Bitcoin's 7% Surge Defies War Panic, Hits $70K Resistance

Alexey Bondarev
Alexey BondarevMar, 03 2026 7:31
Bitcoin trades at $81,134 with $31.1B daily volume, holding a $1.625 trillion market cap as altcoins outperform in May 2026. (Image: Shutterstock)
Bitcoin trades at $81,134 with $31.1B daily volume, holding a $1.625 trillion market cap as altcoins outperform in May 2026. (Image: Shutterstock)

Bitcoin (BTC) surged to $70,125 on Coinbase late Monday before hitting resistance and pulling back to around $68,000 during Tuesday's Asian session, as analysts pointed to geopolitical clarity — not chaos — as the catalyst behind what one called an "insane reversal" across crypto and equity markets.

What Happened: Market Rebound

Prices hit $70,125 on Coinbase late Monday, according to TradingView data. The level acted as resistance, just as it had on Feb. 25.

By Tuesday morning in Asia, BTC had retreated to roughly $68,000. Crypto analyst Bull Theory called the move an "insane reversal," noting that extreme fear had gripped markets just 24 hours earlier when U.S. futures opened Sunday night.

Total crypto market capitalization climbed 2.6% on the day to $2.42 trillion. Ethereum (ETH) reclaimed the $2,000 mark, though altcoin gains were modest by comparison.

Santiment reported a surge in positive sentiment on social media even as BTC had threatened to fall below $65,000 — before rallying 7% in roughly two hours and 20 minutes to reach $69,900, where it ran into the $70,000 resistance wall.

Also Read: XRP Holds $1.35 As Traders Eye Fresh Breakout

Why It Matters: Defying War Panic

The rebound challenged conventional risk-off assumptions. Macro outlet Milk Road noted that traditional playbooks would have BTC falling during geopolitical stress, adding that if this divergence from risk assets holds, the "digital gold" narrative gains fresh support.

Fundstrat's Tom Lee said Monday he expected stocks to finish March higher despite war headlines making investors nervous. Analyst CrediBull Crypto drew a parallel to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, noting that the day of invasion marked a local bottom followed by a 40% climb over the next month.

CryptoQuant analyst Moreno said sell-side pressure from recent buyers was fading, with no meaningful spike in exchange inflows from short-term holders despite the Iran escalation. He described the shift as panic giving way to patience — or at least exhaustion.

Bull Theory framed the broader dynamic bluntly: markets don't punish bad news, they punish uncertainty, and Khamenei's death removed ambiguity that traders priced in immediately.

Read Next: Bitcoin, Ethereum Lead $1B Rebound In Crypto Products

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Alexey Bondarev

Alexey Bondarev is the Head of Content at Yellow.com, having reported on crypto for the last 10 years. He specializes in in-depth Research and Learn pieces, with a focus on analytical reporting, industry context, and the bigger forces shaping crypto, from the AI era and security technologies to fintech innovation. He believes that everything digital will imminently overcome everything analogue and is working hard to make that come true.

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Bitcoin's 7% Surge Defies War Panic, Hits $70K Resistance | Yellow