Bitcoin Holds Near 70K as Altcoin Market Stays Quiet: Weekend Overview

Over the past 24 hours, the broader cryptocurrency market has remained relatively steady. Bitcoin is trading within a tight range between about 69,500 and 70,600, showing signs of consolidation after a period of intense volatility.

Most altcoins have also shown little movement during this time, with only minor price changes. This raises the question of whether the market is simply pausing before a more active week ahead or entering a phase of uneven and uncertain price action.

Bitcoin Stabilizes Around 70K

Following a turbulent week marked by heavy volatility and billions of dollars in liquidations across derivatives markets, Bitcoin is now trading in a more stable range near 70,000. At the time of writing, it is slightly closer to 71,000, although trading volume has declined, which is typical during the weekend.

Earlier in the week, Bitcoin reached a high above 76,000 before dropping by nearly 10 percent in the days that followed. This movement reflects ongoing uncertainty across the crypto market, influenced in part by geopolitical tensions, including the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Rising oil prices and concerns about inflation have pressured risk oriented markets, leading to a correction phase. This could continue as a broader period of consolidation, with any potential recovery likely depending on how global tensions develop.

Altcoins Show Limited Direction

The altcoin market is also showing a lack of clear direction. Most cryptocurrencies have recorded minimal changes over the past day, generally moving within a narrow range of about 1 percent up or down.

There are a few exceptions, such as WLFI, which has posted gains of over 4 percent. However, these isolated movements do not appear strong enough to drive a sustained upward trend under current market conditions.

Looking ahead, the direction of the market in the coming week will likely depend on whether trading activity increases again. For now, altcoins remain closely tied to Bitcoin’s performance, which continues to reflect patterns seen in traditional risk oriented markets.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Grayscale Submits Filing to Launch HYPE ETF on Nasdaq

Grayscale has submitted a Form S 1 registration statement to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as part of its plan to introduce a new exchange traded fund focused on HYPE.

The proposed fund is designed to track the price of HYPE after fees and may also include staking rewards under certain conditions. If approved, it is expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the ticker GHYP.

This development comes as Hyperliquid gains growing attention from traditional finance participants. Recently, S and P 500 Dow Jones Indices licensed its flagship index to the Hyperliquid based Trade.xyz platform. This allows the exchange to offer perpetual contracts tied to institutional grade index data, marking a first for this type of product.

Hyperliquid has also attracted attention during recent geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. During periods when traditional markets were closed, it became a key source for oil price activity. Trading activity in oil related markets on its HIP 3 platform surpassed 1.4 billion dollars in open interest.

Although submitting an S 1 form does not ensure approval, it signals serious intent and opens the door for regulatory review. If the ETF is approved, it would give traditional investors exposure to the Hyperliquid ecosystem without requiring direct interaction with crypto platforms, similar to the current structure of Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange traded funds.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Bitcoin Realized Losses Reach Extreme Levels While Supply Stays Largely Inactive

Recent analysis shows a clear divide in Bitcoin’s on chain behavior. While some investors are exiting at a loss, a larger portion of holders is choosing to remain inactive. Analyst Axel Adler Jr. highlighted this contrast in his latest report.

Bitcoin’s Net Realized Profit and Loss metric, which measures the difference between realized gains and losses across all UTXOs, has dropped deeply into negative territory. Losses nearly reached 2 billion dollars during January and February 2026, levels last seen during the 2022 to 2023 bear market.

Supply Shows Limited Movement

This shift follows a long stretch from October 2023 through the end of 2024 when the metric stayed positive during a strong rally that pushed Bitcoin from 30,000 to 125,000. Now, with prices stabilizing between 65,000 and 75,000, the dominance of realized losses suggests that weaker holders are capitulating. Historically, this type of behavior is linked to periods of market stress and reduced selling activity over time.

However, Adler Jr. noted that this alone does not signal a trend reversal. Another key indicator, the Supply Active 30 Day Change, has dropped below zero. This metric tracks the movement of recently active coins and its decline suggests that fewer coins are changing hands. In earlier bullish phases, strong price increases were typically supported by sharp rises in this metric above 12 percent.

The current drop indicates that more coins are becoming dormant, even as realized losses remain elevated. This suggests that selling pressure driven by losses may be nearing exhaustion, rather than signaling a clear return of strong demand.

Market Structure and Risks

The divergence shows that while some participants are exiting the market, a larger group continues to hold their positions. This pattern is often associated with accumulation or absorption phases. For confirmation of a recovery, there would need to be a consistent move of the Net Realized Profit and Loss metric back into positive territory, while supply activity remains relatively low.

