Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Tuesday, May 5, 2026: Bitcoin reaches over $81,000, hitting a high last seen in January

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $78,543.43 on Tuesday, even with Monday’s opening price. The value of bitcoin at 7:16 a.m. ET rose significantly to $80,921.09. Bitcoin has risen 5.2% over the last five days.

Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $2,322.49 on Tuesday, even with Monday’s opening price. The value of ethereum moved up to $2,374.66 as of 7:16 a.m. ET. Over the last five days, ethereum is up 4.66%.

While gold has trended lower over the last five days amid rising interest rate expectations, the value of the two most popular cryptocurrencies is gaining strength.

Bitcoin is back over $80,000 this morning. In fact, it hit a high of over $81,000 today, a threshold the currency hadn’t reached since January.

Crypto investors didn’t appear rattled following the escalation of military actions in and around the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, following the U.S. plan to clear a path for neutral ships to transit out of the strait.

Current price of bitcoin and ethereum

Bitcoin

The price of bitcoin this morning was even with Monday’s open, but then quickly rose to over $80,000. Here’s a look at how the opening bitcoin price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

One week ago: +1.5%
One month ago: +16.7%
One year ago: -16.7%

The all-time high for bitcoin was $128,198.07 on Oct. 6, 2025. The all-time low value for bitcoin was $0.04865 on July 14, 2010.

Ethereum

The price of ethereum this morning was even with Monday’s open. Here’s a look at how the opening ethereum price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

One week ago: +0.8%
One month ago: +12.4%
One year ago: +28.4%

The all-time high for ethereum was $4,953.73 on Aug. 24, 2025. The all-time low value for ethereum was $0.4209 on Oct. 21, 2015.

Bitcoin, ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies are rapidly evolving. Follow the latest developments from Yahoo Finance and others here.

What is Ethereum and how does it work?

Ethereum is the blockchain, while ether is the cryptocurrency that runs on it. When people say they’re “buying ethereum,” they’re usually buying ETH — the digital asset used to run applications and store value.

Some investors trade short-term, others accumulate their holdings slowly, and still others focus on earning a yield by locking up their ETH to help run the network — a process known as staking.

How to buy Ethereum

Ether, the native cryptocurrency used on the Ethereum platform, remains significantly more volatile than the S&P 500 for many investors. But it’s no longer a moonshot — it’s a foundational piece of a modern digital portfolio.

Here’s how to start investing in ethereum.

Step 1: Choose your Ethereum investment strategy
Step 2: Pick the right platform
Step 3: Complete identity verification (KYC)
Step 4: Fund your Ethereum purchase
Step 5: Execute the trade
Step 6: Securing your investment

Learn more: How to buy Ethereum and what to know before you do

Bitcoin and ethereum price charts

Whether you’re brand new to tracking the value of bitcoin and ethereum or a more seasoned crypto investor, Yahoo Finance’s price-of-ethereum chart below shows a visual history of how the currency's value continues to move and evolve.

More on crypto from the Yahoo Finance team: