Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Wednesday, May 20, 2026: Opened lower but moving higher

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $76,757.31 on Wednesday, down 0.3% from Tuesday’s opening price. The price of bitcoin as of 7:00 a.m. ET rose to $77,428.64.

Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $2,110.07 on Wednesday, 0.9% lower than Tuesday’s opening price. Ethereum also rose this morning, valued at $2,128.62 as of 7:00 a.m. ET.

Bitcoin and ethereum prices have opened lower each day so far this week, but the prices on the cryptocurrencies are moving higher this morning. Investors are seeking any signs of a quick and peaceful resolution in Iran. With the president telling lawmakers yesterday he expects the war to end “very quickly,” and with the Senate moving forward with a joint resolution to help bring the war to a close, bitcoin and ethereum could find even more room to rise today.

Current price of bitcoin and ethereum

Bitcoin

The price of bitcoin this morning was 0.3% lower than the day before. Here’s a look at how the opening bitcoin price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

• One week ago: -4.6%

• One month ago: +3.9%

• One year ago: -27.3%

The all-time high for bitcoin was $126,198.07 on Oct. 6, 2025. The all-time low value for bitcoin was $0.04865 on July 14, 2010.

Ethereum

The price of ethereum this morning was 0.9% lower than it was early Tuesday. Here’s a look at how the opening ethereum price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

• One week ago: -7.2%

• One month ago: -6.8%

• One year ago: -16.6%

The all-time high for ethereum was $4,953.73 on Aug. 24, 2025. The all-time low value for ethereum was $0.4209 on Oct. 21, 2015.

Bitcoin, ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies are rapidly evolving. Follow the latest developments from Yahoo Finance and others here.

Crypto and taxes

You generally owe taxes when you sell cryptocurrency for more than you paid for it. This also applies when you exchange one digital asset for another. Converting bitcoin into ethereum, for example, isn’t “just a trade” in the eyes of the IRS. It’s a taxable event if the value changes.

Crypto taxes aren’t paid at the time of the transaction, but instead, they’re reported on your tax return for the year in which the transaction took place. So, if you sold crypto for a profit at any point during 2025, that activity is reported when you file your 2025 return in early 2026.

How much tax you pay depends on two main factors:

1. How long you held the asset before selling

2. Your overall taxable income and filing status

Hold it for less than a year, and you'll usually face higher rates. Hold it longer, and the rates tend to be lower.

This holding-period distinction matters more than most people realize. A few days can make a difference of as much as 17% or more — so timing matters.

Learn more: Yes, crypto is taxed. Here’s when you have to pay.

Bitcoin and ethereum price charts

Whether you’re brand new to tracking the value of bitcoin and ethereum or a more seasoned crypto investor, Yahoo Finance’s price-of-bitcoin and price-of-ethereum charts below show a visual history of how the currencies’ value continues to move and evolve.

More on crypto from the Yahoo Finance team: 

• How to trade crypto: A step-by-step guide

• Do you need a bitcoin credit card?

• Can you buy crypto with a credit card?

• President Trump called for a strategic bitcoin reserve. How it would work.

• How to buy a house with crypto

• How to buy ethereum — and what to know before you do

• How to buy solana: A step-by-step guide