Avalanche’s AVAX is grinding sideways around $9, testing key support as a bullish “digital commodity” ruling, Animoca partnership and cheaper subnets collide with thin liquidity and stubborn overhead supply.

Avalanche’s (AVAX) native token AVAX, the core asset of the Avalanche layer‑1 smart contract network, is trading around $9.07 today, marking a sideways session that leaves the token pinned just above critical support in the $9.00–$9.50 band.

After starting 2026 near $12.31 and sliding to an average closing level near $10.14, AVAX has posted a double‑digit percentage decline year‑to‑date, underperforming several rival smart contract platforms as broader altcoin liquidity thins out. The asset underlies a high‑throughput, subnet‑based ecosystem designed to host DeFi, gaming and real‑world asset (RWA) applications, positioning AVAX squarely in the L1 and RWA‑adjacent category in the current market structure.

AVAX tests $9–$9.50 floor as institutional RWA story outruns spot demand

In terms of immediate trading dynamics, recent analysis pegs AVAX consolidating between roughly $8.66 and $10.20, with short‑term forecasts calling for only a modest 2.95% upside toward $9.53 over the coming days if support holds. Technical dashboards show RSI cycling in the neutral‑to‑slightly‑oversold range depending on timeframe, and prior attempts to sustain a breakout above the $10 psychological level have faded quickly, underscoring the presence of persistent overhead supply. That pattern is consistent with a market where retail participation has retreated sharply following a 94% decline from all‑time highs, leaving price heavily dependent on selective institutional flows rather than broad speculative enthusiasm.

Fundamentally, Avalanche has logged several milestones that should, in theory, support AVAX over the medium term. On March 17, 2026, U.S. regulators formally classified AVAX as a “digital commodity,” aligning it with Bitcoin and Ethereum from a legal standpoint and potentially smoothing the way for regulated products and deeper institutional involvement. Days later, Web3 heavyweight Animoca Brands disclosed an investment and strategic partnership with Ava Labs aimed at growing Avalanche’s footprint in Asia and the Middle East, including targeted deployments in RWA, digital identity and entertainment. On the technology side, the November 2025 Granite mainnet upgrade and prior Octane hard fork dramatically cut fees, improved cross‑chain messaging and introduced biometric‑friendly cryptography, making it cheaper and simpler to launch subnets and onboard mainstream users.

Yet price remains stuck in a tight range because this fundamental progress has not fully translated into sustained spot demand for AVAX. Analysts note that real‑world asset TVL on Avalanche has pushed above $1.3 billion, with institutional pilots from major financial firms, but these flows are gradual rather than explosive, and many treasuries hedge or amortize their AVAX exposure. As a result, the current tape looks like a classic disconnect: structurally bullish long‑term narrative, but near‑term price dictated by whether $9.00 can hold in the face of lingering risk‑off sentiment across non‑Bitcoin, non‑Ethereum large‑caps.

Zcash’s ZEC is consolidating near $235–$240 after a sharp February selloff, with a $25m ZODL raise, Foundry’s new mining pool and rising shielded use turning it into a 2026 privacy‑trade leader.

Zcash’s (ZEC) native token ZEC, one of the longest‑running privacy coins in the market, is holding near the $235–$240 range this week after a volatile first quarter that saw it sell off sharply in February before rebounding on strong March news flow.

Data from BestCryptoChecker shows ZEC’s price dropped about 20.93% in February 2026, falling from $302.80 to close the month at $239.41, underscoring how aggressively the asset had been de‑risked before the latest move higher. The token, which uses zero‑knowledge proofs to enable shielded transactions and is categorized as a privacy and payments coin, has now re‑emerged as a focal point in the renewed 2026 privacy narrative.

