Bitcoin Bullish Outlook Intensifies as ETF Inflows Reach Nearly $1 Billion

The current market landscape continues to favor a bullish trajectory for bitcoin, with a price of $77,289.53, despite recent developments in Iran and DeFi hacks making headlines. U.S.-listed spot ETFs saw a significant influx of $663 million on Friday, marking the highest intake since January 15, with total weekly inflows reaching $996 million, up from $786 million the previous week, according to SoSoValue data. This surge indicates robust interest from institutional investors in the largest cryptocurrency. However, for a substantial price rally to materialize, this trend must be sustained. Timothy Misir, head of research at BRN, noted that 'ETF flow regimes provide a secondary read: Sustained inflows signal structural demand, while intermittent flows indicate tactical positioning, with consistency mattering more than magnitude.' Bitcoin is currently trading above $75,000, having hit highs over $78,000 on Friday, with its price remaining relatively stable over the past 24 hours, a pattern also observed in other major tokens like ether, XRP, and Solana. The AAVE token of DeFi platform Aave has dropped 1% to $90 following the KelpDAO hack, with the DeFi dominance rate holding steady at around 3%. According to Alex Kuptsikevich, chief market analyst at FxPro, 'The pressure on the leading cryptocurrency is linked to negative reactions in stock markets to news about Iran, which has reduced risk appetite. BTC has lagged significantly behind equities in recent days, building potential but not yet moving to realize it.' The recent U.S. seizure of an Iranian cargo ship attempting to bypass restrictions has contributed to this sentiment. Traders are actively building short positions, betting against a breakout, which could potentially fuel a 'short squeeze' if prices remain steady, forcing traders to cover their bearish bets and possibly pushing spot prices higher. For further analysis of today's altcoin and derivatives activity, see Crypto Markets Today, and for a comprehensive list of this week's events, refer to CoinDesk's Crypto Week Ahead. The technical analysis of Solana's weekly price swings highlights a key level at $95.16, which has acted as resistance since early February, indicating sustained bearish sentiment and potential for deeper losses, with the next major support level at $50.