A key risk would be a sudden increase in supply movement before profitability improves. That scenario could indicate renewed selling rather than a natural recovery in demand.

For now, the market appears to be in a neutral phase, with signs pointing more toward reduced selling pressure than the start of a strong bullish trend.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.nethttps://t.me/coinsignalpublic

A Potential Launchpad? Bitcoin Price Action Echoes Past Bull Runs

Bitcoin’s recent price movement is drawing comparisons to earlier bull market cycles, particularly those seen in 2017 and 2020. The asset is currently testing a historically important support zone that has been linked to major rallies in the past.

Early Friday, Bitcoin briefly moved above 71,000 before recovering slightly from earlier weakness. This rebound came as global efforts focused on stabilizing oil supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and calming broader market uncertainty.

Amid these conditions, Bitcoin is approaching a long term support trendline that has influenced its price behavior since 2017.

A Key Support Zone

Data shared by crypto analyst Ali Martinez shows that previous tests of this level have often been followed by significant upward moves. These included gains of 963 percent in 2017, 261 percent in 2018, 1,126 percent after the 2020 COVID 19 market crash, and 660 percent following the 2022 FTX collapse.

Bitcoin is now nearing this critical range between 60,000 and 56,000. Martinez noted that if this level holds, it could act as a strong foundation for the next major bull cycle rather than just a temporary rebound.

At the same time, the TD Sequential indicator has signaled a potential buying opportunity, suggesting that the recent downward trend may be losing strength and that a recovery could be forming.

Additional data highlights a notable divergence in the market. The number of large holders with at least 100 Bitcoin has increased to 753 over the past three months. During that same period, the overall market value of Bitcoin fell by 20 percent, indicating that major investors may be accumulating despite declining prices.

Signs of Weak Conviction

Despite these positive signals, the broader market structure suggests that the current move lacks strong confirmation. Bitcoin has moved past a major supply zone, entering an area with relatively low liquidity up to 82,000, which could allow for easier upward movement in the short term. However, this shift has not yet confirmed a larger structural breakout.

Currently, about 60 percent of Bitcoin’s supply is in profit, which is below the roughly 75 percent typically seen during stronger bull markets. Short term holders are also taking profits at a rate of about 18.4 million dollars per hour, showing continued selling pressure.

Although demand in spot markets has improved, supported by renewed inflows into United States spot Bitcoin ETFs and increased exchange activity, derivatives data presents a more cautious picture. Open interest in CME futures remains low, and negative funding rates suggest that many traders are still holding short positions. This dynamic has partly supported recent price gains through short covering.

Meanwhile, options markets indicate declining volatility alongside growing interest in call options, pointing to a more balanced outlook. According to Glassnode, maintaining levels above 70,000 while absorbing ongoing selling pressure could support a move toward 78,000 and possibly 82,000. Further gains, however, will likely depend on stronger capital inflows and increased use of leverage.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Morgan Stanley Submits Updated Filing for Spot Bitcoin ETF

Morgan Stanley has submitted a second revised S 1 filing to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission to move forward with its proposed spot Bitcoin exchange traded fund. The update provides more detail about how the product will operate, although approval is not guaranteed.

The filing explains that the fund will begin with a seed basket of 50,000 shares, aiming to raise about one million dollars. Earlier this month, the bank also completed a routine step by purchasing a small number of shares for auditing purposes.

Morgan Stanley confirmed key partners involved in the ETF. BNY Mellon will oversee cash custody, administration, and transfer agency services. Coinbase will act as prime broker and will safeguard the fund’s Bitcoin holdings. If approved, the ETF is expected to trade on NYSE Arca under the ticker MSBT.

The bank originally applied for the Bitcoin ETF in January, alongside proposals for investment products tied to Solana. At that time, it pointed to clearer regulations under the Trump administration as a reason for expanding into crypto assets. While management fees have not yet been disclosed, the ETF could potentially launch within weeks under the SEC’s standard listing framework.

If it goes live, Morgan Stanley would join a growing group of firms offering spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States. Since their introduction in January 2024, these products have attracted more than 56 billion dollars in total inflows, based on data from SoSoValue.

Institutional Interest in Crypto Continues to Grow

Morgan Stanley has already taken steps into the digital asset space by allowing select brokerage clients to trade cryptocurrencies. Developments from other major firms, including BlackRock, provide a glimpse of what may lie ahead.

