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Bitcoin Holds Up Amid Middle East Tensions

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Josh Gilbert Market Analyst At Etoro

Bitcoin’s latest update frames a period of geopolitical tension as a test of the asset’s maturity. The release notes Bitcoin has held a $65,000 to $76,000 range while outperforming gold and major equities, suggesting a broader base of demand beyond speculative trading. It points to growing institutional involvement, including spot Bitcoin ETFs, corporate treasury allocations, and sovereign wealth fund participation, and notes that more than 20 million Bitcoin have been mined, with over 95% of supply in circulation. For readers and market participants, the report signals how macro conditions and evolving demand dynamics could shape Bitcoin’s trajectory in the near term.

Key points

  • Bitcoin traded within a $65,000 to $76,000 range during the period described in the release.
  • Bitcoin outperformed gold, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq in the same window.
  • Spot Bitcoin ETF inflows reached US$763 million last week, with additional institutional buying (US$1.28 billion) noted.
  • More than 20 million Bitcoin have been mined, placing over 95% of supply in circulation.

Why it matters

The pattern described points to a maturing market with stronger fundamental supports and institutional participation. If macro policy remains accommodative or the market absorbs supply-demand dynamics, Bitcoin could maintain resilience amid volatility and shifting risk sentiment, highlighting a potential longer-run framework for its price behavior.

What to watch

  • Federal Reserve policy signals on oil-driven inflation and the higher-for-longer rate path could influence risk assets, including crypto.
  • Guidance on rate cuts later in the year and how that might affect Bitcoin’s trajectory.
  • Ongoing spot ETF inflows and institutional demand trends to watch for sustained demand support.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company or its PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

Bitcoin Shows Resilience Amid Middle East Tensions, Outperforming Gold and Equities

Abu Dhabi, UAE – March 18, 2026

Bitcoin has demonstrated notable resilience amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, holding up better than many market participants anticipated, according to Josh Gilbert, Market Analyst at eToro.

Despite remaining approximately 45% below its October all-time highs, bitcoin has consolidated within a US$65,000 to US$76,000 range. This stability comes despite a backdrop of surging oil prices, a stronger US dollar, and heightened global uncertainty—factors that would historically have exerted significant downward pressure on risk assets.

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Josh Gilbert Market Analyst At Etoro
Josh Gilbert, Market Analyst At Etoro

“Bitcoin’s ability to hold its ground in the current environment signals a clear evolution in the asset’s maturity,” said Gilbert. “Rather than experiencing sharp sell-offs, we’re seeing consolidation, which reflects stronger structural support and more diverse demand drivers.”

Interestingly, bitcoin has outperformed traditional safe-haven and equity assets during this period, including gold, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq. While gold initially rallied on safe-haven demand at the onset of the conflict, it has since pulled back amid a strengthening dollar and rising bond yields.

“Gold has had an exceptional run this year, while bitcoin entered this period already significantly retraced. This dynamic helps explain why bitcoin has shown relative strength, while gold has given back some gains,” Gilbert added.

The current market environment also highlights the growing institutionalisation of bitcoin. Compared to previous downturns—such as in 2022, when bitcoin fell between 60% and 70%—today’s market is underpinned by stronger fundamentals, including the presence of spot ETFs, corporate treasury allocations, and sovereign wealth fund participation.

Recent data underscores this shift. Spot bitcoin ETFs recorded inflows of US$763 million last week, while Strategy continued its accumulation with a US$1.28 billion purchase. Additionally, more than 20 million bitcoin have now been mined, meaning over 95% of the total supply is already in circulation, further tightening supply dynamics.

“We are seeing a unique convergence where supply is becoming increasingly constrained while institutional demand continues to build,” said Gilbert. “This creates a structurally supportive backdrop for bitcoin over the medium to long term.”

Looking ahead, macroeconomic policy—particularly from the US Federal Reserve—will play a critical role in shaping bitcoin’s trajectory.

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“If the Fed signals that oil-driven inflation will keep interest rates higher for longer, risk assets, including crypto, could remain under pressure,” Gilbert explained. “However, if there is room for rate cuts later in the year, the combination of tightening supply and renewed institutional demand could see bitcoin retest its highs.”

