Is $74K Bitcoin’s next test?

March 05, 2026

 

Reading time: 5 minutes

Bitcoin eyes $74K battleground after $1.1B ETF inflows

Key points:

  • Bitcoin hovered above $72,000, briefly crossing $73,000 as ETF inflows and derivatives activity coincided with the recent market rebound.

  • Traders are watching a $73,750–$74,400 resistance zone that has historically marked major turning points for BTC.

News - Bitcoin stabilized near $72,000–$73,000 after a recent breakout, with the broader crypto market pausing as investors evaluated whether the rally could extend toward $80,000. The asset briefly climbed above $73,000 during the week but struggled to sustain stronger upside momentum.

Institutional demand remained a key theme. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $462 million in net inflows, extending a three-day streak that has reached $1.1 billion. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the surge with $307 million, followed by funds from Fidelity and Grayscale.

Derivatives participation also increased. Bitcoin futures open interest climbed to around 680,000 BTC, the highest level in nearly two weeks, while funding rates for Bitcoin and Ethereum remained mildly positive, indicating a modest bullish bias among traders. Some on-chain indicators also show a smaller share of Bitcoin supply currently in profit, a signal that has historically appeared during periods of market pressure.

A crucial resistance zone ahead - Bitcoin is now approaching a key price battleground between $73,750 and $74,400, a range that has repeatedly shaped market direction over the past two years.

Previous rallies have stalled near this area, while in other instances it marked the end of a downtrend before prices moved higher. Market participants now view this zone as a decisive level that could determine whether Bitcoin regains stronger bullish momentum.

A break above the range could revive expectations for a move toward $80,000, while rejection may reinforce the broader downtrend that began in October.

Altcoins wait on Bitcoin’s next move - At the same time, altcoin interest has fallen to a two-year low across social media and search trends, suggesting investor attention is concentrated on Bitcoin.

Historically, similar periods of low altcoin activity have often preceded capital rotation into alternative tokens once Bitcoin’s rally begins to slow.

Elon Musk pushes X Money beta as crypto integration speculation grows

Key points:

  • Elon Musk’s X Money has entered a limited external beta, offering peer-to-peer payments, cashback rewards, and up to 6% APY on deposits.

  • The rollout has sparked speculation about future crypto trading and asset integration within the platform.

News - Elon Musk’s long-anticipated X Money payments platform has entered a limited external beta, marking a new step in his effort to transform X into a financial “everything app.” The rollout has also renewed discussion around whether cryptocurrency trading or payments could eventually be integrated into the platform.

Early access to the service was highlighted by actor William Shatner, who shared screenshots of the interface and helped distribute invitations to beta testers through charity auctions. The preview shows a streamlined layout that allows users to send and receive payments, request funds, and deposit money directly inside the app.

The beta currently focuses on fiat-based financial tools. Users can earn up to 6% annual percentage yield on deposits, receive cashback on eligible purchases, and access an X-branded debit card supported by Visa. Deposits are held through Cross River Bank, with balances insured up to $250,000.

X has also secured money transmitter licenses in more than 40 U.S. states, enabling the company to expand peer-to-peer payment services across a large portion of the country.

Musk’s “everything app” ambition - The launch reflects Musk’s broader plan to turn X into a unified platform combining social media, messaging, payments, and financial services.

Musk has described X Money as a potential central hub for financial activity, echoing his earlier work on X.com, the online banking startup he founded in 1999 that later evolved into PayPal.

Future features could include “Smart Cashtags,” tools that may allow users to view financial data and potentially trade assets directly within the X timeline.

Crypto integration remains unconfirmed - Speculation around crypto integration continues to circulate across the platform. Musk has previously expressed support for Dogecoin, while analysts have suggested that stablecoins or other digital assets could eventually play a role.

