The Easy Knowledge Blog

The line an analyst warned about last week finally broke — all three major coins are under pressure

🎧 Post Summary

This is a direct follow-up to last week’s story on Bitcoin decoupling from record-high US stocks. The key support level flagged by analysts back then has now given way, and it’s not just Bitcoin: Ethereum and XRP are both struggling too. Here’s a closer look at all three.

Bitcoin: The Warned-About Line Finally Broke

Last week, trader and analyst Rekt Capital warned that Bitcoin needed to hold above $63,220 on a weekly close, or risk further downside. That’s exactly what happened. On the 17th (US time), Bitcoin failed to hold the $63,000 level and slid lower, weighed down by renewed geopolitical tension in the Middle East that dampened risk appetite. This week, the crypto market has been trading without clear direction in a roughly $62,300-$64,000 range, with market watchers generally agreeing that a break above $64,000 would be needed to signal a genuine rebound.

Ethereum: Reclaiming $1,900 Is the Key Test

Bitcoin’s “little sibling,” Ethereum, is in a similar spot. As of the 17th, ETH was trading around $1,902.84, barely holding above the $1,900 level. That’s well under half of its all-time high of $4,953.73, set on August 24 last year. Market watchers say Ethereum needs to firmly reclaim the $1,900-$1,922 range before a stronger rebound becomes credible.

XRP: A Tough Fight to Defend $1

XRP’s situation looks even tighter. It’s currently trading around the $1 mark, fighting to hold the psychologically important level that traders watch closely. If that support breaks too, it could trigger further selling, according to market concerns. All three major coins, in other words, are locked in a tense tug-of-war over key price levels with no clear rebound signal yet.

What Everyone’s Waiting For: FOMC Minutes on the 19th

Behind all three coins’ inability to find direction is the upcoming release of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes on the 19th. Market participants appear to be holding back, hoping the minutes offer hints about the future path of interest rates. Layer on top of that the geopolitical tension in the Middle East that’s flared up repeatedly in recent weeks, and the broader crypto market is stuck watching and waiting rather than picking a clear direction.

Things Worth Knowing

• Watch the FOMC minutes release on the 19th: This is seen as the single biggest variable for crypto’s direction this week. Checking how the market reacts after the release matters.
• Remember that all three coins’ support levels are linked: When Bitcoin falls below $63,000, Ethereum and XRP have tended to weaken in tandem. It helps to track the broader picture rather than watching just one coin in isolation.
• Geopolitical risk remains a live variable: How the situation in the Middle East develops could keep shaking risk appetite across markets broadly.
• XRP’s $1 support deserves particularly close attention: Given concerns that a break below this psychological level could trigger further selling, it’s worth watching whether it holds.

Taken together, the breakdown in Bitcoin’s key support level that was flagged last week has now materialized, and all three major coins are weakening in tandem. Ethereum is fighting to hold $1,900, XRP is fighting to hold $1, each defending its own psychologically important line. The FOMC minutes release on the 19th and the trajectory of Middle East tensions are shaping up as the key variables for where crypto heads next this week.

Sources

• Vietnam.vn — “Bitcoin Price Today, August 17, 2026: Bitcoin Fell Below $63,000” (vietnam.vn)
• Sunday Guardian Live — “Crypto Price Prediction August 17, 2026: Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP Face Key Support Levels” (sundayguardianlive.com)
• CoinGape — “Crypto Market Update August 16: Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP Stall Ahead of FOMC Minutes” (coingape.com)
• Forbes Advisor — “Top 10 Cryptocurrencies Of August 17, 2026” (forbes.com)