Bitcoin Hits $75,900 for the First Time Since Early February
Bitcoin surged to $75,900 on March 17, reaching levels not seen since early February. Ethereum outpaced BTC with a 13.5% weekly gain amid returning institutional demand.
BTC Reclaims Multi-Week Highs
On March 17, Bitcoin climbed to $75,900 — a price level last observed in early February. At the time of writing, BTC was trading near $74,200, up 0.9% over the past 24 hours.
BTC/USDT hourly chart on Binance. Source: TradingView
Ethereum showed even stronger momentum, jumping to $2,300 with a 2.4% daily gain and a striking 13.5% increase over the week. ETH outperformed Bitcoin as institutional players returned to the market.
ETH/USDT hourly chart on Binance. Source: TradingView
Why This Matters
Bitcoin's push above $75,000 signals a potential trend reversal following weeks of correction. The popular Fear & Greed Index rose to 28, exiting the "extreme fear" zone for the first time since late January. However, overall uncertainty among investors persists.
Crypto market sentiment index. Source: Alternative.me
Total liquidations across the crypto market reached $498 million in the past 24 hours, with $329 million wiped from short positions. Bitcoin traders suffered the heaviest losses.
Crypto market liquidations over 24 hours. Source: CoinGlass
What's Driving the Rally
Markus Thielen, founder of 10x Research, attributes the price surge largely to short covering. Traders who opened short positions during the February downturn are now unwinding put options with strike prices at $55,000 and $60,000. According to Thielen, these contracts are unlikely to expire in the money, prompting traders to close their hedges — a process that has pushed prices higher.
Rick Maeda from Presto Research highlighted the return of institutional demand. Spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $767.3 million in inflows last week, while Ethereum funds pulled in $160.8 million.
Purchases by Strategy also fueled bullish sentiment. The company acquired 22,337 BTC for $1.57 billion last week — one of its five largest purchases on record.
"According to social data, the top trending coins driving markets across social media are: Bitcoin $BTC: Large, institutional-scale BTC accumulation by MicroStrategy: the company bought 22,337 BTC (~$1.57B) during March 9–15, 2026 using primarily its STRC preferred‑share…" — Santiment (@santimentfeed), original post
Bitcoin as a "Digital Safe Haven"
Analysts at QCP noted that the digital asset market has "turned around despite the geopolitical storm." Bitcoin and Ethereum are rising while traditional markets remain under pressure. According to QCP, if the pattern holds, the end of the quarter could bring an unexpected reversal — given crypto's tendency to correlate with traditional assets primarily during sell-offs.
QCP added that the recent price action has revived the narrative of Bitcoin as a "digital safe haven." Supporting this thesis is a surge in on-chain activity and fresh capital inflows into stablecoins — USDC supply recently reached a record $81.1 billion.
Separately, Santiment analysts flagged a bullish signal: large Bitcoin holders have resumed accumulating the asset, and the withdrawal of 32,000 BTC to cold wallets may point to an imminent push toward $80,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What price did Bitcoin reach on March 17, 2026?
Bitcoin surged to $75,900 on March 17, marking its highest level since early February. At the time of reporting, BTC was trading around $74,200, up 0.9% in the past 24 hours.
How much was liquidated in the crypto market in 24 hours?
Total crypto liquidations reached $498 million in 24 hours, with $329 million coming from short positions. Bitcoin traders accounted for the largest share of losses.
How much BTC did Strategy buy last week?
Strategy purchased 22,337 BTC for $1.57 billion, making it one of the company's five largest acquisitions to date. The purchase was a significant catalyst for bullish market sentiment.
What were the Bitcoin ETF inflows last week?
Spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $767.3 million in net inflows last week. Ethereum funds saw $160.8 million in inflows, signaling a return of institutional interest in digital assets.
Why is Bitcoin rising in March 2026?
Analysts attribute the rally to short covering from February's downturn, returning institutional demand via ETF inflows, and Strategy's massive BTC purchase. The narrative of Bitcoin as a digital safe haven has also gained traction amid pressure on traditional markets.
Read also
Bitcoin Down 2.5% Weekly: Jane Street Accusations & 7 Ethereum Forks
Bitcoin lost ~2.5% over the week amid macro shocks and geopolitical tensions. Jane Street faced market manipulation allegations while Ethereum unveiled an ambitious seven hard fork roadmap through 2029.
TON Wallet Introduces Yield Vaults for BTC, ETH, and USDT Directly in Telegram
TON Wallet has launched yield vaults for BTC, ETH, and USDT directly within Telegram, offering up to 18% APY on stablecoins through partnerships with Morpho, TAC, and Re7.
Strategy Becomes Most-Shorted US Stock With $6B in Bets
Strategy tops the list of most-shorted large-cap US stocks with $6 billion in short positions, representing 14% of its market cap, as Bitcoin's decline erodes confidence in the company's debt-fueled BTC accumulation model.
Bitcoin Hits $70,000 as Iran Ceasefire Talks Boost Risk Appetite
Bitcoin surged 4% to test the $70,000 level on April 6 amid reports of ceasefire negotiations between the US, Israel, and Iran. The derivatives market, however, sends mixed signals.
Bitcoin Rebounds to $70,000 as Leverage Drops and ETF Inflows Continue
BTC recovered above $70,000 on March 10, erasing weekend losses. Spot ETFs attracted $568M in weekly inflows while the estimated leverage ratio on Binance fell sharply from 0.198 to 0.152.
Bitcoin Drops Below $67,000 as Ethereum Foundation Unveils Quantum Defense Roadmap
Bitcoin lost 3% over the week amid Middle East tensions and ETF outflows, miner activity hit historic lows, and Ethereum Foundation outlined a four-hardfork plan for quantum resistance by 2029.