Bitcoin and Ethereum finished the July 13-17 week in positive territory, although geopolitical tensions, volatile institutional flows and profit-taking kept the cryptocurrency market on edge.
Bitcoin closed July 17 at about US$63,925, up 2.6% from US$62,320 on July 13. Ethereum performed more strongly, climbing 3.7% from US$1,776 to around US$1,842 over the same period.
The week began on a weak note as renewed tensions between the US and Iran pushed oil prices higher, reviving inflation concerns and dampening demand for risk assets. Bitcoin briefly fell below US$62,000 on July 13, while Ethereum touched a weekly low near US$1,752.
Both tokens rebounded sharply on July 14. Bitcoin surged above US$65,000 and later reached a weekly high of about US$65,557 the following day. Ethereum rallied even more strongly, approaching US$1,945 as investors returned to higher-risk digital assets.
The recovery lost momentum during the second half of the week as traders locked in profits and fresh geopolitical developments weakened market sentiment. Bitcoin retreated towards US$63,000, while Ethereum surrendered part of its earlier gains after encountering resistance around the US$1,910-US$1,940 range.
Institutional demand was also uneven. US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded US$424.7 million in outflows on July 13 before attracting inflows over the following three sessions, providing some support to prices despite the broader risk-off environment.
By July 17, the global cryptocurrency market capitalisation had fallen 1.67% to about US$2.18 trillion as several major altcoins posted steeper losses. Ethereum’s stronger weekly performance, however, suggested investors were selectively rebuilding exposure rather than abandoning the market altogether.
The week ultimately highlighted crypto’s sensitivity to oil prices, monetary-policy expectations and geopolitical risk. Bitcoin remained capped below US$65,500, while Ethereum’s ability to hold above the US$1,790-US$1,835 region could shape the market’s next move.
