Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Tuesday, September 22, 2026: Crypto prices continue to surge to prices last seen in January

On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Bitcoin and Ethereum prices experienced significant surges, reaching heights last observed in January of this year. Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $86,597.82, a 6.7% increase from Monday's opening, before dropping to $86,035.18 by 7:20 a.m. ET. Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $2,775.96, a 5% rise from Monday, and fell to $2,734.44 at the same time.

The price surge in both cryptocurrencies is attributed to falling oil prices, oil settling at $98.49, a relief from the recent over $100 per barrel. Another key factor is the wave of short liquidations, with 115,490 traders liquidated in the past 24 hours, totaling $769.80 million in losses. Short positions accounted for 85% of these losses, around $647 million, with Bitcoin leading at $421.5 million and Ethereum following at $180.31 million. In the latest hour alone, liquidations reached $634.62 million, 84% from short positions.

Bitcoin's opening price this morning marked a 10% gain over the last week and month. Ethereum's opening price also saw a 10% increase. Historically, Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $128,198.07 on October 6, 2025, and Ethereum reached its peak at $4,953.73 on August 24, 2025.