The Week Ahead: Bitcoin Slips Below $80K as Macro Risks Build

Written by BTSE

May 18, 2026

Bitcoin declined from $79k last Friday to as low as $76k Monday morning as macro risks spooked traders. Bearish sentiment is centered on U.S. inflation, the Fed leadership transition, and liquidity expectations. Meanwhile, Ethereum continues to hover around $2,100. 

CoinMarketCap’s Crypto Fear and Greed Index remains stable at 39, down from last week. 

What Traders Should Watch Out for This Week

The main macro focus this week is the U.S. inflation and potential Fed commentary. As new Fed chair Kevin Warsh prepares to take office, it remains unseen as to which direction he’ll take monetary policy this year.

Moreover, the lack of big wins from the Trump-Xi meeting added additional sources of concern. Traders were hoping that issues around tariffs and Iran could be resolved.

Here are the major economic indicators to watch out for this week: 

  • May 18: NAHB Housing Market Index
  • May 19: Pending Home Sales Index
  • May 21: Weekly Jobless Claims, US Flash Manufacturing PMI, and US Flash Services PMI
  • May 22: Leading Indicators and U. Michigan Final Consumer Survey

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