While near-term uncertainty remains, bitcoin’s current performance suggests a more mature and resilient asset class, positioning it differently from previous market cycles.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Sky Protocol Proposes Two Structural Upgrades to Strengthen Capital Protection Framework: Sky Governance

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Sky Protocol Proposes Two Structural Upgrades to Strengthen Capital Protection Framework: Sky Governance

Sky Governance is proposing a stronger solvency buffer and a more sustainable staking rewards model to solidify long-term protocol stability.

Sky Governance is proposing two structural upgrades to strengthen the protocol’s capital protection framework, according to an announcement on April 7, 2026. The proposals include implementing a stronger solvency buffer and adopting a more sustainable staking rewards model. The measures are designed to solidify Sky Protocol’s long-term stability while prioritizing trustworthiness over short-term yield-seeking.

Sky Protocol cited sUSDS, its yield-generating stablecoin, as the largest in its category, attributing its success to the protocol’s distinctive risk posture compared to competitors in the space. The governance updates reflect Sky Protocol’s commitment to capital protection and long-term sustainability.

Sources: Sky Ecosystem

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This article was generated automatically by The Defiant’s AI news system from publicly available sources.

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FDIC Moves to Treat Stablecoins Like Banks Under New Rule

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The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has moved to tighten oversight of stablecoins, signaling a clear shift in how these digital assets will operate in the United States.

On April 7, the FDIC approved a proposal to implement key provisions of the GENIUS Act. The rule would set standards for stablecoin issuers under its supervision, including requirements for reserves, redemptions, capital, and risk management.

In simple terms, stablecoins in the US are being pushed closer to the banking system. Issuers will need to hold safe assets such as cash or US Treasuries and prove they can redeem tokens reliably at a one-to-one value.

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At the same time, the proposal formally brings banks into the stablecoin ecosystem. Insured banks would be allowed to hold reserves and provide custody services. This links stablecoins more directly to traditional financial infrastructure.

The FDIC also addressed how deposits backing stablecoins may be treated. If these funds meet the legal definition of a deposit, they could qualify for the same protections as regular bank deposits. This could increase trust but also expands regulatory control.

However, the rule is not final. The agency will accept public comments for 60 days before making changes.

Overall, the direction is clear. In the US, stablecoins are no longer being treated as a separate crypto product. They are operating under rules similar to those applied to banks.

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The post FDIC Moves to Treat Stablecoins Like Banks Under New Rule appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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FDIC Approves GENIUS Act Stablecoin Rule to Govern Reserve, Capital, and Deposit Standards

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

TLDR:

  • The FDIC Board approved a proposed rule establishing a prudential framework for payment stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act.
  • FDIC-supervised IDIs offering stablecoin custodial and safekeeping services will face defined requirements under the new rule.
  • The rule clarifies that tokenized deposits meeting the deposit definition will be treated equally under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
  • Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted for 60 days following its official Federal Register publication date.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has taken a notable regulatory step for digital assets. Its Board of Directors approved a notice of proposed rulemaking to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act).

The proposed rule sets a prudential framework for FDIC-supervised permitted payment stablecoin issuers. It covers reserve assets, redemption, capital, and risk management standards. This marks the FDIC’s second rulemaking under the GENIUS Act.

FDIC Sets Prudential Standards for Stablecoin Issuers

The proposed rule targets FDIC-supervised permitted payment stablecoin issuers directly. It establishes clear requirements around reserve assets, redemption processes, capital adequacy, and risk management. These standards aim to bring consistency across how stablecoin issuers operate within the banking system.

The FDIC also addressed insured depository institutions (IDIs) offering stablecoin-related custodial and safekeeping services. Such institutions will face specific requirements under this proposed framework.

This ensures that custodial services for stablecoins meet the same prudential standards as other banking activities.

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The FDIC Board approved the proposed rulemaking and announced it through official channels earlier today. The rule reflects an ongoing effort to integrate digital assets into existing regulatory norms. It follows months of legislative activity surrounding the broader GENIUS Act framework.

Deposit Insurance Clarified for Reserves and Tokenized Deposits

The proposed rule also addresses pass-through insurance for deposits held as stablecoin reserves. This clarifies how federal deposit insurance applies within a stablecoin context. It is a practical detail for institutions managing reserve-backed payment stablecoins.