ZEC extends rebound as $25m ZODL raise and Foundry mining pool revive Zcash story

Momentum turned decisively in March. On March 16, ZEC posted a 23.26% daily gain to trade around $285.35, with market capitalization at roughly $4.74 billion and 24‑hour trading volume reaching $583 million, according to MEXC’s tracking. CoinMarketCap’s Zcash dashboard later highlighted that ZEC broke above $235 on March 25 on “strong volumes” following a major ecosystem funding announcement, extending a weekly gain above 10% on elevated spot turnover. While some shorter‑term RSI screens still flag periods of selling pressure on lower timeframes, 14‑day readings near the low‑to‑mid‑50s indicate neither extreme euphoria nor deep exhaustion, leaving room for trend continuation if demand persists.

Behind the tape, a series of structural developments has reframed the Zcash story for 2026. The Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL), a new core development entity formed after the breakup of the Electric Coin Company’s engineering team, closed a funding round of more than $25 million on March 25 from backers including Paradigm, a16z crypto and Coinbase Ventures, with capital earmarked for expanding the Zodl wallet and other privacy‑first tools. CoinMarketCap also reports that Foundry Digital, the largest Bitcoin mining pool, plans to launch an institutional‑grade ZEC mining pool in April 2026, marking its first move beyond Bitcoin and signaling growing confidence in Zcash’s long‑term viability. Additional roadmap items, including the CashZ wallet launch, consensus protocol upgrades and continued ZODL‑led ecosystem expansion, underline an effort to modernize infrastructure and make shielded transactions more accessible, potentially deepening ZEC’s role as a base layer for private finance.

Beyond Zcash itself, privacy coins as a group have begun to stage a comeback in 2026, with MEXC noting that ZEC and peers have delivered double‑digit daily moves as regulatory clarity around “digital commodities” and renewed interest in zero‑knowledge technology shift attention back to privacy‑preserving chains. That broader context matters: while some traders still see scope for a deeper correction toward the $100–$150 range based on ZEC’s longer‑term breakdown from much higher levels, recent funding, infrastructure and usage data have opened the door to a sustained repricing if the privacy trade continues to attract both retail and institutional capital.

Bitcoin traded lower into Friday, sliding to around $65,530 after Thursday’s peak near $71,300 and erasing roughly $210 million in leveraged long exposure as the market faced an about $18.6 billion monthly options expiry. The Deribit options market priced in a bearish tilt, placing a 53% probability that BTC would stay below $66,000 by late April.

Traders also pushed the mood into risk-off mode as the delta skew for Bitcoin options advanced to about 15%, indicating puts were trading at a meaningful premium relative to calls. In parallel, the exit of a high-profile US policy voice and persistent questions about a US strategic approach to Bitcoin added to the cautious stance surrounding a sector still wrestling with regulatory and macro headwinds.

Key takeaways

• Bearish options posture dominates near-term bets: The delta skew rose to 15%, signaling a notable premium for puts over calls and implying a cautious, protection-oriented trading environment.
• BTC price action aligns with cautious expiry dynamics: BTC slid to about $65,530 on Friday, an 8% drop from Thursday’s $71,300, as the $18.6 billion monthly expiry weighed on market positioning and erased substantial bullish leverage.
• Markets price a sub-$66k scenario by late April: The market assigned roughly a 53% implied probability that Bitcoin would trade below $66,000 by April 24, reflecting elevated uncertainty amid macro tensions and policy questions.
• Put-heavy expiry signals risk-off sentiment into weekend: About $2 billion in put open interest existed at the $69,000+ level, with 97% of call options expiring worthless, underscoring a shift away from bullish bets during the expiry window.
• Policy leadership shake-up fuels uncertainty: David Sacks has stepped down as crypto and AI czar, a development that compounds questions about the cadence of US policy on Bitcoin and related technology, including the prospect of a US Bitcoin Reserve.

Bitcoin options and price action amid a thickening policy fog

Friday’s price action arrived on the back of a broad options setup that favored hedging over risk-taking. BTC traded near $65,530, leaving behind an 8% retreat from Thursday’s highs of about $71,300. The monthly expiry, totaling roughly $18.6 billion, amplified the impact of positioning shifts: much of the bullish call premium appeared to fade as the session concluded, with open interest leaning toward protective puts.

