Hey there! Welcome to this week’s edition of The Market Brief, where we break down the biggest moves, key trends, and events to watch in the days ahead.
MARKET SUMMARY
Big rallies and a few slips this week; crypto and gold went up massively, while US equities fell as quickly as they rose.
Crypto Market Capitalisation (TOTAL)
$2.62T +20.6%
Crypto market cap surged from roughly $2.17T to $2.63T, then consolidated near the highs.
$78,431 +21.88%
Bitcoin climbed from around $63.5K to $78.2K, with most of the gains coming in the Aug 19th rally before moving sideways.
S&P500 Index (SPX)
$7,674 -1.06%
The S&P500 went lower overall, despite a modest rebound.
Gold (XAUUSD)
$4,658 +5.37%
Gold reversed its early weakness and rallied up massively, putting up a great surge.
Values as of 5:53PM, 24th August 2026
COIN OF THE WEEK
Ethena (ENA)
$0.16 +90.84%
ENA went up by 90% this week, upon favorable market conditions and Ethena’s $1B FalconX lending facility. The news helped its yield and institutional growth narrative.
Read more
Values as of 5:55PM, 24th August 2026
TOP NEWS
- Bitcoin jumped 23.5% this week to around $77.6K, its best week since March 2023. It then moved back above the 200-day MA as well. The rally spread across crypto, with ETH +31%, SOL +28%, and XRP +53%, while Bitcoin briefly crossed $79K. Pace was supported by $2.61B+ in Bitcoin and Ether ETF inflows.
- US debt crossed $40T this week, with concerns over persistent deficits, inflation and rising interest costs. Crypto and precious metals rallied as investors reacted to heavy government spending and larger Treasury debt buybacks; there’s demand for alternative stores of value.
- There’s pressure to pass the CLARITY Act from U.S. President Trump, arguing it would keep the US ahead. Senate approval still faces political hurdles. At the same time, the SEC proposed new crypto offering exemptions and a safe-harbor framework, making token launches easier. The CFTC also said it could move ahead with its own crypto rules if Congress stalls; Trump’s comments on Hyperliquid helped push HYPE up about 20%.
NARRATIVE HEATMAP
Market sectors tracking performance across equities and crypto – from AI and cybersecurity to DeFi and defense:
Crypto Exchanges and Brokers
See a narrative picking up? Trade the markets shaping it!
KEY EVENTS TO WATCH THIS WEEK
25th August, Tuesday • Medium Impact
August CB Consumer Confidence data
A key read on household sentiment and spending strength, with weaker confidence potentially supporting rate-cut expectations.
25th August, Tuesday • High Impact
July PCE Inflation
The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge; a softer print could strengthen expectations for easier monetary policy.
26th August, Wednesday • High Impact
US Q2 2026 GDP
A major check on the strength of the US economy and whether growth is holding up despite tighter conditions.
26th August, Thursday • High Impact
NVIDIA Earnings
NVDA results could cause major moves across AI, semiconductors and the broader US equity market.
