Bitcoin price nears $72,000 as U.S. ETFs log $683 million inflows

Bitcoin climbed toward $72,000 on March 4 as U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded consecutive net inflows of about $458 million on March 2 and $225 million on March 3, while markets monitored rising tensions in the Middle East and later expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts.

ETF subscriptions strengthened after a choppy stretch. Data from SoSoValue show no individual fund posted net outflows on March 2. Flows into spot Ether products were smaller and mixed, with about $38.7 million of net inflows on March 2 followed by roughly $10.9 million of net outflows on March 3.

Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin has gained more than 5% and is trading around $71,200 as of this writing. Ether trades above $2,000.

Derivatives activity picked up. Glassnode reported that on March 2, perpetual futures open interest logged its largest daily percentage increase since July 2025 as Bitcoin tested near $69,400, a level that has often preceded profit-taking. Rising leverage can magnify price swings in both directions.

Fund flows pointed to renewed institutional interest. CoinShares estimated about $1 billion of net inflows into digital asset investment products last week, ending a five-week run of outflows. James Butterfill, CoinShares’ head of research, said investors are moving from de-risking to looking for entry points.

Interpreting ETF activity as immediate spot demand remains tricky. A March 3 analysis from Bitfinex highlighted that regulated products can create timing gaps between ETF share activity and underlying Bitcoin purchases, which can mute near-term price effects.

Geopolitics stayed in focus for cross-asset volatility. QCP Capital noted Bitcoin’s resilience while warning that more turbulence is possible if disruptions persist around the Strait of Hormuz. Market pricing has also pushed back expectations for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts, affecting liquidity and risk appetite.