In particular, a 66,000-strike put traded at 0.0566 BTC (roughly $3,730), highlighting hedging activity around the $66k level. The market’s read on April 24 pointed to a 53% chance BTC would remain under $66,000, reinforcing a cautious posture among traders heading into the weekend. Data from Deribit and related analytics show the tilt away from outright bullish exposure as traders seek downside protection in an environment clouded by macro and geopolitical developments.

The options landscape also reveals a clearer signal from the longer end of the curve: the delta skew — a measure of put vs. call demand — jumped to 15% on Friday. In balanced markets, the skew typically hovers between -6% and +6%. A +15% reading indicates a material willingness to pay up for downside protection, suggesting reduced conviction that the $66,000 threshold would hold through the coming days.

Looking at expiry dynamics, Friday’s session favored neutral-to-bearish strategies. About 97% of call options at the $68,610 expiry strike were void, while puts at $69,000 and higher eclipsed $2 billion in open interest. The combination of heavy put exposure and weak call participation underscores a mood shift away from outright bullish bets, with traders prioritizing risk management as headlines and policy signals remained unsettled.

Beyond the technicals, market chatter on social platforms reflected a tentative mood about potential geopolitical catalysts. WhalePanda, an active market observer on X, noted that risk markets could push higher if no major negative developments materialize before Monday, though a fresh geopolitical flare could quickly tilt sentiment back toward fear-driven selling.

For readers tracking the macro context, traders are watching a confluence of factors: a U.S. inflation backdrop, possible shifts in fiscal posture, and policy signals around crypto. Oil prices moved higher, with West Texas Intermediate approaching the $100 per barrel mark, while 5-year Treasury yields rose to about 4.07% from roughly 3.72% three weeks prior. The S&P 500 also traded near multi-month lows, underscoring a broader risk-off tone that has often weighed on speculative assets like Bitcoin.

Policy landscape, leadership changes, and the strategic reserve question

Contributing to the mood is a lack of clarity around U.S. policy direction for Bitcoin. In recent weeks, David Sacks, who served as the administration’s crypto and AI czar, stepped down from that role, though he remains an advisor to the President’s Council on Science & Technology. His departure follows earlier remarks that fueled investor expectations, including hints that the U.S. could acquire more Bitcoin through budget-neutral methods without tax increases. The shift adds another layer of uncertainty for market participants seeking a clear pathway for crypto policy in Washington.

The trajectory of any formal U.S. plan to establish a Bitcoin reserve or similar strategic holdings remains unclear. Reports and commentary around a potential “US Bitcoin Strategic Reserve” have circulated in policy circles, but concrete details and timelines have yet to emerge. As policy ambiguity persists, investors are inclined to treat any bullish narratives with caution until clearer signals surface from lawmakers and regulators.

For broader context, readers may recall related discussions about crypto taxation and exemptions. Earlier reporting noted lingering gaps in a proposed crypto tax framework and exemptions for Bitcoin, underscoring how policy developments continue to shape market sentiment and risk appetite.

As the policy debate unfolds, investors should watch for concrete comments from policymakers on whether any strategic holdings or reserve-like program will materialize, and how such moves might interact with existing regulatory frameworks and market infrastructure.

What to watch next for traders and developers

Looking ahead, the key questions center on sentiment recovery versus continued caution. If geopolitical tensions ease and no fresh negative headlines emerge, the options market could recalibrate, potentially narrowing the delta skew and stabilizing the front-month expiry pace. Conversely, any new developments on U.S. crypto policy or a surprise shift in the global macro landscape could reassert a risk-off tone and keep downside hedges in demand.

Traders will also be assessing whether the market’s current pricing aligns with longer-term narratives, including Bitcoin’s role as a macro hedge or as a high-beta risk asset within a diversified portfolio. The ongoing tension between macro headwinds and crypto-specific catalysts suggests volatility could persist as market participants await clearer policy signals and more durable liquidity conditions.