For now, however, the beta version appears focused primarily on fiat payments and financial tools, with no confirmed cryptocurrency functionality in the initial rollout.

a16z targets $2B crypto fund despite slower venture climate

Key points:

  • Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto arm is reportedly seeking $2 billion for its fifth crypto-focused venture fund, with a target close in the first half of 2026.

  • The new fund would be smaller than the firm’s $4.5 billion 2023 fund, reflecting a more cautious venture environment across the crypto sector.

News - Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto division, known as a16z crypto, is reportedly raising $2 billion for a new venture fund as the firm continues backing blockchain startups despite a softer investment climate.

The proposed fund would mark the fifth crypto-focused vehicle from the venture capital giant and is expected to close during the first half of 2026. Although the target is significantly smaller than the firm’s $4.5 billion fund raised in 2023, it would still rank among the largest dedicated crypto venture funds currently in the market.

The fundraising effort comes as venture investment across the crypto sector has slowed. Industry data shows crypto startups raised $895 million in February, nearly 40% lower than the $1.47 billion recorded the previous month.

Even so, a16z remains a major investor in blockchain infrastructure. Since launching its first $300 million crypto fund in 2018, the firm has backed projects such as Uniswap, Anchorage Digital, and Jito Network.

A shift toward crypto’s “financial era” - Chris Dixon, who leads the firm’s crypto arm, has argued that the industry is entering a “financial era,” where blockchain-based financial applications could serve as the foundation for broader decentralized internet services.

This outlook aligns with a growing venture focus on areas such as stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization, and on-chain financial products, which some investors see as the next phase of crypto adoption.

Venture capital remains selective - While a16z continues raising capital, other crypto venture firms have taken a more cautious stance. Some investors are exploring adjacent sectors including artificial intelligence, robotics, and longevity technology as the broader venture landscape evolves.

Still, recent fundraising activity such as Dragonfly Capital’s $650 million fund suggests institutional capital remains active in the digital asset ecosystem despite ongoing market headwinds.

Zerohash seeks U.S. Trust Bank Charter to expand stablecoin services

Key points:

  • Crypto infrastructure firm Zerohash has applied for a U.S. National Trust Bank Charter, aiming to expand its stablecoin and digital asset services under federal oversight.

  • The move places Zerohash among a growing list of crypto companies pursuing OCC-regulated banking charters as stablecoin regulation advances in the U.S.

News - Chicago-based blockchain infrastructure provider Zerohash has applied for a National Trust Bank Charter from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a step that could allow the firm to operate under a unified federal regulatory framework.

If approved, the charter would permit Zerohash to issue stablecoins, custody digital assets, and manage reserves under direct federal oversight. However, institutions with this designation cannot accept customer deposits or provide commercial lending services.

The application reflects the company’s effort to scale its digital asset infrastructure platform, which enables businesses to embed stablecoin and crypto functionality into services such as payments, trading, and payroll. Zerohash already holds licenses across 51 U.S. jurisdictions and works with partners including Morgan Stanley, Interactive Brokers, Stripe, and Franklin Templeton.

Race for federal crypto charters - Zerohash’s move comes as several crypto companies pursue federal trust bank charters from the OCC. Firms such as Crypto.com, Bridge, Stripe, Circle, Ripple, Fidelity Digital Assets, Paxos, and BitGo have secured conditional approvals or similar trust charter permissions in recent periods.

The charter has become increasingly sought after following the passage of the GENIUS Act, legislation that clarified the regulatory framework for stablecoins in the United States.

Banking industry pushback - While crypto companies view federal trust charters as a way to operate nationally under a single regulatory framework, the expansion of these licenses has drawn criticism from parts of the traditional banking sector.

Groups such as the American Bankers Association have argued that broadening trust charters to nontraditional financial institutions could blur the distinction between regulated banks and fintech or crypto firms.

For Zerohash, the application represents a strategic step toward expanding its role as a regulated infrastructure provider for banks, brokerages, and fintech companies entering the digital asset ecosystem.

