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Bitcoin continued its upward move and approached the $75,000 level on Monday, driven by a massive wave of short liquidations. Within a 24-hour period, the cryptocurrency market recorded more than $600 million in liquidations, the majority of which came from bearish positions. This dynamic fueled a rapid increase in prices, with bitcoin rising by roughly 4% and ether posting an even stronger performance.
This acceleration can largely be explained by a “short squeeze,” where short sellers are forced to buy back their positions in a rising market, further amplifying the move. However, some analysts remain cautious, noting that this type of technical rally is often driven more by market mechanics than by strong underlying demand, which could limit its sustainability in the short term.
At the same time, investor sentiment is showing signs of improvement after a period of pronounced pessimism. This recovery is supported in part by renewed inflows into institutional investment products, such as bitcoin ETFs, as well as a rebound in corporate buying. Ether is also benefiting from this environment, with notable capital inflows supporting its relative performance.
Bitcoin is currently trading above $73,000, demonstrating a degree of resilience as markets prepare for a series of major global monetary policy decisions. After recently bottoming near $66,000, the asset has rebounded toward the $75,000 range, supported by spot buying and a gradual return of institutional flows. Market data suggests that the selling pressure seen earlier in the quarter is beginning to ease, although investors remain cautious ahead of a macro-heavy week.
Some structural signals point to a more advanced accumulation phase in the cycle. Exchange balances are declining, large investors are increasing their holdings, and long-term holders appear to be gradually re-entering the market. Despite this, macroeconomic uncertainty remains significant, particularly in relation to Federal Reserve decisions and energy price developments. In the short term, market reactions will largely depend on central bank messaging, while longer-term outlooks remain split between regulatory caution and optimism about bitcoin’s growth potential.
It is also worth noting that bitcoin has just recorded eight consecutive days of gains, a rare occurrence in recent years. Since the start of this move, which began around $68,000, the asset has steadily climbed above $75,000, making it one of the best-performing major assets in a context marked by heightened geopolitical tensions. Historically, such streaks tend to be followed by continued gains in the weeks ahead, although this is far from guaranteed.
Past data shows that similar streaks have occurred around fifteen times. In roughly 60% of cases, bitcoin continued to rise over the following month, with a median gain of about 20%. While these statistics suggest a favorable bias, they do not provide certainty, especially given that market behavior can vary significantly depending on the macro environment and the stage of the cycle.
According to several recent observations, institutional investors have shown unexpected resilience during bitcoin’s sharp correction. Despite a roughly 50% decline since fall 2025, ETF-related flows indicate that most positions have been maintained. Of the approximately $60 billion invested in these products since their launch, only a relatively small portion has been withdrawn, suggesting a degree of stability in institutional capital even in a challenging market environment.
This behavior challenges the assumption that professional investors are more likely to exit quickly during periods of volatility. In reality, bitcoin remains a non-consensus asset, meaning institutions that allocate to it take on reputational risk. This dynamic tends to filter participants, as those who invest typically have a high level of conviction, making their positions more durable.
This strong conviction helps explain why institutional capital appears less sensitive to short-term fluctuations. Rather than reacting impulsively to downturns, these investors tend to adopt a long-term perspective, supporting market structure even during volatile periods. This trend may also reflect bitcoin’s gradual maturation as a recognized financial asset.
In this context, some analysts continue to support highly ambitious long-term scenarios for bitcoin. The idea that it could eventually reach extremely high levels, such as $1 million, is based on the assumption that it will capture a growing share of the global store-of-value market. If this trend continues over time, the current resilience of institutional investors could play a key role in that trajectory.
For the first time, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued guidance aimed at clarifying how digital assets will be classified from a regulatory standpoint. Developed in collaboration with the agency overseeing commodities markets, this approach introduces a more structured distinction between different types of cryptocurrencies. Although it does not yet carry the force of formal rulemaking, it represents a significant step after years of regulatory uncertainty surrounding digital assets.