The immediate takeaway is clear: exterior forces—policy signals, geopolitical headlines, and macro surprises—will continue to dictate Bitcoin’s near-term path. As long as uncertainty remains elevated, risk management will likely stay at the forefront of trading decisions, with the options market serving as a barometer of traders’ willingness to protect against drawdowns rather than chase outright upside.

For ongoing coverage, readers should monitor updates on U.S. crypto policy, any announcements related to a potential Bitcoin reserve, and the evolving reaction of equities and macro markets to fresh headlines. If policy clarity arrives or geopolitical tensions shift, the market could recalibrate quickly, offering new opportunities for both traders and builders in the crypto space.

Key takeaways:

• Bearish sentiment is rising as Bitcoin options professional traders lose confidence that the $66,000 level will hold for long.

• The exit of David Sacks as the Crypto and AI czar and a lack of a clear US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve plan added to investors’ doubts.

Bitcoin (BTC) fell to $65,530 on Friday, an 8% decline from the $71,300 level seen on Thursday. This move wiped out over $210 million in leveraged bullish Bitcoin futures and left most call (buy) options worthless during the $18.6 billion monthly expiry. Traders now anticipate a 53% chance that Bitcoin will stay below $66,000 by April 24.

On Friday, the April 24 Bitcoin $66,000 put (sell) options traded at 0.0566 BTC or roughly $3,730. With a 53% implied probability of Bitcoin trading below $66,000 by late April, the mood remains decidedly bearish following the increased uncertainty in the US and Israel-Iran war, pushing traders into a risk-averse mode.

US inflation threats and stalling crypto, Bitcoin legislation

Rising oil prices and a potential $200 billion in extra US military spending led investors to demand higher returns on government bonds and dragged the S&P 500 to its lowest levels since September 2025. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil surged to $100 on Friday, while 5-year Treasury yields reached 4.07%, up from 3.72% three weeks prior.

Inflationary fear and weaker corporate earnings perspectives alone cannot explain Bitcoin’s 20% underperformance against the S&P 500 in 2026. Other factors are likely at play, including investors’ discomfort over the lack of progress on the US Bitcoin Strategic Reserve.

David Sacks has stepped down from his role as the Trump administration’s crypto and AI czar. While Sacks remains an advisor on the President’s Council on Science & Technology, his departure follows earlier comments that inflated Bitcoin investors’ expectations. Sacks had previously hinted that the US could acquire more Bitcoin through budget-neutral methods without raising taxes.

Related: US lawmakers publish crypto tax proposal without Bitcoin tax exemption

The Bitcoin options delta skew jumped to 15% on Friday, showing that put options are trading at a significant premium relative to call instruments. In balanced market conditions, this metric usually ranges between -6% and +6%. The current level indicates a lack of conviction among whales that the $66,000 level will hold. Fear has largely dominated the Bitcoin options market since mid-January.

Bitcoin options expiry favored neutral-to-bearish strategies

Friday’s monthly options expiry at $68,610 proved unfavorable for neutral-to-bullish strategies, as 97% of call options became void. Bears gained the upper hand as put options at $69,000 or higher surpassed $2 billion in open interest. Critically, part of Friday’s downward move reflects a growing unwillingness among traders to maintain Bitcoin exposure over the weekend.

X social platform user WhalePanda, suggested that the crash in risk markets anticipates President Trump making “another dumb escalating move” after US markets close. Consequently, the current fear seen in the options market could reverse if no major geopolitical events occur before Monday.

During bearish cycles, traders often rush for the exits at the mere sight of any event that could be deemed negative. Investors should not take Bitcoin’s implied odds at face value, as these metrics are heavily impacted by recent news and headlines. However, expectations could shift more favorably if Iran effectively releases a counter-offer to the US peace proposal.