Bitcoin ETF sees $159M inflow as crypto market rallies despite Bank of Japan rate hike

The cryptocurrency market maintained an upward trend on September 18, 2026, despite the Bank of Japan raising its benchmark interest rate to 1.25%, the highest level since 1995. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of $159 million, while Ethereum ETFs saw a net outflow of $39.24 million. Over $187.96 million in positions were liquidated within 24 hours, with 81% being short positions. Solana is planning a technical upgrade to reduce slot times to 250ms, and Nostra reported a $3.5 million loan exploit due to oracle manipulation.