The regulator outlines several categories, ranging from digital commodities to utility or collectible tokens, as well as stablecoins. Among these, only one category—digital securities—would fall directly under securities laws. This clarification is intended to refocus the SEC on its core mandate of overseeing securities markets, while excluding a large portion of the crypto ecosystem from its jurisdiction.
A key element of this framework is the concept of an investment contract. A digital asset may be considered a security if it is offered with an expectation of profit tied to the efforts of an issuer or centralized entity. However, this classification may not be permanent: once the issuer’s commitments are fulfilled—or not met—the asset may no longer be treated as a security. Additionally, common crypto activities such as staking, mining, or token distributions would not fall under this regulatory scope.
More broadly, this initiative reflects an effort to harmonize regulatory approaches among U.S. authorities and to support industry development domestically. A more detailed proposal is expected soon, including measures aimed at fostering innovation. Nevertheless, many observers note that only legislative action by Congress can ensure the long-term stability and durability of this regulatory framework.
A court in Buenos Aires has ordered a nationwide block of the Polymarket platform, concluding that this crypto-based prediction service resembles an unauthorized online betting system. The ruling requires internet service providers to restrict access to the site and calls on companies such as Google and Apple to limit the availability of its mobile applications within the country.
Authorities have criticized the platform for allowing users to participate without identity or age verification, raising concerns about the protection of minors. The investigation reportedly stemmed from a complaint by the local gambling regulator, which stated that Polymarket does not hold a valid license in Argentina. Additionally, certain trading activity linked to sensitive economic data releases, such as inflation figures, has drawn regulatory attention.
This decision is part of a broader trend of increased scrutiny toward prediction markets worldwide. Several European countries, along with some jurisdictions in Latin America, have already taken similar steps to restrict access to such platforms. Regulators are attempting to determine whether these services should be treated as financial instruments or as unregulated gambling activities.
Strategy made its largest bitcoin purchase of the year, investing nearly $1.6 billion to acquire over 22,000 BTC. This move comes amid strong demand for its preferred financing instrument, a dividend-paying share, which enabled the company to raise approximately $1.2 billion in a single week—a significant increase compared to previous periods.
With this latest acquisition, the company further strengthens its position as the largest corporate holder of bitcoin, bringing its total holdings to over 760,000 BTC. Despite recent market volatility and a sharp decline in prices in recent months, the value of its holdings has moved closer to its average purchase price, significantly reducing unrealized losses. This improvement has also helped support the company’s stock price in the short term, although it remains down over a longer time frame.
According to CryptoQuant, bitcoin could encounter significant resistance if its rally continues, particularly between $75,000 and $85,000. While market sentiment has improved, these levels correspond to technical thresholds that have previously limited upside, especially in more fragile market conditions.
In derivatives markets, investor positioning has clearly shifted toward bullish expectations. Long positions now dominate, as many short sellers were forced out when bitcoin moved above $70,000. Funding rates, which were strongly negative just days ago, have turned positive, indicating that traders are willing to pay to maintain long exposure. Additionally, buy volumes currently exceed sell volumes, reinforcing a favorable short-term trend.
Despite this momentum, some indicators suggest caution. Rising prices have been accompanied by a noticeable increase in bitcoin transfers to exchanges. Such movements are often interpreted as a sign that investors may be preparing to sell, which could create downward pressure if those assets are liquidated.
In summary, although market sentiment has improved and traders are positioning for further upside, several technical and behavioral factors suggest that bitcoin could slow down or consolidate in the coming weeks. The outlook will depend largely on the market’s ability to absorb potential profit-taking, as well as on the broader macroeconomic environment, particularly decisions by the Federal Reserve.
The presented information is as of March 18th, 2026, unless otherwise indicated and is provided for information purposes only. The information comes from sources that we believe are reliable, but not guaranteed. This statement does not provide financial, legal or tax advice. Rivemont Investments are not responsible for any errors or omissions in the information or for any loss or damage suffered.
