Bitcoin Surges Past $72,000: ETF Inflows and Market Momentum Propel the Rally

Bitcoin surged past the $72,000 mark for the first time, marking a six-day winning streak and pushing its year-to-date gains to nearly 70%, driven by significant inflows into US exchange-traded funds. The cryptocurrency reached a high of $72,880 on Monday before retracing slightly, while other smaller tokens such as Ether, Solana, and Avalanche also experienced gains. This rally occurred despite mixed performance in equity markets ahead of a crucial US inflation report. Institutional and retail investors have been flocking to Bitcoin ETFs, injecting nearly $10 billion into these funds since their launch in the US two months ago. Additionally, the London Stock Exchange's decision to accept applications for Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded notes and Thailand's announcement allowing retail investors to purchase overseas crypto ETFs further bolstered market sentiment. The surge in Bitcoin's price is reinforced by bullish signals such as the upcoming quadrennial "halving" event in April and increasing interest from both institutional and retail investors, as evidenced by rising open interest in Bitcoin futures markets and a rebound in the funding rate. MicroStrategy Inc. also disclosed its continued Bitcoin purchases, spending $822 million on additional tokens between February 26 and March 10.