Bitcoin steadies near $81,7k as altcoins and memecoins rebound

Bitcoin steadies — Bitcoin’s price steadied near $81,700 on Thursday, October 23, 2026, as a broader altcoin rebound, led by memecoins, outpaced the flagship cryptocurrency’s gains.

Bitcoin rose 0.5% from midnight UTC, recovering from an earlier low around $81,000. The broader CoinDesk 80 index, which tracks major altcoins, gained 1.4%, while a specific memecoin gauge climbed 2.9%. The frog-themed token Pepe was a standout performer, surging 13%.

The recovery in digital assets followed a tech-led sell-off in traditional markets the previous day, which saw the Nasdaq Composite index post its steepest decline since June. Asian equity markets showed signs of stabilization during the session.

Market participants are now turning their attention to the upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting scheduled for October 27-28 for further directional cues.