Escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and widening geopolitical rifts are driving 
central banks to reassess gold reserves, with the World Gold Council signaling 
that deepening global conflict risks will anchor official demand through 2026. 
Central Banks Recalibrate Gold Buying as Geopolitical Risks Intensify Central 
bank gold buying moderated at the start of the year, the World Gold […]

Central Bank Gold Buying Slows as Iran Escalation Shapes Reserve Strategy

Bitcoin price started a decent increase above $68,500 but failed at $70,000. 
BTC is now consolidating and might aim for more gains above $68,800. Bitcoin 
started a fresh increase after it settled above the $68,000 support. The price 
is trading above $68,000 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. There is a 
contracting triangle forming with resistance at $68,400 on the hourly chart of 
the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might dip again if it 
trades below the $67,000 and $66,550 levels. Bitcoin Price Corrects Lower From 
$70,000 Bitcoin price managed to form a base above the $66,500 zone. BTC 
started a fresh increase and was able to surpass the $67,400 resistance zone. 
The price even rallied above the $68,800 resistance. Finally, the bears 
appeared near $70,000. A high was formed at $70,100, and the price recently 
corrected some gains. There was a move below $68,000, and the price tested the 
50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $63,030 swing low to the 
$70,100 high. Bitcoin is now trading above $68,000 and the 100 hourly simple 
moving average. If the price remains stable above $67,400, it could attempt a 
fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the $68,500 level. There is also 
a contracting triangle forming with resistance at $68,400 on the hourly chart 
of the BTC/USD pair. The first key resistance is near the $69,550 level. A 
close above the $69,550 resistance might send the price further higher. In the 
stated case, the price could rise and test the $70,000 resistance. Any more 
gains might send the price toward the $70,500 level. The next barrier for the 
bulls could be $70,850 and $71,200. Downside Break In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to 
rise above the $68,800 resistance zone, it could start another decline. 
Immediate support is near the $67,400 level. The first major support is near 
the $66,550 level. The next support is now near the $65,000 zone. Any more 
losses might send the price toward the $64,700 support in the near term. The 
main support now sits at $63,000, below which BTC might struggle to recover in 
the near term. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace 
in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for 
BTC/USD is now above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $67,400, followed by 
$66,550. Major Resistance Levels – $68,800 and $70,000.

Bitcoin Price Consolidates Above Support, Bullish Bias Strengthens

Bitcoin will eventually reach a point where the US government creates the 
conditions it needs to succeed, whether that takes 10 or 20 years, according 
to a Bitcoin executive.

Trump’s ex-crypto advisor: US government must go beyond ‘liking Bitcoin’

Binance&#8217;s APAC expansion could enhance its global influence, emphasizing 
compliance and innovation in the rapidly growing crypto market.
The post Binance doubles down on APAC, plans 5 new licenses this year to 
expand global footprint appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Binance doubles down on APAC, plans 5 new licenses this year to expand global footprint

Bitcoin has entered a phase of heightened volatility as escalating conflicts 
in the Middle East inject fresh uncertainty into global markets. Risk assets 
have reacted unevenly, with crypto trading as a real-time barometer of macro 
stress while traditional markets intermittently close or gap. Price swings 
have become sharper, liquidity thinner, and short-term positioning more 
defensive as participants reassess exposure amid geopolitical risk. Related 
Reading: Bloodbath Or Buy-Zone? Bitcoin’s $66K Stagnation Hits The 25% Loss 
Threshold Historically Tied To Market Bottoms Despite this challenging 
backdrop, on-chain data presents a more nuanced picture. According to analysis 
from CryptoQuant, Bitcoin netflow dynamics suggest that accumulation may be 
quietly unfolding beneath the surface. Exchange netflows — which measure the 
balance between coins moving onto and off trading platforms — are often a 
leading indicator of investor intent. Sustained outflows typically imply that 
participants are withdrawing assets into cold storage or long-term custody, 
reducing immediately available sell-side supply. In recent sessions, netflow 
patterns have tilted toward outflows rather than aggressive inflows, even as 
headlines intensified. This divergence between price uncertainty and subdued 
exchange deposits hints at restrained distribution behavior. Sustained 
Exchange Outflows Signal Quiet Accumulation Phase The exchange-level data adds 
a concrete dimension to the accumulation thesis. On Binance — which custodies 
roughly 665,000 BTC, or about 25% of total exchange reserves — netflows have 
flipped decisively negative since February 21. Outflows have dominated on most 
trading days, producing a cumulative withdrawal of approximately 13,500 BTC. A 
single session accounted for 3,848 BTC leaving the platform, a meaningful 
movement in the context of tightening liquidity. Importantly, this pattern is 
not isolated. Aggregated across major exchanges, netflows have remained 
negative for seven consecutive days. Such persistence reduces the probability 
of statistical noise and instead suggests coordinated positioning behavior. 
When coins exit exchanges, they typically move into cold storage or long-term 
custody solutions, mechanically reducing the immediately tradable supply. This 
shift is occurring after an approximate 50% correction from cycle highs. 
Historically, deep retracements tend to recalibrate risk-reward perceptions. 
The current price zone appears to be viewed by some participants as 
strategically attractive rather than structurally broken. That said, 
accumulation does not guarantee immediate upside. In the short term, sustained 
outflows can underpin range-bound conditions as supply tightens, but demand 
remains measured. Whether this evolves into expansion depends on the 
durability of inflows into spot markets. Related Reading: The $650M Wave: Why 
XRP’s Record Inflow To Binance Signals A Massive Institutional Retreat Bitcoin 
Compresses Below Key Averages as $69K Caps Upside Attempts On the 4-hour 
chart, Bitcoin remains locked in a corrective structure following the sharp 
early-February breakdown. Price is consolidating around the $66,800 region, 
but the broader short-term trend remains tilted to the downside. BTC continues 
to trade below the 50, 100, and 200-period moving averages, all of which are 
sloping downward — a configuration that confirms persistent bearish pressure. 
The $68,000–$69,000 zone is acting as immediate resistance, aligning with the 
100-period moving average (green). Multiple attempts to reclaim this level 
have failed, reinforcing it as a supply area. Above that, the 200-period 
moving average (red), currently near the low-$70Ks, represents a stronger 
structural ceiling. Related Reading: Ethereum’s Market Order Imbalance Hits 
Record Negatives: $1,850 Is Now The Line In The Sand On the downside, the 
$63,000–$64,000 region remains key support. Previous liquidity wicks into that 
area, triggering sharp rebounds, suggesting the presence of reactive buyers. 
However, the pattern of lower highs within the range indicates that upside 
momentum lacks conviction. Volume has contracted compared to the breakdown 
phase, signaling equilibrium rather than accumulation. The market is 
compressing within a narrowing band, often a precursor to expansion. A 
decisive 4-hour close above $69K would challenge the bearish bias. Conversely, 
a clean break below $63K would likely reopen downside toward the next 
liquidity pocket. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

Cryptocurrency price in ZAR