BlackRock has been active in crypto investment products and recently introduced a staked Ethereum ETF. On its first day, the fund recorded trading volume exceeding 15 million dollars. Although that figure was relatively modest compared to its more established offerings, it still demonstrated ongoing interest in new crypto investment products.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading close to 70,000 dollars. It showed a slight gain over the past 24 hours but remained down more than 2 percent over the past week. Over the past month, the leading cryptocurrency has increased by at least 4 percent in value, although it is still about 44 percent below its all time high of over 126,000 dollars reached in October 2025.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Bitcoin Faces Resistance Near 70K After Rejection at 76K as Fed Keeps Rates Steady: Weekly Summary

The Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates unchanged, which aligned with expectations, yet bitcoin continued to struggle following the announcement.

It was another major week for global markets. Tensions in the Middle East remained unresolved, while in the United States, the Federal Reserve held its second FOMC meeting of the year.

About a week earlier, bitcoin had climbed close to 74,000 for the second time within ten days. It was rejected again and dropped toward 70,000 over the weekend, especially after the United States carried out a major bombing operation on Iranian infrastructure, described by the President as one of the most severe.

Despite this, bitcoin held around 70,000 and quickly recovered at the start of the new week. The rebound gained momentum on Monday and especially Tuesday, when the price reached 76,000, its highest level in nearly six weeks.

The rally did not last. By Wednesday, bitcoin had slipped back to around 74,000. Just hours before the FOMC meeting, the price fell sharply from about 74,400 to 71,200. After the Fed confirmed no change in interest rates, bitcoin briefly recovered to around 72,000.

Comments from the Federal Reserve Chair raised concerns about inflation and the broader economy, which led to further losses the next day. Bitcoin dropped to approximately 68,800 on Thursday. It later rebounded above 71,000 but was rejected again and is now struggling to remain above 70,000. Over the past week, it has lost nearly 5 percent of its value, underperforming several altcoins such as ETH and XRP.

Meanwhile, other cryptocurrencies including HYPE, TRX, TAO, and HTX recorded notable gains during the same period. This slightly reduced bitcoin’s market dominance by more than half a percent.

Market Overview

Total market capitalization stands at 2.48 trillion dollars, with 24 hour trading volume at 96 billion dollars and bitcoin dominance at 56.3 percent.

Bitcoin is priced at 69,800, down 4.6 percent

Ethereum is at 2,125, down 2.4 percent

XRP is at 1.43, down 0.2 percent

Key Crypto Headlines This Week

Strategy made headlines with a major bitcoin purchase worth 1.57 billion dollars. The company acquired 22,337 BTC, bringing its total holdings to 761,068 BTC, accumulated at a cost exceeding 57.6 billion dollars.

Mastercard expanded its involvement in crypto by acquiring stablecoin payments firm BVNK in a deal valued at 1.8 billion dollars. The company aims to strengthen its support for digital assets and cross border value transfers.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission clarified its stance on crypto regulation. It explained how federal securities laws apply to certain digital assets and introduced a classification system that includes digital commodities, collectibles, tools, stablecoins, and securities.

Argentina ordered a nationwide ban on Polymarket after a Buenos Aires court ruled that the platform was operating as an unauthorized betting service.

Two major crypto exchanges announced significant layoffs. Gemini reduced its workforce by 30 percent, leaving 445 employees, while Crypto.com revealed plans to cut 12 percent of its staff. Both companies cited a shift toward artificial intelligence as a key reason.

Bitcoin exchange traded funds recorded some of their highest trading volumes ever within the past month. Data from Santiment suggests this surge reflects renewed institutional interest in bitcoin ETFs.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Bitcoin ETFs Hit Record Trading Volumes as Institutional Activity Surges

Spot Bitcoin exchange traded funds have recorded some of their highest trading volumes ever, with four of the biggest sessions occurring within the past month. The surge highlights renewed institutional interest as crypto markets remain volatile.

Data from Santiment shows that March 2 marked the largest trading day on record, with volume reaching $31.6 billion. This was followed by February 23 with $23.2 billion. More recently, March 18 and March 19 recorded $21.4 billion and $21.1 billion, making them the third and fourth largest sessions ever.

Strong Activity but Mixed Investor Sentiment

Despite the spike in trading activity, investor sentiment appears divided. According to SoSoValue, Bitcoin spot ETFs experienced a daily net outflow of around $90 million on March 19. This came after several days of inflows earlier in the month, suggesting a short term pullback.

