According to Fixygen, the cryptocurrency market maintained a moderately positive sentiment last week, although growth slowed toward the end of the period. Bitcoin traded around $77,800 on Friday, while Ethereum traded around $2,310, according to market data as of April 24.
The market saw its strongest movement in the middle of the week. According to Reuters, on April 22, Bitcoin rose to $78,866, gaining 4.13% for the day, while Ethereum climbed to $2,398, up 3.48% on the day. This occurred amid an improvement in global risk appetite and a general rise in stock markets.
However, momentum weakened in the second half of the week. On April 23, Reuters noted a pullback in cryptocurrencies amid rising oil prices, tensions in the Middle East, and more cautious investor sentiment: at that time, Bitcoin fell to $77,682, and Ethereum to $2,316. By April 24, the market had stabilized, but without a new strong upward surge.
Institutional money remained the key support factor for Bitcoin this week. According to industry publications, the inflow of funds into spot Bitcoin ETFs continued, and Strategy purchased an additional 34,164 BTC for approximately $2.54 billion, marking its largest purchase since late 2024. This reinforced the perception of Bitcoin as an asset that continues to be actively bought up by major players, even following the March-April recovery.
Another positive signal for the sector was the continued push by traditional financial firms toward the crypto market. Reuters previously reported that Charles Schwab plans to launch spot cryptocurrency trading, which the market interprets as another step toward the further institutionalization of digital assets.
Ultimately, the week ended on a somewhat bullish note for the crypto market, though without a full-fledged breakout. Bitcoin managed to hold near $78,000 and remained close to the week’s local highs, while Ethereum showed less resilience and retreated from the $2,400 range by the end of the period. If the external backdrop does not deteriorate, the market may continue its attempts to rise, though dependence on geopolitics and investors’ overall risk appetite remains high.
According to Fixygen, Iran is seeking to include a payment mechanism for ships passing through this key energy route in future agreements regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The Financial Times reported that Tehran wants to charge fees to loaded oil tankers, and, according to the publication, the Iranian Union of Oil Exporters insists on payments in cryptocurrency.
However, an independent review shows that the parameters of such a mechanism remain unclear. Reuters, citing a senior Iranian official, reports that Iran does indeed intend to charge a fee for passage through the strait as part of a potential peace agreement; however, according to this information, the fee amount is expected to vary depending on the type of vessel, the nature of the cargo, and other conditions.
Reports of preparations for a protocol with Oman, which may provide for permits and licenses for passage through the strait, serve as an additional indication that Tehran is already attempting to institutionalize control over the passage.
About one-fifth of global oil supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, oil prices fell sharply, but market participants continue to factor in the risk that even if shipping resumes, Iran will attempt to maintain economic and political control over the route through new fees and restrictions.
According to Fixygen, the cryptocurrency market began the week by regaining key levels, and Bitcoin once again tested the $70,000 mark—the first such move in the past week and a half.
By midday, the asset was holding near $69,700, showing moderate growth and confirming the continuation of upward momentum following the previous consolidation phase. The session’s local high reached $70,250, signaling a return of buyer interest in the market.
Prices are being supported by the overall news backdrop, including discussions of a possible de-escalation in the Middle East. Potential negotiations for a temporary ceasefire are perceived by the market as a factor reducing global risks, which is traditionally favorable for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.
At the same time, geopolitical uncertainty persists, keeping volatility at elevated levels. Reduced liquidity due to the Easter holidays in Europe and Asia remains an additional factor, amplifying price swings but not altering the overall picture of a gradual recovery.
As a result, the market is showing cautious optimism: current levels serve as a balancing zone where the foundation for further movement is being formed. If the macroeconomic outlook remains neutral or improves, Bitcoin could consolidate above $70,000 and continue moving toward new local highs, whereas negative signals could return the asset to a consolidation range without breaking the medium-term trend.
According to Fixygen, the cryptocurrency market is ending the week with cautious growth, but remains highly sensitive to macroeconomic factors and regulatory signals. Major assets remain in an uptrend, though momentum is becoming less stable and volatility is gradually returning.
Bitcoin has consolidated above key levels, demonstrating resilience amid inflows into ETFs and continued interest from institutional investors. At the same time, the market is increasingly reacting not to crypto news, but to the macroeconomic agenda—expectations regarding Fed rates, dollar dynamics, and geopolitical risks. Any signals of monetary policy tightening intensify pressure on the market, while dovish rhetoric supports growth.
Ethereum is showing more subdued dynamics. The market continues to assess the prospects for network upgrades and institutional demand, but some capital is flowing into riskier segments. This is reflected in growing interest in altcoins and second-tier projects, where more volatile price swings are observed.
