Crypto Risk Appetite Report 5th March 2026

Risk appetite remained fragile as Middle East escalation, firmer oil, and higher Treasury yields continued to pressure both equities and crypto. BTC again traded into the $73–74K resistance area but was unable to sustain a breakout, subsequently moving back towards $70K, while ETH remained around $2K as markets priced a more constrained Fed path. In crypto, the backdrop was otherwise mixed, with softer price action offset by continued product launches, corporate financing activity, and broader ecosystem developments.

This week's edition of our Market Sentiment Report.

BTC broke out higher, jumping about 5% in the past four hours to trade above $71K after ranging between $66K and $69K, even as the Middle East conflict entered its fourth day. US equities stayed under pressure with the S&P 500 down 0.94% on the day, but recovered from deeper losses after Trump said the US could backstop shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which also helped pull oil, the dollar and Treasury yields off their highs. Fed speakers sounded cautious, noting that the inflation impact from higher energy prices is still unclear and could complicate the path for rate cuts. In crypto policy and corporate news, South Korea is reportedly moving toward a 20% cap on major exchange shareholders with limited exemptions, while MARA said it has expanded its bitcoin treasury policy to allow sales of both mined coins and balance-sheet holdings.