and it includes updated economic projections.