April 18, 2026 ChainGPT

Bitcoin Reclaims $77K as Iran Tensions Ease; $186M ETF Inflows, BlackRock $500M Buys

Bitcoin Reclaims $77K as Iran Tensions Ease; $186M ETF Inflows, BlackRock $500M Buys
Bitcoin punched back into the green this April, reclaiming the $77,000 mark on Friday as geopolitical tensions and heavy institutional flows shifted sentiment. What moved the market - The immediate catalyst was news that Iran had reportedly reopened the Strait of Hormuz amid U.S.–Iran ceasefire talks, which eased a recent risk-off mood and pushed BTC up about 1.8% on the day. - That relief rally coincided with a sharp short squeeze: roughly $102.93 million of short positions were liquidated within 24 hours, amplifying the upside. - Momentum has been steady: Bitcoin is roughly 6% higher over the past week and about 8% up in the last 30 days. Institutional flows and whale activity - U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs continued to attract capital, logging net inflows of more than $186.03 million for the week — a sign of growing institutional appetite. - BlackRock’s IBIT was a notable buyer, with tracked purchases valued at roughly $500 million, a move many market participants read as a bullish vote from the world’s largest asset manager. Spillover into crypto equities - The rally buoyed several crypto-focused U.S. stocks: MicroStrategy (MSTR) climbed over 13% on Friday and about 33% across the last five trading days. Coinbase (COIN) rose more than 5% on Friday, while miner Marathon Digital (MARA) gained roughly 3%. Technical outlook - Analysts say BTC’s ability to sustain gains hinges on holding the $75,000 level. There appears to be limited sell-side pressure immediately above $77,000, suggesting many holders are clustered around that price. - The next major resistance zone sits near $84,000–$85,000, aligned with the 200-day EMA and the 61.8% Fibonacci extension. If ETF inflows remain steady, $80,000 is presented as the next realistic target — a level BTC hasn’t reached since January 2026. Bottom line A mix of easing geopolitical risk, forced short-covering and continued ETF demand has powered Bitcoin’s rebound. Traders will be watching whether institutional buying persists and whether BTC can clear the $84k–$85k hurdle to extend the rally. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news