Leading cryptocurrencies traded flat, while stocks fell further on Wednesday as President Donald Trump authorized tapping the strategic reserve to lower oil prices.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>Cryptocurrency</th><th>24-Hour Gains +/-</th><th>Price (Recorded at 9:15 p.m. ET)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC)</td><td>-0.22%</td><td>$69,912.33</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH)                </td><td>+0.48%</td><td>$2,046.98</td></tr><tr><td>XRP (CRYPTO: XRP)                         </td><td>-0.73%</td><td>$1.37</td></tr><tr><td>Solana (CRYPTO: SOL)                         </td><td>+0.18%</td><td>$86.28</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE)             </td><td>-1.85%</td><td>$0.09276</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2>Crypto Market Shifts Sideways</h2>



Bitcoin surged past $71,000 but met strong resistance shortly after, dropping back under $70,000 overnight. Trading volume fell 16% in the last 24 hours. Ethereum wobbled in the $2,000 region amid subdued trading volumes 



Nearly $180 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market over the past 24 hours, representing a notable decline from the previous day. Bearish short positions worth $102 million were wiped out.



Moreover, about $490 million in Bitcoin shorts risked liquidation if the apex cryptocurrency rises to $73,000.



Open interest in Bitcoin futures spiked 1.51% in the last 24 hours. Rising open interest alongside flat price action signals a consolidation phase where market participants are actively building positions, but there is no clear consensus on direction.



Meanwhile, Binance derivatives traders, including both retail and institutional investors, bet on Bitcoin’s price increase.



“Extreme Fear” sentiment prevailed in the market, according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index here, despite the uptick.



Top Gainers (24 Hours) 



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency (Market Cap&gt;$100 M)</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 9:15 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Berachain (BERA)    </td><td>+11.03%</td><td>    $0.6033</td></tr><tr><td>Arweave (AR)                  </td><td>+9.07%</td><td>    $1.79</td></tr><tr><td>Internet Computer (ICP)           </td><td>+9.06%</td><td>    $2.62</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.39 trillion, eking out a modest gain of 0.04% from the previous day.



<h2>Stocks Slide Further, Oil Above $90</h2>



Stocks extended their losses on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 289.24 points, or 0.61%, to end at 47,417.27. The S&amp;P 500 closed down 0.08% at 6,775.80, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite gained 0.08% to finish at 22,716.13.



Trump authorized the Department of Energy to release 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, beginning next week, as the ongoing Middle East war continued to strain oil markets. The West Texas Intermediate crude futures traded up 6.44% at $92 a barrel as of this writing.



Meanwhile, inflation rose by 0.3% during February and 2.4% over the 12 months through February, according to the Consumer Price Index data released Wednesday.



<h2>Analyst Pinpoints Areas Of Interest For Bitcoin</h2>



Popular cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ali Martinez noted Bitcoin's range-bound movement, with no clear breakout in sight.



They identified $62,791 as range low and $71,840 as the range high, with only a decisive break above or below these levels determining where Bitcoin goes next.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote>Here are the two most important levels for Bitcoin $BTC. pic.twitter.com/k4i8XKmH26— Ali Charts (@alicharts) March 11, 2026</blockquote>
</div></figure>



Michaël van de Poppe, another widely followed cryptocurrency commentator, dismisses the idea of Bitcoin undergoing an 80% correction.



&#34;Just because upside volatility has been slim, it doesn’t mean the downside needs to be heavier,&#34; Van De Poppe said. &#34;In that regard, we’re likely to enter a bull market cycle for 2026, 2027, and 2028.&#34;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote>I'm not worried at all. We've seen a weak bull cycle, or an upwards move within a larger bull cycle on #Bitcoin. I don't think that the markets are going to hit an 80% correction on #Bitcoin. Just because upside volatility has been slim, it doesn't mean the downside needs to…— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) March 11, 2026</blockquote>
</div></figure>



Photo: KateStock / Shutterstock

COIN

BKKT

Leading cryptocurrencies remained flat as President Trump authorized tapping the strategic reserve to lower oil prices. Bitcoin dipped 0.22% to $69,912.33, while Ethereum rose 0.48% to $2,046.98. The crypto market saw a 0.04% increase in capitalization, totaling $2.39 trillion. Stocks fell, with the Dow down 0.61%. Analysts noted Bitcoin's range-bound movement, identifying key levels at $62,791 and $71,840, with expectations of a potential bull market cycle in 2026-2028 despite current volatility.

- Leading cryptocurrencies remained relatively stable as stock markets declined further on Wednesday, with President Trump authorizing the release of oil reserves to stabilize prices.  
- Bitcoin faced resistance near $71,000, while trading volumes decreased significantly, resulting in nearly $180 million liquidated from the crypto market.  
- Stocks dipped, with the Dow Jones falling 289.24 points, while the Consumer Price Index indicated a 0.3% inflation rise in February, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting oil prices.

benzinga_article

Coinbase

Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF

Bakkt

Grayscale Bitcoin Trust BTC - ETF

Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF

Riot Platforms

Galaxy Digital

Mara

Hut 8 Mining

GraniteShares 2x Long MSTR Daily ETF

CoinShares Bitcoin ETF

Grayscale Ethereum Mini Staking ETF

Fidelity Ethereum Fund

Leverage Shares 2X Long COIN Daily ETF

GraniteShares 2x Long MARA Daily ETF

Roundhill COIN WeeklyPay ETF

Bitwise Bitcoin ETF

Bitwise MARA Option Income Strategy ETF

T-REX 2X Inverse MSTR Daily Target ETF

T-REX 2X Long MSTR Daily Target ETF

Grayscale Bitcoin Adopters ETF

iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF

Defiance Daily Target 2X Long RIOT ETF

Roundhill MSTR WeeklyPay ETF

Direxion Daily Crypto Industry Bull2XETF

Franklin Bitcoin ETF

Daily Target 2X Long MSTR ETF

GraniteShares 2x Long COIN Daily ETF

WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund

21Shares Ethereum ETF

Franklin Ethereum ETF

Leverage Shares 2x Cpd Acclrtd MSTRMnETF

Invesco Galaxy Ethereum ETF

VanEck Ethereum ETF

Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF

Bitwise Ethereum ETF

Proshares Ether Strategy ETF

ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF

Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund - ETF

VanEck Bitcoin ETF

IShares Ethereum Trust ETF

Valkyrie Bitcoin and Ether Strategy ETF

ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP Flat, Dogecoin Slides Amid Trump Moves To Combat Iran War Oil Spike: Analyst Says BTC Downside Won't Be 'Heavier'