Bitcoin options worth $2.2 billion are expiring today, putting short-term pressure on BTC's movement around the $70,000 mark

March 6 News: Bitcoin prices fell briefly to around $70,000 on Friday, after failing to rebound from near $74,000. Investors are currently focused on Bitcoin options expiring at 8:00 a.m. UTC, totaling over 31,500 open contracts worth $2.22 billion, which could intensify short-term price volatility.

According to market data, the put-to-call ratio has reached 1.72, indicating that traders betting on a decline in Bitcoin outnumber those betting on a rise. Analysis shows that Bitcoin’s maximum stop-loss level is around $69,000, just about $1,400 below the current spot price, suggesting that options expiration could pull the spot price toward that level. Since early February, Bitcoin has failed to stay above $70,000 six times. If it falls below this key support again, short-term traders may panic and sell off.

Geopolitical risks are also affecting market sentiment. Ongoing US-Iran tensions are pushing energy prices higher and prompting some funds to flow into traditional safe-haven assets, indirectly putting pressure on the crypto market. Under the dual effects of profit-taking and safe-haven rotation, Bitcoin’s short-term trend remains under pressure.

Technical indicators show that the BTC/USDT 24-hour chart still indicates short-term bullish momentum. The MACD line is trending upward, suggesting buying pressure; RSI shows bullish divergence with price, hinting at potential for a rebound in the near term. If bulls can break above the $72,000 resistance, the current downtrend may end today; conversely, if it falls below the $70,000 support, BTC could retreat to $69,000 or even further down to the $60,000 range. The bearish flag pattern continues to limit overall price performance.

Analysts warn that Bitcoin is currently under the dual influence of options expiration and geopolitical events, increasing short-term volatility risks. Investors should closely monitor key support and resistance levels and incorporate on-chain data to assess market sentiment.