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Bitcoin Jumps 6% to $81,100 as BOJ Rate Hike Weakens Yen
Why is Bitcoin up today?
Bitcoin (BTC) surged about 6% to $81,100 on Friday after the Bank of Japan raised rates to a 31-year high but the yen fell, keeping carry trades intact and boosting crypto.
Key numbers
| Bitcoin Close (Sep 18) | $81,112+6.0% on the day |
|---|---|
| BOJ Policy Rate | 1.25%+25 bps (31-year high) |
| USD/JPY Intraday High | 158.05yen weakened despite rate hike |
| Bitcoin YTD Return | ~-7.4%from $87,500 Jan 1 open |
| Ethereum Close (Sep 18) | $2,634+7.46% on the day |
| Triple Witching Notional | ~$7Toptions expired Sep 18 |
What happened
Bitcoin (BTC) surged about 6% to $81,100 on Friday after the Bank of Japan raised rates to a 31-year high but the yen fell, keeping carry trades intact and boosting crypto. The BOJ voted 7–2 to raise its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 1.25%, the highest since 1995, yet the move pushed USD/JPY as high as 158.05 rather than strengthening the yen, leaving the carry trade — borrowing cheap yen to buy higher-yielding assets — intact. Bitcoin started the day near $77,979 and climbed to close above $81,100 on a Triple Witching day that rattled equities, with roughly $7 trillion in options expiring.
Why it matters
Bitcoin's price move shows how Japan's monetary policy now ripples directly into crypto markets. When yen carry trades are intact — meaning investors can still borrow in yen cheaply — they tend to put that borrowed money into riskier assets like Bitcoin. The BOJ's rate is now at a 31-year high of 1.25%, and if the yen eventually does strengthen, that could quickly reverse these flows and push crypto prices lower.
Who this affects
- MarketmixedMedium impact
- Crypto rallied; global equity markets finished the week lower.
- CompanybullishMedium impact
- Crypto holders and exchanges gained on Bitcoin's 6% rise.
- CompetitorsbullishLow impact
- Ethereum outperformed Bitcoin with a 7.5% daily gain.
- IndustrybullishMedium impact
- Digital assets broadly gained from intact yen carry trades.
Bitcoin vs Ethereum, Gold, S&P 500
How we got here
BOJ raised rates to 1.00% in first hike of 2026.
Bitcoin hit 2026 low near $58,000 as risk sentiment soured.
Bitcoin's best August since 2021; monthly close near $78,000.
BOJ hiked 25 bps to 1.25%; USD/JPY spiked to 158.05.
Bitcoin closed above $81,100 on Triple Witching day.
What to watch
- Next BOJ meeting; yen strengthening could pressure carry trades.Q4 2026
- Bitcoin holding above $80,000 — key for sustained crypto recovery.2026-10-01
- US Fed's next policy decision and its effect on USD/JPY.Q4 2026
Educational content only. Not investment advice.
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