Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Tuesday, May 19, 2026: Prices slide lower after Trump calls off attacks

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $76,952.05 today, down 0.6% from yesterday’s opening price. Today’s opening price is bitcoin’s lowest since May 1. The price of bitcoin as of 7:12 a.m. was $76,902.50.

Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $2,128.55, flat with yesterday’s opening value. Ethereum’s opening price this morning is its lowest since April 7. The price of ethereum was $2,115.84 as of 7:12 a.m. ET.

Yesterday, the president announced he was calling off planned attacks on Iran after he claimed Middle East allies asked him to.

“We will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached,” wrote President Trump on Truth Social yesterday. The president also said that as a result, “serious negotiations are now taking place.”

Both bitcoin and ethereum continue to search for price levels where they can breach and hold. For bitcoin, here’s what TradingView had to say yesterday: “The technical picture from here splits into two scenarios. If bulls hold current levels, Bitcoin could attempt another push toward $83,000. If the $74,000 level breaks, analysts expect a deeper swing lower with limited support until the mid-$60,000 range.”

Watch: Did rising bond yields cause bitcoin's price plunge?

Current price of bitcoin and ethereum

Bitcoin

The price of bitcoin was down 0.6% this morning from Monday’s open. Here’s a look at how the opening bitcoin price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

• One week ago: -5.8%

• One month ago: +1.6%

• One year ago: -27.7%

The all-time high for bitcoin was $128,198.07 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 flat compared to Monday’s open. Here’s a look at how the opening ethereum price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

• One week ago: -9%

• One month ago: -9.5%

• One year ago: -14.8%

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.

What is Ethereum and how does it work?

Ethereum is the blockchain, while ether is the cryptocurrency that runs on it. When people say they’re “buying ethereum,” they’re usually buying ETH — the digital asset used to run applications and store value.

Some investors trade short-term, others accumulate their holdings slowly, and still others focus on earning a yield by locking up their ETH to help run the network — a process known as staking.

How to buy Ethereum

Ether, the native cryptocurrency used on the Ethereum platform, remains significantly more volatile than the S&P 500 for many investors. But it’s no longer a moonshot — it’s a foundational piece of a modern digital portfolio.

Here’s how to start investing in ethereum.

• Step 1: Choose your Ethereum investment strategy

• Step 2: Pick the right platform

• Step 3: Complete identity verification (KYC)

• Step 4: Fund your Ethereum purchase

• Step 5: Execute the trade

• Step 6: Securing your investment

Learn more: How to buy Ethereum and what to know before you do

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-ethereum chart below shows a visual history of how the currency's 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

• Yes, crypto is taxed. Here’s when you have to pay.

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

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