Moreover, the rule covers tokenized deposits meeting the statutory definition of a deposit. Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, such deposits will receive no different treatment than any other deposit type. This provides legal clarity for banks exploring tokenized deposit products going forward.

The public comment period for the proposed rule will remain open for 60 days after its Federal Register publication.

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Stakeholders across the financial and crypto sectors will have an opportunity to respond. This allows the industry to contribute before the rule is finalized.

This latest proposal is the FDIC’s second rulemaking under the GENIUS Act. The first was issued on December 19, 2025, covering application procedures for IDIs seeking to issue payment stablecoins through subsidiaries.

Together, both rules are building the foundation of a broader federal stablecoin regulatory framework. As the GENIUS Act continues to take shape, regulated stablecoin issuance is becoming increasingly well-defined for financial institutions.

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Bitcoin ETF Inflows Soar, Will BTC Price Follow?

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Bitcoin ETF Inflows Soar, Will BTC Price Follow?

Key takeaways:

  • BTC failed to hold $70,000 despite strong ETF inflows as selling by public miners offset recent institutional buying.

  • Options markets reflect high demand for downside protection as a 17% put premium signals cautious sentiment.

Bitcoin (BTC) failed to sustain Monday’s $70,000 level despite $471 million in net inflows into US-listed spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The market’s initial excitement faded following reports that multiple US and Israeli aircraft and equipment were destroyed during a military operation in Iran over the weekend.

Since the S&P 500 remained relatively flat between Friday and Tuesday, Bitcoin’s inability to maintain bullish momentum likely stems from other factors.

Bitcoin US-listed spot ETFs daily net flows, USD. Source: SoSoValue

The US-listed Bitcoin ETFs recorded $471 million in net inflows on Monday, the highest in over five weeks; however, the trend for the preceding two weeks remained muted, signaling a lack of conviction. Part of traders’ concern stems from recent Bitcoin sales by publicly listed miners.

Bitcoin miner and digital asset treasury companies put BTC under pressure

MARA Holdings (MARA US) reportedly transferred 250 BTC on Tuesday, according to Lookonchain data. MARA previously announced the sale of 15,133 BTC in March and reported 38,689 BTC held in total. Traders fear additional sell pressure as multiple miners focus on trimming debt to fund a strategic shift toward AI computing data centers.

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Riot Platforms (RIOT US) transferred 1,500 BTC for sale during the first week of April, according to Arkham data. Per the latest operational update, the company held 15,680 BTC, intensifying fears of continued liquidations as high energy costs negatively impact operations.

Other addresses linked to large miners sold 265 BTC on Tuesday after accumulating since early 2024, according to Lookonchain. The address 3PFNdgGi…myCh139 still holds 112 BTC. Regardless of the rationale behind these movements, sentiment worsened after Bitcoin’s hashrate dropped to 953 exahashes on Monday, down from 1,083 exahashes in late February.

Bitcoin mining estimated hashrate (exahashes). Source: Blockchain.com

Strategy (MSTR US) continued accumulating Bitcoin, totaling 4,871 BTC in the previous week alone. However, investors increasingly fear that few buyers remain after a two-month bear market, especially as companies that raised debt to accumulate Bitcoin face heavy pressure and are forced to sell some reserves.

Publicly-listed companies, ranked by returns on BTC reserves. Source: BitcoinTreasuries

Among the companies that reduced Bitcoin holdings over the past month are Sequans Communications (SQNS FR) and Nakamoto Inc (NAKA US). More concerning, a handful of other listed companies face losses of 35% or more on their Bitcoin holdings, including GD Culture Group (GDC US) and OranjeBTC (OBTC3 BR), according to BitcoinTreasuries data.

Related: Bitcoin price risks ‘$15K shakeout’ in the next 5 months, BTC analyst warns

Bitcoin 30-day options skew (put-call) at Deribit. Source: laevitas.ch

Bitcoin options markets signaled discomfort on Tuesday as put (sell) options traded at a 17% premium relative to call (buy) instruments. Traders believe whales have a better gauge of the market, but the options skew results from regular traders constantly buying downside protection rather than a premeditated movement from market makers.

There is no indication that professional traders are leaning bearish, but a single day of strong ETF net inflows does not prove heightened institutional demand. Hence, even if a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz lifts risk markets, odds are Bitcoin could struggle to sustain levels above $75,000 given the risk-averse sentiment.

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