Daily Briefing — 2026-08-15

What to Watch Today

Crypto markets are the center of attention after a volatile regulatory session. The SEC canceled or delayed its first crypto rulemaking vote, while reports suggest the odds of the CLARITY Act passing have collapsed to 10%. Bitcoin slipped as these "regulatory hopes" were dashed. Meanwhile, the White House plans a summit with President Trump and executives from Coinbase, Ripple, and other crypto leaders. Expect headlines out of that meeting to drive sentiment. In parallel, Cboe has filed with the SEC to list 3x leveraged Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, and Nasdaq is preparing for ETF options — structural developments that could shape the trading landscape well beyond today.

The Main Event: RBA Decision

The standout scheduled risk is the Reserve Bank of Australia. The Cash Rate decision, Rate Statement, Monetary Policy Statement, and Press Conference are all flagged as high impact. AUD pairs will likely see elevated volatility. Japan observes a bank holiday, so the usual JPY data flow (BOJ Summary of Opinions, Current Account, Economy Watchers) is effectively sidelined. Later in the day, low-tier US releases — NFIB Small Business Index, Existing Home Sales, ADP weekly employment, Cleveland Fed inflation expectations, and the API oil inventory — round out a relatively quiet calendar.

What to Watch

First, how crypto prices react to the regulatory stall versus the optics of the White House summit. Second, the RBA’s tone on rates and inflation for clues on the Australian dollar’s near-term path. Finally, keep an eye on geopolitical headlines — including the Indonesia quake and Middle East strikes — for any sudden shift in risk appetite.