TLDR
- Jan van Eck, CEO of VanEck, believes Bitcoin is establishing a market bottom as the typical four-year halving cycle nears completion in 2026.
- Bitcoin is currently hovering around $68,000, showing gains of 2.6% over 24 hours and 7.6% across the previous week.
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States recorded a remarkable $458 million in single-day inflows, marking one of the quarter’s most impressive performances.
- Middle East tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran continue to drive market volatility, yet institutional capital remains committed.
- Despite recent gains, BTC remains 22% lower year-to-date and more than 40% beneath its October peak.
As of March 3, 2026, Bitcoin is changing hands near the $68,000 mark, reflecting a 2.6% increase over the last 24-hour period.
Despite this recent uptick, the cryptocurrency has declined 22% since the start of the year and sits more than 40% below the record high established in October 2025.
During a Monday interview with CNBC, VanEck’s CEO Jan van Eck expressed his conviction that Bitcoin is currently establishing a market bottom.
Van Eck attributed the ongoing bear market to the predictable four-year halving cycle rather than any deterioration in Bitcoin’s underlying fundamentals.
“Bitcoin typically climbs for three consecutive years, then experiences a significant downturn in that fourth year. We’re in that fourth year nowā2026,” van Eck explained.
He emphasized that Bitcoin’s hard cap of 21 million coins, combined with the halving of mining rewards every four years, creates a structural dynamic that consistently influences price patterns.
Van Eck also noted that BTC’s recent price action might be partially influenced by escalating geopolitical developments following military strikes between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
He proposed that cryptocurrency payment infrastructure could function as an alternative mechanism for capital movement outside conventional banking systems in regions experiencing conflict, specifically mentioning the UAE and Dubai as relevant examples.
ETF Inflows Remain Robust Amid War Headlines
According to SoSoValue data, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted approximately $458 million on Tuesdayārepresenting one of the quarter’s most substantial single-day capital inflows.
Throughout three consecutive trading sessions last week, these funds accumulated $1.1 billion in aggregate. BlackRock’s IBIT product captured roughly 50% of these capital flows.
Singapore-based QCP Capital reported that weekend geopolitical developments triggered approximately $300 million in long position liquidations, though they characterized the impact as “contained.”
Options market data showed one-day implied volatility briefly surging to 93% before moderating, which QCP interpreted as traders positioning for event risk rather than anticipating an extended crisis.
BTC Remains Constrained Below $70,000
Bitcoin has predominantly ranged between $60,000 and $70,000 throughout February. While reaching an intraday peak of $69,213 on Monday, it continues struggling to reclaim the $70,000 threshold last achieved in late January.
The digital asset was priced at $67,884 at 01:25 ET on Tuesday, representing a 2.5% daily gain.
Market analysts indicate that risk sentiment remains tentative as Middle Eastern military operations persist, with leadership in the U.S., Israel, and Iran showing minimal inclination toward de-escalation.
According to CoinGecko data at the time of publication, Bitcoin is trading at $68,153.
