(March 18): Bitcoin retreated from a six-week high after a broader risk-off move swept across global financial markets amid growing concern of an escalation in the conflict in the Middle East. Earlier this week, Bitcoin climbed to nearly US$76,000 — its highest level since the start of February. “The market turned risk-off after the reports of Israel’s attack on the South Pars oil facility in Iran,” said Hanson Birringer, managing director at Flowdesk. Bitcoin is down about 40% from an all-time high of around US$126,000 reached in early October. Net flows for US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs topped US$750 million in the past week, a third consecutive week of inflows.

Source: The Edge Markets March 18, 2026 15:05 UTC