Greed is back as crypto adds $150B in a day...

Crypto markets roared back on September 18, 2026, adding roughly $150 billion in a single session. The total market capitalisation climbed from $2.6 trillion on Thursday to $2.76 trillion, according to @CoinMarketCap data, as a broad rally swept across major digital assets.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana Lead the Charge

$BTC gained 5.6% to reach $80,882, broadly in line with CoinDesk's tracking of Bitcoin at $80,861 on September 18, 2026. $ETH climbed 6% to $2,606, while $SOL outperformed both, adding more than 10% to hit $112. The moves reflect a pattern consistent with broader September strength: total crypto market cap rose sharply through the month, with Bitcoin posting one of its strongest weekly gains since 2020, per Binance Research.

The rally also arrived against a constructive macro backdrop. Earlier in September, a drop in US government bond yields followed comments from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, who said he could support holding interest rates steady if inflation continues to cool. Lower yields tend to push investors toward assets like cryptocurrencies, as safer interest-paying instruments become comparatively less attractive.

Short Sellers Hit Hard as Sentiment Turns Greedy

Bears absorbed the heaviest losses. Of $682.5 million in total liquidations, $443.7 million came from short positions, underlining how swiftly sentiment shifted against those betting on a continued decline.

The mood shift is also visible in the Fear and Greed Index. The index stood at 72 (Greed) as of September 18, 2026, up from 64 the prior day, according to CoinStats, which tracks the gauge using volatility, social media sentiment, surveys, and market momentum. The index measures cryptocurrency market sentiment on a scale from 0 (Extreme Fear) to 100 (Extreme Greed), per data from alternative.me. A reading in the low 70s signals that market participants are positioning aggressively rather than defensively, though analysts note elevated greed readings can also precede short-term pullbacks.

For now, the data points in one direction. A $150 billion single-day gain, double-digit moves from major altcoins, and a sentiment gauge firmly in greed territory suggest that, at least for the moment, the bears are on the back foot.

Sources:
CoinDesk: Bitcoin Price, September 18, 2026
CoinStats: Crypto Fear and Greed Index
Bitcoin Ethereum News: Crypto Market Cap Hits $2.7 Trillion After Bitcoin Rally