Interesting facts

  • A crypto firm has now tapped the Federal Reserve’s core payments infrastructure: In March 2026, Kraken’s banking unit secured access to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s payments system, allowing it to process transactions through Fedwire and marking one of the first times a crypto-focused institution has gained such direct integration with U.S. central bank payment rails.

  • Iran’s crypto activity spikes during geopolitical crises: After military strikes involving Iran in early March 2026, blockchain analysts observed over $10 million leaving Iranian crypto exchanges within days, highlighting how digital assets are increasingly used during periods of financial instability and sanctions pressure.

  • Traditional stock exchanges are building blockchain settlement rails: The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) announced plans to launch a blockchain-compatible digital securities depository, designed to enable trading and settlement of tokenized assets such as bonds and equities across multiple networks as part of a broader push toward tokenized capital markets.

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Top 3 coins of the day

Monero (XMR)

Key points:

  • XMR traded around $364 after reaching an intraday high of $370, continuing its rebound from the late-February base near $310.

  • The Parabolic SAR flipped below the candles while RSI climbed to 53.55, indicating strengthening short-term momentum.

What you should know:

Monero pushed higher as buyers gradually regained control following February’s steep drop. After several sessions of sideways movement around the low $300s, the recovery gathered pace and lifted the asset toward the mid-$360 range.

A key technical shift appeared when the Parabolic SAR moved beneath price, suggesting the short-term trend has turned constructive. As long as the dots remain below the candles, the indicator continues to support the ongoing rebound.

Momentum also improved. The RSI rose to 53.55, returning to neutral territory and signaling that the market still has room to move higher.

The advance unfolded alongside improving sentiment across the broader crypto market, with altcoin demand picking up again.

Immediate resistance stands near $370, while $340 and $310 remain the main support levels to watch.

Jupiter (JUP)

Key points:

  • JUP climbed to $0.194 after testing an intraday high of $0.195, continuing its rebound from the late-February lows near $0.15.

  • Price pressed against the upper Bollinger Band while the Squeeze Momentum histogram turned positive, signaling strengthening bullish pressure.

What you should know:

Jupiter extended its recovery and moved closer to the $0.20 region after spending several sessions rebuilding momentum above the mid-$0.17 range. The latest push followed a gradual rebound from February’s lows, with buyers steadily reclaiming ground during the recent uptrend.

Price recently pushed toward the upper Bollinger Band, reflecting strong short-term buying pressure as volatility expanded. The bands have started widening, a signal that the market is shifting from consolidation toward a more active trading phase.

Momentum also strengthened. The Squeeze Momentum histogram moved into green territory above the zero line, indicating that bullish pressure has been building after an earlier compression phase.

Improving sentiment around Solana ecosystem tokens and the upcoming March 7 JUP airdrop distribution also appeared to support demand.

Immediate resistance sits near $0.20, while $0.17 and $0.16 remain the key support zones to monitor.

Chiliz (CHZ)

Key points:

  • CHZ pushed toward $0.039 after rebounding from the late-February low near $0.032, extending its short-term recovery.

  • Price reclaimed the 20-MA at $0.037 while the EWO histogram began contracting below zero, signaling weakening downside momentum.

What you should know:

Chiliz continued its gradual recovery after February’s selloff forced the token down to the $0.032 region. Since then, buyers have steadily rebuilt momentum, lifting the price back toward the $0.038–$0.039 zone.

A technical improvement emerged as CHZ moved back above the 20-MA near $0.037, turning that level into immediate support. The 50-MA around $0.044 still sits overhead, indicating the broader trend has yet to fully flip bullish.

Momentum is also stabilizing. The EWO remained negative but its red bars began shrinking, suggesting the earlier selling pressure is fading.

The rebound coincided with Dexsport’s integration on Chiliz Chain and its $50,000 CHZ Mega Drop campaign running from March 2 to April 1, adding fresh SportFi utility.

Resistance sits near $0.039–$0.040, while $0.037 and $0.032 remain key supports.

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