Bitcoin briefly climbed to $76,000 before retreating by $5,000 and was trading around $71,400, while some analysts expect further upside if key resistance levels are flipped into support. Recent whale purchases of 40,000 BTC, ongoing spot ETF inflows and a six-year low in exchange balances are seen as supportive factors, even as a historic monthly Bollinger Bands squeeze signals that major volatility could be ahead.

In 2026, the US Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged for a second straight meeting, and Bitcoin's price reacted with sharp volatility. The cryptocurrency briefly fell by $5,000 ahead of the FOMC decision but then recovered to around $72,000 once the announcement was released.

Bitcoin’s price fell 3.4% to around $70,900 on Wednesday alongside a broader U.S. equity sell-off after a stronger-than-expected Producer Price Index reading. Following the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged, BTC quickly reclaimed the $72,000 level, with buyers absorbing sell pressure near key support zones around $71,000. Onchain and order book data show profit-taking below $75,000 and passive bids between $71,000 and $74,000, while analysts highlight Bitcoin’s tendency to weaken after recent FOMC meetings.

On Monday, personal finance author Robert Kiyosaki warned that a major traditional finance bubble burst is approaching and claimed Bitcoin could reach $750,000 within a year of the crash. His scenario also assumes gold jumps to $35,000 per ounce and silver’s market cap exceeds $11 trillion. The analysis notes that his Bitcoin target implies a lower Bitcoin-to-gold ratio than past peaks and emphasizes Kiyosaki’s mixed track record of predicting crashes.

Over the last 24 hours, Bhutan’s state investment arm Druk Holding and Investments transferred more than 973 BTC, exceeding $72.3 million, and also moved over 175 BTC on March 10. After its Bitcoin stash peaked at around 13,295 BTC in October 2024, the country now holds just over 4,400 BTC as it continues to liquidate part of its reserve through periodic sales.

On 18 March 2026, Bitcoin traded around $71,350, down about 3.42% in 24 hours, with a market cap near $1.43 trillion and daily volume at $42 billion. Analysts tracking the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index note that historically, Bitcoin price bottoms have tended to form when sentiment is depressed, while trader Merlijn The Trader highlights $77,000 as a key resistance level separating a potential bullish continuation from a deeper correction.

Capriole Investments founder Charles Edwards argues that Bitcoin needs a decisive move above $80,000 to validate a new full-scale bull market, based on his Institutional Closed Basis model. He notes that the upper band near $81,487 represents the cost ceiling for major funds and public companies, and a breakout would push most institutional positions into profit and remove a key resistance zone. Edwards still warns that quantum computing could pose a serious challenge to Bitcoin around 2028, viewing the current rally as a window to strengthen the network.

On Wednesday, Bitcoin traded around $74,000, approximately 2.6% below the recent six‑week peak of $76,000, as markets awaited the March 18 FOMC rate decision and Jerome Powell's press conference. Derivatives and prediction markets almost fully priced in no change to the current 3.5%–3.75% policy rate, while analysts highlighted $76,000–$80,000 on the upside and $65,000–$60,000 on the downside as critical BTC levels. Continued spot ETF inflows and Powell's tone were seen as potential catalysts for heightened volatility in the coming days.