Bitcoin Reclaims $82K as Crypto Market Cap Hits $2.72 Trillion

The cryptocurrency market saw a significant surge in Asian trading hours on Friday, pushing its total market capitalisation to $2.72 trillion. This rise was led by major digital assets Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Bitcoin reclaimed the $81,000 mark for the first time since May 2026 and briefly touched $82,000, while Ethereum climbed above $2,500. The rally came as concerns over US monetary policy eased, improving risk appetite across global markets.

Avinash Shekhar, Co-Founder and CEO of Pi42, attributed the recovery to easing expectations of a September Fed rate hike. He noted that XRP's relative outperformance was particularly notable, as the rally broadened beyond Bitcoin into large-cap altcoins.