TLDR
- VanEck CEO Jan van Eck identifies Bitcoin bottom formation, linking it to the four-year halving cycle concluding in 2026.
- BTC maintains position near $68,000, showing gains of 2.6% over 24 hours and 7.6% across the week.
- U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $458 million in daily inflows, marking one of the quarter’s most impressive sessions.
- Middle East geopolitical developments create market volatility while institutional investors maintain their positions.
- Year-to-date performance shows Bitcoin down 22%, trading more than 40% below October’s record peaks.
Bitcoin maintains a position near $68,000 as of March 3, 2026, showing an increase of approximately 2.6% over the previous 24-hour period.
Year-to-date figures reveal a 22% decline, with current levels sitting more than 40% beneath the all-time peak recorded in October 2025.
VanEck CEO Jan van Eck appeared on CNBC Monday, expressing his view that Bitcoin has entered a bottom formation phase.
Van Eck attributes the current bear market primarily to the four-year halving cycle rather than fundamental changes in Bitcoin itself.
“Bitcoin goes up three years in a row, goes down pretty massively in that fourth year. 2026 is that fourth year,” van Eck said.
He emphasized Bitcoin’s fixed supply cap of 21 million coins, with miners receiving halved block rewards every four years — a structural mechanism he identifies as the primary driver of price cycles.
Van Eck observed that BTC’s recent price recovery might correlate with geopolitical developments following military strikes between U.S., Israeli, and Iranian forces.
He noted that cryptocurrency payment infrastructure could function as an alternative channel for cross-border value transfer outside conventional banking systems in regions experiencing conflict, specifically mentioning the UAE and Dubai.
ETF Inflows Stay Strong Despite War Headlines
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs captured approximately $458 million in inflows on Tuesday, based on SoSoValue data — representing one of the quarter’s most robust single-day performances.
Three consecutive trading sessions last week produced combined inflows totaling $1.1 billion. BlackRock’s IBIT fund contributed approximately half of that volume.
Singapore-based trading firm QCP Capital reported that weekend geopolitical developments triggered roughly $300 million in long position liquidations, characterizing the impact as “contained.”
Options markets experienced a brief surge in one-day implied volatility reaching 93% before retracting, which QCP interpreted as traders implementing event risk hedges rather than anticipating extended crisis conditions.
BTC Still Stuck Below $70,000
Bitcoin has primarily ranged between $60,000 and $70,000 throughout February. Monday saw the asset reach $69,213, though it remained unable to reclaim the $70,000 threshold last crossed in late January.
The cryptocurrency was changing hands at $67,884 at 01:25 ET on Tuesday, reflecting a 2.5% daily gain.
Market analysts indicate that risk sentiment remains cautious as Middle Eastern military operations persist, with political leadership across the U.S., Israel, and Iran showing minimal indication of de-escalation.
Bitcoin trades at $68,153 at the time of publication, per CoinGecko data.
