Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Tuesday, May 12, 2026: Bitcoin and ethereum prices backing off

May 12, 2026

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $81,721.41 on Tuesday, down 0.5% from Monday’s opening price of $82,164.43. The value of bitcoin at 7:18 a.m. ET fell to $80,496.47.

Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $2,339.40 on Tuesday, down 1.3% from Monday’s opening price. The value of ethereum moved down to $2,280.32 as of 7:18 a.m. ET.

Investors are wisely considering their risk positions this morning after President Trump said the ceasefire with Iran is on “massive life support,” and a key inflation report is expected to show how the Iran war is driving prices higher for American consumers.

A Bloomberg survey showed the April Consumer Price Index is expected to rise 3.7% from a year ago and 0.6% from March, which sported the largest monthly gain since 2022.

Current price of bitcoin and ethereum

Bitcoin

The price of bitcoin was down 0.5% this morning from Monday’s open. Here’s a look at how the opening bitcoin price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

  • One week ago: +2.4%

  • One month ago: +11.9%

  • One year ago: -21.5%

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 down 1.3% from Monday’s open. Here’s a look at how the opening ethereum price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

  • One week ago: -0.3%

  • One month ago: +2.4%

  • One year ago: -6.8%

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: