NEW YORK, March 17, 2026, 14:57 (UTC-04:00)
Bitcoin stalled just shy of $75,000 on Tuesday, having spiked to $75,937 earlier in the session. By the afternoon in New York, the token sat at $74,756, keeping the $76,000 threshold in close reach.
This shift lands just ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision and comes as fresh cash flows into U.S.-listed ETFs directly holding bitcoin. According to Farside, those funds pulled in $199.4 million on Monday alone, with inflows totaling roughly $1.53 billion between March 1 and March 16—fuel for the recent rebound.
But there’s pushback. Citigroup has trimmed its 12-month bitcoin price target, dropping it to $112,000 from the previous $143,000. The bank pointed to sluggish movement on U.S. crypto legislation, saying hopes for a regulatory boost—and the associated jump in institutional interest—are fading. “Regulatory catalysts will drive further adoption and flows but the window of opportunity for U.S. legislation this year is narrowing,” Citi strategist Alex Saunders said in a note Monday. Reuters
The bill can’t clear the Senate without backing from at least seven Democrats, and there’s fresh pressure from lawmakers demanding stricter anti-money laundering measures. Citi sees that political gridlock as keeping bitcoin stuck near the $70,000 mark for now, with traders holding off until Washington sends a firmer message.
Tuesday’s rebound gave bitcoin a lift, but the token is still trading far beneath its October high above $126,000. Late that month, a plunge wiped out almost half its value. The latest uptick has trimmed some losses, yet the price hasn’t revisited former highs.
Moves rippled elsewhere as well. Earlier Tuesday, ether hovered near $2,345. Strategy shares climbed 5.6% on Monday, getting a lift from bitcoin’s 3% rally. Crypto-exposed stocks responded to the surge.
Macro forces haven’t lost their grip. Oil prices slipped on Monday, yet Brent and U.S. crude are both up close to 40% for March. Traders widely anticipate the Fed will hold rates steady on Wednesday, with officials assessing how the oil surge might impact inflation.
That crack in the outlook could turn into a drop. James McCann, senior economist at Edward Jones, warned that “a swing in oil prices in either direction could quickly change the Fed’s thinking.” Citi flagged another risk: if recession signals grow, bitcoin could tumble toward $58,000. Reuters
Right now, bitcoin’s caught between a wave of new ETF inflows and uncertain policy signals. The token is just below $75,000 as traders brace for the Fed’s call and unresolved U.S. crypto regulation hangs in the balance.
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