Connect with us
DAPA Banner

Crypto World

Bitcoin dips below $74K amid Middle East tensions and mixed market signals

Published

on

Bitcoin dips below $74K amid Middle East tensions and mixed market signals

Key takeaways

  • BTC eases back from 76k, a monthly high.
  • Technical indicators suggest further correction in the near term.

Bitcoin has dropped below $74,000 after pulling back from a monthly high earlier this week. The cryptocurrency surged from $70K at the start of the week to hit $76K on Tuesday, before easing to its current level. 

Mixed signals for the crypto market

The US Navy has confirmed a full blockade of Iranian ports, amplifying concerns over oil supply disruptions and pushing prices higher from three-week lows. However, President Trump has suggested that the conflict may be nearing an end, which has tempered further upside in oil prices and kept hopes of a de-escalation alive. 

In addition to that, treasury yields have been on a downward trend, supported by softer-than-expected PPI data for March, which rose 0.5% month-on-month, below the 1.2% forecast. This easing of inflation concerns benefits Bitcoin, as lower yields signal improving liquidity and reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like crypto.

The US stock market has also been resilient, with the Nasdaq posting its tenth consecutive winning session, gaining nearly 10% in April. Crypto markets have mirrored this strength, with Bitcoin up approximately 8.5% so far this month. 

Advertisement

These parallel moves suggest that Bitcoin is increasingly trading as a macro-sensitive asset, responding to broader market sentiment rather than purely crypto-specific factors.

Despite the current market conditions, institutional demand continues to support Bitcoin’s price action. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $411 million in net inflows on Tuesday, despite a $291 million outflow the previous day. This brings total net inflows for April to $741.9 million.

The growing institutional acceptance of Bitcoin is further highlighted by Goldman Sachs’ filing with the SEC for a Bitcoin premium income ETF, signaling a deeper commitment to crypto from traditional finance. 

BTC could retest low support levels

The BTC/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient as Bitcoin is down by more than 1% in the last 24 hours. 

Advertisement

Currently, Bitcoin is trading within a rising channel that has been in place since early February. BTC is testing a key resistance level around $76K, which coincides with both the March high and the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement of the October high near $126K. 

BTC/USD 4H Chart

If the bulls regain control and Bitcoin embarks on a sustained break above $76K, it could target $80K, followed by $85K and the 200-day SMA at $88K.

On the downside, Bitcoin has initial support near $71K, with stronger support at $69.6K, the 50-day SMA. A move below $65K would signal a lower low, indicating a shift in market sentiment.

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Crypto World

Stablecoins Do Not Threaten Banking Just Yet: Analyst

Published

on

Stablecoins Do Not Threaten Banking Just Yet: Analyst

The impact of stablecoins on the banking sector appears “limited” at the current phase of the adoption cycle, but banks could face increasing competition and an erosion of market share as the stablecoin sector and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) grow in market capitalization. 

“So far, the use of stablecoins remains limited, but their market capitalization exceeded $300 billion at the end of last year,” Abhi Srivastava, associate vice president of Moody’s Investors Service Digital Economy Group, told Cointelegraph.

The stablecoin market cap has surged past $300 billion. Source: RWA.xyz

The role of stablecoins in payments, cross-border commerce and onchain finance is “expanding,” despite their currently limited role, Srivastava said, adding that existing payment systems in the US are already “fast, low-cost and trusted.” He said:

“For the banking sector, at this stage, disruption risk appears limited. In the near term, US rules that prohibit stablecoins from paying yield mean they are unlikely to replace traditional deposits at scale domestically.”

However, over time, growing adoption of stablecoins and tokenized RWAs, traditional or physical financial assets represented on a blockchain by a token, could place “pressure” on the banking sector, leading to deposit outflows and reduced lending capacity, he said.

Stablecoin regulatory policy has become a hot-button issue among crypto industry executives and those in the banking sector, with fears that yield-bearing stablecoins could erode banking market share proving to be a stumbling block for the CLARITY crypto market structure bill in Congress. 

Advertisement

Related: Stablecoins behave like FX markets as liquidity splits: Eco CEO

CLARITY Act stalled, as banks fight yield-bearing stablecoins

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025, also known as the CLARITY Act, is a comprehensive crypto market regulatory framework that establishes an asset taxonomy, regulatory jurisdiction and oversight over the crypto markets.

The CLARITY crypto market structure bill. Source: US Congress

It is now stalled in Congress after a group of crypto industry companies, led by cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, publicly stated opposition to earlier drafts of the bill.

A lack of legal protections for open-source software developers and a prohibition on yield-bearing stablecoins were among some of the most contentious issues cited by crypto industry opponents of the legislation.

Several attempts have been made by US lawmakers and the White House to negotiate a bill acceptable to both the crypto industry and the bank lobby.

Advertisement

Earlier this month, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis said he plans to release an updated draft bill proposal that would be acceptable to both sides; however, the bill has reportedly received pushback, according to Politico, and has yet to be publicly released. 

However, other crypto industry executives and market analysts have warned that if the CLARITY Act fails to pass, it could open the crypto industry up to future regulatory crackdowns by hostile lawmakers and officials.

Magazine: Stablecoins will see explosive growth in 2025 as world embraces asset class