The crypto market saw its valuation drop by around $890 billion during the first half of 2026, as investors sought alternative investments.
At the beginning of 2026, the crypto market capitalization hovered around $2.97 trillion, but it closed on June 30 at approximately $2.08 trillion. As such, the cryptocurrency industry has seen its valuation plunge by roughly 30% over the past six months, according to data from CoinMarketCap analyzed by Finbold on July 1.
Bitcoin (BTC) price fell by approximately $29,102, or 33.2%, during the first half of 2026, from $87,656.91 on January 1 to $58,554 by June 30. Ethereum (ETH) price tumbled by $1,408, or 47.3%, during the first half of 2026, declining from $2,976.87 on January 1 to $1,569 by June 30.
The largest stablecoin, Tether (USDT), saw its market capitalization decline by $2.52 billion, from $187 billion at the beginning of this year to around $184.48 billion. Meanwhile, XRP’s market cap dropped by about $45.68 billion, representing a 40.9% decline from $111.72 billion on January 1 to $66.04 billion at the end of the first half.
Why is the crypto market cap down?
The cryptocurrency market cap fell significantly during the first half of 2026 as AI stocks took center stage, as Finbold reported. Notably, the U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds) recorded their largest monthly cash outflows since inception in the first half of 2026, as Finbold highlighted.
With ongoing delays in the passage of the Clarity Act, a United States bill that would establish clear rules for cryptocurrency, investors have shifted focus to AI stocks.
For a deeper analysis of H1 2026, including market capitalization trends, institutional activity, crypto hacks, ETF performance, and other key developments, read Finbold’s full H1 2026 Cryptocurrency Market Report.
