Bitcoin Rally Pauses Near $83,000 After CLARITY Act Vote and Warsh Confirmation

Bitcoin hovered below $83,000 on May 18, 2026, after a multi-month surge that left it struggling to clear the $82,000–$83,000 band. The advance followed progress on the CLARITY Act and the Senate confirmation of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chair, but momentum cooled as inflation worries resurfaced. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw net outflows of $836 million by Thursday, including a $630 million withdrawal on May 13.