CryptoQuant said Tuesday that as traders add long exposure ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision on Wednesday, bitcoin could encounter resistance near $75,000 and then around $85,000 if the rally persists. The firm also flagged rising exchange inflows—including 6,100 BTC in hourly inflows on March 16—as a potential source of selling pressure.

Bitcoin is holding above $70,000 while the average entry price for US spot BTC ETF investors sits near $79,900, putting many buyers close to breakeven. Data cited in the report shows ETF flows turning positive, with daily inflows peaking above 3,300 BTC on March 2 and total holdings rising to 1,291,618 BTC. Analysts also point to improving order flow and derivatives metrics, keeping attention on a potential $80,000 test in the weeks ahead.

Bitcoin traded around $74,000 after Tuesday’s Wall Street open, cooling after a push to $76,000 and facing renewed skepticism about the rebound. Some traders said a rejection from the $74K–$79K area could lead to a move back toward $68,000 support, while others argued higher-time-frame signals still do not confirm a bear-market bottom. Gold, meanwhile, again retested the $5,000 level per ounce, keeping breakdown risk in focus.

Bitcoin hovered in the mid-$70,000s, holding above $74,000 as traders prepared for a dense run of central-bank rate decisions. The move followed a rebound from a higher low near $66,000 toward $76,000, alongside signs of improving spot demand and cautious derivatives positioning. Spot bitcoin ETFs logged multiple straight inflow days, including $202 million on March 16 led by BlackRock's IBIT.

On March 17, 2026, Blockstream CEO Adam Back criticized Bitcoin Improvement Proposal BIP-110, saying it could undermine Bitcoin’s stability and neutrality. He argued the plan’s 12-month soft fork and 50% hash-rate activation threshold could freeze some existing outputs and increase the chance of a chain split. Back also said current node support is limited to roughly 2.4% to 4.5%, with major mining pools showing little interest.

Strategy has paused its BTC accumulation via STRC after it was unable to raise fresh capital since Friday, as STRC traded below its $100 par value. The company had bought 22,337 BTC in the week ending March 15 and 17,994 BTC the week prior, with about $1.18 billion and roughly $377 million, respectively, tied to STRC-linked sales. Past dips of STRC below $100 have coincided with 25%–40% BTC pullbacks, while charts outline downside zones including $66,000–$68,000 and, in a deeper breakdown, $51,000.

Bitcoin has rebounded from the $60,000 area into the mid-$70,000s and is now challenging a key resistance band that could determine the next move. On the daily chart, BTC is pressing into the $75,000–$80,000 zone while remaining below the 100-day and 200-day moving averages at $80,000 and $93,000. Funding rates are still negative despite the climb, a divergence that may leave room for upside if resistance breaks.

Bitcoin saw broader integration across institutions, banks, corporations, merchants and some sovereign entities in 2025, even as BTC price action remained relatively muted into March 2026. The article argues this gap reflects short-term marginal pricing versus slow-moving structural adoption, with ownership transfers and small allocation sizes limiting immediate upside. It also highlights Lightning Network activity and declining volatility as signs of maturation that may not instantly translate into net spot buying pressure.