Total net assets across spot Bitcoin ETFs are now close to $91 billion, representing about 6.4 percent of the total market value of Bitcoin. Meanwhile, cumulative inflows remain strong at approximately $56 billion.

On the same day, major funds such as BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC saw the largest outflows, with about 544 BTC and 370 BTC withdrawn respectively. This contrast between high trading volume and net outflows suggests that investors may be reallocating their positions rather than increasing overall exposure.

Market analyst Axel Adler Jr. noted that many Bitcoin ETF holders are currently at a loss, with the average realized price sitting just below $80,000. Even so, total ETF holdings have increased by more than 26,000 BTC in recent weeks following a period of outflows in February.

He added that this gap between current prices and the average entry point could influence behavior if Bitcoin approaches the $80,000 level, as some investors may choose to exit positions near breakeven.

Market Volatility Meets Institutional Positioning

Bitcoin recently dipped below $70,000 for the first time in a week after the latest Federal Reserve decision, before recovering slightly to trade near $70,500.

Over the past seven days, Bitcoin is down about 1.6 percent, although it remains up roughly 4 percent over the past month. Its market dominance has also edged higher, rising from 56.3 percent to around 56.5 percent, according to CoinGecko, as it continues to outperform many altcoins.

Santiment analysts noted that ongoing geopolitical tensions and weakness in traditional markets have influenced current conditions. However, they expect ETF trading volumes to remain elevated as investors continue adjusting their positions in response to both macroeconomic developments and crypto specific factors, especially with inflows and outflows happening in rapid succession.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Gemini Cuts 30 Percent of Workforce as AI Shift Intensifies Amid Growing Losses

Gemini has significantly reduced its workforce, cutting about 30 percent of its employees since the beginning of 2026 as the company leans more heavily into artificial intelligence to improve efficiency. According to a shareholder letter cited by Bloomberg, the exchange now has around 445 employees as of March 1.

Founded by Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss, Gemini did not provide a financial outlook for 2026 alongside its fourth quarter results, signaling uncertainty about the road ahead.

Deep Job Cuts and Strategic Pullback

The latest layoffs follow an earlier plan to reduce up to a quarter of the company’s workforce. Gemini also scaled back its global presence by exiting markets in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Australia. At the same time, several senior executives departed, including the chief operating, financial, and legal officers. Additional layoffs in the United States were carried out beyond the initial reductions.

The restructuring comes at a time when Gemini is under financial pressure. After going public on the Nasdaq Global Select Market last September, the company reported a full year loss of $585 million. This figure includes unrealized losses tied to crypto assets, following a loss of more than $500 million the previous year. Although fourth quarter revenue rose nearly 40 percent year over year to about $60 million, losses expanded sharply to $140.8 million compared to $27 million a year earlier.

Data from Kaiko shows that Gemini holds less than 1 percent of the global crypto market share, highlighting its relatively small scale in an industry dominated by larger players. In comparison, Coinbase employs close to 4,951 staff, roughly eleven times more than Gemini, and has recorded trading volumes far exceeding those of the exchange in recent periods.

The broader downturn in the crypto market has added to the company’s challenges. Bitcoin remains about 44 percent below its October peak, while trading activity has been subdued due to ongoing volatility and macroeconomic uncertainty.

Wider Industry Restructuring Continues

Gemini is not alone in reducing staff as the industry adjusts to tougher conditions and technological shifts. Crypto.com recently cut 12 percent of its workforce as it adapts to changes driven by artificial intelligence. Algorand reduced its staff by around 25 percent, while OP Labs eliminated about 20 roles. Meanwhile, Messari is undergoing leadership changes alongside workforce reductions.

In addition, Jack Dorsey’s company Block Inc. cut more than 4,000 jobs, bringing its workforce down to under 6,000 from around 10,000, although a small number of employees were later rehired.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Markets Brace for $2.1 Billion Crypto Options Expiry as Prices Pull Back

Another Friday brings a fresh wave of expiring Bitcoin and Ethereum options contracts, arriving as spot markets cool off following a recent rally.

Roughly 24,600 Bitcoin options contracts are set to expire on March 20, carrying a notional value of about $1.7 billion. This figure is smaller than last week’s expiry, which had minimal impact on the market, suggesting that this event may also have a limited effect on spot prices.

In recent days, crypto markets have trended downward after the Federal Reserve signaled a firm stance for the remainder of the year. Total market capitalization has dropped by $75 billion since Monday, while both trading volume and volatility have declined.

