Bitcoin, Ethereum Prices Rise Amid Strong Inflation Reports, Market Volatility

Bitcoin and Ethereum Prices Today

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $82,132.23 on Friday, October 16, 2026, up 0.7% from Thursday's open.

As of 7:22 a. m. ET this morning, the price of bitcoin rose to $82,711.01.

Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $2,439.85 on Friday, October 16, 2026, up 0.9% from Thursday's opening price.

The price of ethereum moved up to $2,480.06 as of 7:22 a. m. ET.

Market Analysis

Bitcoin and ethereum prices opened this morning largely in line with this week's opening prices, but have found room to rise despite two inflation reports this week that exceeded analysts' expectations.

Both the Consumer Price Index and the Producer Price Index reveal prices rose substantially in September.

Despite these reports, and with Brent crude oil prices (BZ=F) above $106 this morning, bitcoin and ethereum prices, like their precious-metal counterparts, are moving upward.

Roadblocks to Buying a House with Cryptocurrency

So, you put a little mad money into bitcoin a few years ago.

Now, your crypto-fueled profit means you have a sweet nest egg to put toward a house.

But can you buy a house with crypto rather than using cash or a traditional mortgage loan?

What are the roadblocks?

And what about taxes?

Regulatory Environment

President Trump wants the United States to be “the crypto capital of the world.

In that spirit, in late June, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) William J. Pulte ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to “prepare their businesses to count cryptocurrency as an asset for a mortgage.

The FHFA supervises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that fund a major portion of the mortgage industry.

Pulte said the housing system “neds a massive upgrade,” adding, “I want people who own cryptocurrency to be able to buy homes like everyone else. ”