Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Thursday, August 20, 2026: Crypto prices surge after President Trump pushes for Clarity Act
Bitcoin and Ethereum prices surged on Thursday, August 20, 2026, after President Trump advocated for the passage of the Clarity Act. The bill, which aims to clarify whether cryptocurrencies are classified as securities or commodities, is currently stalled in the Senate but is set for a procedural vote in September. Bitcoin opened at $69,289.44, up 7.1% from Wednesday's opening price, and climbed to $71,980.32 around 9:15 a.m. ET.
Ethereum began the day at $2,251.93, an 17.5% increase from Wednesday, and reached $2,293.10 by 9:16 a.m. ET. The price jump was fueled by President Trump's push for the Clarity Act and a decline in long-term Treasury yields. A lower yield followed the U.S. Treasury's decision to double long-term debt buybacks, which typically boosts demand for riskier assets like digital currencies.
Bitcoin prices were 7.1% higher than the opening price from the previous day, while Ethereum prices were 17.5% higher.
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