Bitcoin pushed back to $77,000 over the weekend after dipping to $76,000, buoyed by President Trump’s hint at a 'largely negotiated' deal with Iran. Ether didn’t share the lift — it fell below $2,100. A handful of altcoins, including Hyperliquid, Zcash, and Monero, posted minor gains, while the broader market waits to see whether the Iran talks can break Bitcoin’s next ceiling at $78,000.
Weekend boost from Washington
Trump’s comment that a deal with Tehran is essentially done sent a wave of optimism through risk assets. The White House, via Axios, quickly tempered expectations: no announcement would come Monday, and finalizing the agreement could take several more days. Still, the signal was enough to stop a weekend slide in crypto prices. US markets are closed Monday for Memorial Day, but crypto trades through the holiday, leaving traders to digest headlines out of the Middle East on their own.
Bitcoin’s resistance, Ether’s weakness
The $78,000 level is the key line to watch. Analysts tracking on-chain activity say a break above that mark could happen quickly if positive Iran news lands. Bitcoin’s recovery from $76,000 to $77,000 was orderly, but volume hasn’t surged. Ether’s slide below $2,100 is more worrying for altcoin sentiment — it’s now down from where it started the month. Privacy coins Zcash and Monero bucked the trend, each ticking up a few percent. Hyperliquid also saw a small bump, though no single narrative explains the rotation.
Economic data on deck
This week’s calendar is loaded. Tuesday brings May Consumer Confidence figures, which will offer a fresh read on how Americans feel about inflation. Thursday is the main event: April Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation and Q1 2026 GDP. Rising freight and fuel costs have some analysts worried that PCE will come in hot. That would put pressure on the Fed — and by extension, on risk assets like crypto. Weekly jobless claims and April New Home Sales round out the schedule, but they’re second-tier compared to the Iran story and the inflation numbers.
For now, the market is waiting. The White House hasn’t set a date for an Iran announcement, but the next 48 hours could bring clarity. If a deal is confirmed, Bitcoin has a clear shot at $78,000. If talks stall or headlines shift, the $76,000 support gets tested again.