Regulators remain a separate topic of the week. In the US and the EU, attention is intensifying on crypto platforms, AML issues, and the stability of stablecoins. The market perceives this in two ways: on the one hand, increased regulation creates pressure; on the other, it shapes a more transparent institutional environment, which is important for long-term capital.
At the industry level, infrastructure development continues. Major players are betting on asset tokenization, AI integration, and the development of on-chain services. This sustains overall interest in the sector, despite short-term fluctuations.
In the near term, the market could follow several scenarios.
The base case is consolidation with moderate growth. In this scenario, Bitcoin holds current levels and gradually updates local highs, while the altcoin market continues to see selective gains.
The positive scenario is accelerated growth supported by macroeconomic factors and an influx of institutional capital. In this case, a transition to a more aggressive market phase is possible, with growth expanding across the entire spectrum of assets.
The negative scenario is a correction amid tightening monetary policy or increased regulatory pressure. In this case, the market could quickly return to lower levels with increased volatility.
Thus, the cryptocurrency market is ending the week in a balance between growth expectations and external risks, and the key factor in the near term remains not so much the industry’s internal dynamics as the global macro environment.
According to Fixygen, the cryptocurrency market traded with increased volatility during the week of March 2-7, 2026, amid geopolitical risks and cautious investor expectations regarding the future trajectory of interest rates in the US. Activity shifted toward defensive strategies, while interest in infrastructure tokens and select L2 projects remained strong, and altcoins moved unevenly.
Bitcoin showed sharp intraday fluctuations during the week, reacting to macroeconomic news and dollar movements, as well as changes in risk appetite on stock markets. Ether remained influenced by discussions about scalability and transaction costs, as well as news flow around the L2 ecosystem. The derivatives market saw a rapid shift in sentiment, from leveraging local dips to taking profits on rebounds, which amplified price movements.
The stablecoin segment remained a key “conductor” of liquidity during the week: investors actively used stablecoins to park capital and quickly re-enter the market. In DeFi, interest in short-term income strategies remained high, but sensitivity to smart contract risks and protocol news remained high. The meme token sector saw sporadic activity, but no sustained overall trend.
The regulatory environment was defined by increased attention to compliance and risk control on crypto exchanges in major jurisdictions, which supported demand for “white” platforms and products with a transparent structure. The market also discussed the implications for the industry of expanding restrictions on settlements and access to financial infrastructure, which increased interest in diversifying liquidity channels.
Next week, market participants will focus on macroeconomic publications in the US and regulatory rhetoric, as well as the dynamics of risk assets. For the crypto market, the key factor remains the balance between liquidity inflows, risk demand, and geopolitical news, which has been rapidly changing investor sentiment in recent weeks.
If you want, I can make a second version in the classic Fixygen “numbers of the week” format — with a table of the top 10 movements, capitalization, BTC dominance, changes in TVL DeFi, and key news about exchanges and regulators — but for that, I need to clarify which sources you want to use to calculate prices (CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko, or TradingView).
According to Fixygen, the cryptocurrency market traded with increased volatility during the week of March 2-7, 2026, amid geopolitical risks and cautious investor expectations regarding the future trajectory of interest rates in the US. Activity shifted toward defensive strategies, while interest in infrastructure tokens and select L2 projects remained strong, and altcoins moved unevenly.
Bitcoin showed sharp intraday fluctuations during the week, reacting to macroeconomic news and dollar movements, as well as changes in risk appetite on stock markets. Ether remained influenced by discussions about scalability and transaction costs, as well as news flow around the L2 ecosystem. The derivatives market saw a rapid shift in sentiment, from leveraging local dips to taking profits on rebounds, which amplified price movements.
The stablecoin segment remained a key “conductor” of liquidity during the week: investors actively used stablecoins to park capital and quickly re-enter the market. In DeFi, interest in short-term income strategies remained high, but sensitivity to smart contract risks and protocol news remained high. The meme token sector saw sporadic activity, but no sustained overall trend.
The regulatory environment was defined by increased attention to compliance and risk control on crypto exchanges in major jurisdictions, which supported demand for “white” platforms and products with a transparent structure. The market also discussed the implications for the industry of expanding restrictions on settlements and access to financial infrastructure, which increased interest in diversifying liquidity channels.
Next week, market participants will focus on macroeconomic publications in the US and regulatory rhetoric, as well as the dynamics of risk assets. For the crypto market, the key factor remains the balance between liquidity inflows, risk demand, and geopolitical news, which has been rapidly changing investor sentiment in recent weeks.
