US Bitcoin ETF Inflows Push BTC Past $80,000 as Charles Schwab Expands Crypto Lineup

Bitcoin Reclaims $80,000 on Sustained ETF Demand

Bitcoin closed at $80,258 on Thursday, August 27, a gain of 1.56% that pushed the largest cryptocurrency back above the $80,000 threshold for the first time in several sessions. The move extends a late-August rebound driven almost entirely by steady institutional buying through US spot Bitcoin ETFs.

According to data from Farside Investors, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded their ninth consecutive day of net inflows, taking in $242.3 million on August 27 alone and roughly $3.0 billion over the full streak. That sustained demand has provided a consistent bid under the market, even as traders debate whether $80,000 can hold as durable support heading into the fall.

Derivatives data suggests the rally is being driven more by genuine buying than by leveraged speculation: futures open interest has stayed flat to slightly lower, funding rates remain positive but moderate, and short liquidations have outpaced long liquidations in recent sessions — a pattern typically associated with healthier, spot-led price advances rather than a leverage-fueled squeeze.

Market sentiment has moved in step with price action. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index climbed to 70, placing the market firmly in "Greed" territory and up six points from the previous week. Analysts note that sentiment has risen faster than the underlying price gain, a divergence that could pose a contrarian risk if ETF inflows slow or upcoming macro events — including remarks tied to the Jackson Hole economic symposium — trigger renewed volatility.

Charles Schwab to Add Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink

While Bitcoin's advance grabbed headlines, the day's sharpest move belonged to Solana, which surged 6.89% to $109.21 after Charles Schwab confirmed plans to expand its crypto offering. The brokerage said it intends to add Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink to Schwab Crypto in the coming months — a significant broadening of a platform that launched in May 2026 with only Bitcoin and Ethereum available to clients.

The announcement underscores a wider trend of major US financial institutions widening retail and institutional access to digital assets beyond the two largest cryptocurrencies. For Solana in particular, inclusion on a mainstream brokerage platform represents a meaningful distribution milestone, opening the token to a base of traditional investors who may not otherwise use crypto-native exchanges.

Ethereum, by contrast, was the laggard among major tokens, edging up just 0.17% to $2,510, while XRP added 2.15% to reach $1.453. The divergence highlights how capital is currently rotating toward assets with fresh catalysts — like Solana's Schwab listing — rather than exiting the market altogether.

What It Means for the Market

Taken together, the two developments point to the same underlying theme: institutional infrastructure in the US is deepening, and that is translating directly into price action. Continued spot ETF inflows are reinforcing Bitcoin's position above $80,000, while brokerage-level expansion is giving altcoins like Solana new avenues for demand.

The key questions going forward are whether the ETF inflow streak continues, whether $80,000 holds as support for Bitcoin, and whether Schwab's rollout timeline for Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink accelerates further institutional adoption across the broader altcoin market.