Bitcoin Options Expiry Details

The current batch of Bitcoin options has a put to call ratio of 0.96, indicating a near balance between bullish and bearish positions. The max pain level sits around $70,000, according to Coinglass, which is close to current spot prices and suggests that many positions could expire profitably.

Open interest, which reflects the total number or value of outstanding contracts, remains concentrated at the $60,000 strike price on Deribit, with about $1.5 billion in bearish positions. Across all exchanges, total Bitcoin options open interest has been rising throughout the month and has reached approximately $44 billion.

Crypto derivatives firm Greeks Live noted that as the quarterly settlement period approaches, Bitcoin could experience a phase of relatively low volatility unless significant market events occur.

Alongside Bitcoin, around 176,500 Ethereum options contracts are also expiring, with a notional value of $377 million. The max pain level for Ethereum is estimated at $2,150, with a put to call ratio of 1.0. Total Ethereum options open interest across exchanges stands near $9 billion.

Combined, the total value of crypto options expiring now is roughly $2.1 billion.

Spot Market Outlook Remains Weak

Spot markets have ended the week on a negative note, with total market capitalization slipping another 1.3 percent to $2.48 trillion.

Bitcoin has moved back toward the midpoint of its consolidation range, briefly falling below $69,000 on Thursday before recovering to trade slightly above $70,000 during Friday’s Asian session.

Ethereum has dropped an additional 3 percent, returning to the $2,100 level and showing signs of weakening momentum. There is growing concern that it could fall below the key psychological level of $2,000 if the recent rally continues to fade.

Most altcoins are also declining, with notable losses seen in Hyperliquid, Zcash, and Toncoin.

Market analyst Daan Crypto Trades warned that repeated failures to break out of Bitcoin’s current range could limit the chances of a sustained recovery. He added that recent price action suggests short positions are being cleared, but the broader trend still points toward further downside pressure.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Bitcoin Breaks Key Resistance but Weak Momentum Raises Doubts About Bull Run

Bitcoin has pushed past a major supply zone, climbing above $70,000 and briefly reaching $74,000. While the move signals strength, heavy profit taking and subdued futures activity are raising concerns about whether the rally can be sustained over the long term.

The asset recently moved above the upper limit of its February to March trading range. On chain data shows that Bitcoin cleared a dense accumulation area between $59,000 and $72,000. However, it has since slipped back below that upper boundary, although the daily close has yet to confirm this move.

Can Bitcoin Reach $82,000 Next

According to data from Glassnode, the UTXO Realized Price Distribution reveals that the cleared zone held a large portion of recently acquired supply. With that barrier removed, Bitcoin has entered a relatively low liquidity area between $72,000 and $82,000, where limited prior accumulation could mean less resistance in the short term. Even so, broader indicators suggest that the breakout has not yet confirmed a lasting structural shift in the market.

The percentage of supply currently in profit has climbed to about 60 percent. This aligns with early recovery stages seen in past cycles, but remains below the long term average of around 75 percent that typically signals a stronger bull market. At the same time, short term holders have been taking profits aggressively, with realized gains recently reaching $18.4 million per hour, adding selling pressure that the market must absorb.

Glassnode noted that holding above $70,000 while managing this wave of profit taking would improve the chances of further gains toward key levels such as the True Market Mean near $78,000 and the upper boundary around $82,000.

Beyond on chain signals, off chain data points to improving demand. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen renewed inflows after a period of outflows, reflecting returning institutional interest. However, open interest in CME futures remains low, suggesting that the current rally is being driven more by spot demand than leveraged trading. While this often indicates a more stable market, a sustained uptrend usually requires growth in both capital inflows and derivatives participation.

Spot market activity also shows strengthening buyer momentum. Cumulative volume delta across major exchanges has shifted from consistent selling to net buying, with Coinbase flows stabilizing and trending upward.

Bearish Positions Still Present

In derivatives markets, negative funding rates indicate that many traders are still holding short positions. This has contributed to the recent price rise through short covering. Options data also shows a more balanced market structure, with declining implied volatility reducing demand for downside protection and a gradual increase in call option buying.

At the same time, a concentration of negative gamma exposure around the $75,000 level could continue to influence short term price movements and potentially amplify upward swings through dealer hedging activity. Glassnode concluded that while the current positioning may support further upside in the near term, a sustained rally will likely depend on continued capital inflows and stronger market conviction.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic