Overview
- Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum over Hormuz sparked a weekend slide to roughly $67,300–$69,000 and about $299–$330 million in forced liquidations, with roughly 85% from long positions.
- Following the announcement of a five-day postponement of strikes on Iranian power plants, bitcoin quickly reclaimed $70,000 and briefly topped about $71,000 as risk premia eased.
- Institutional flows were mixed, with U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs taking in about $95.18 million from March 16–20 even as crypto ETFs broadly recorded an estimated $177 million in weekly outflows.
- Market sentiment dropped into extreme fear and liquidity remained thin, leaving prices highly reactive to geopolitical headlines and derivatives positioning across major exchanges.
- Disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and volatile oil prices continue to frame trading conditions as investors await the outcome of this week’s talks within the five-day pause.