Bitcoin just cleared $73,000, but skeptical traders are already bracing for a bull trap
Bitcoin has broken above $73,000 after weeks of consolidation, but traders remain divided over whether the move marks a genuine breakout or another trap for late buyers.
By Oliver Knight|Edited by Stephen Alpher Mar 4, 2026, 4:57 p.m.
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What to know:
- BTC climbed past $73,000, reclaiming a key technical level after trading sideways for weeks.
- Many analysts say the breakout could mirror January’s move that briefly surged before plunging from $98,000 to $60,000 within two weeks.
- With much of the market now expecting a reversal, some traders argue the risk is shifting toward a short squeeze if momentum continues.
Bitcoin pushed above $73,000 this week, reclaiming a key psychological level that had capped the market for weeks. Yet the breakout has been met with an unusual reaction across crypto markets: widespread skepticism.
Many traders are warning that the move could become a classic bull trap — a brief breakout that lures in late buyers before reversing lower. Analysts have pointed to heavy overhead supply and positioning in derivatives markets as potential risks, with some suggesting a rally into the $72,000–$76,000 range could attract sellers rather than confirm a sustained recovery.
The caution stems partly from recent history. Earlier this year, Bitcoin appeared to break out of a consolidation range, only to reverse violently. The move trapped momentum traders and triggered a cascade of liquidations as price plunged from around $98,000 to roughly $60,000 within two weeks — a reminder of how quickly sentiment can flip in crypto.
But the current setup may present a paradox: the trade has become crowded on the bearish side.
Across crypto Twitter, analysts and chartists are widely calling for a bull trap. That consensus itself raises the possibility of the opposite outcome — a squeeze higher that forces short sellers to cover. In leveraged markets, strong directional agreement often creates the liquidity needed for moves in the other direction.
Macro uncertainty could also complicate the outlook. Geopolitical tensions following the Iran conflict have already pushed gold higher and lifted oil price expectations, while some Asian equity markets have shown signs of stress. Radu Tunaru, professor of finance and risk management at Henley Business School, argues geopolitical shocks have historically played a role in major market sell-offs. He points to the 1987 Black Monday crash, which he believes was partly triggered by U.S.–Iran tensions that first rattled Asian markets before spreading globally.
For now, Bitcoin’s breakout above $73,000 has revived bullish momentum — but price action over the coming days will determine whether a bottom is truly in or if this is an accurately predicted bull trap.
In order to regain bullish structure from a macro sense, bitcoin needs to trade back in the $98,000 region to snap the grueling lower high formed by the previous bull trap in January.
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Coinbase, Strategy lead crypto stocks higher as bitcoin spikes above $72,000
By Krisztian Sandor, Helene Braun|Edited by Stephen Alpher1 hour ago
Crypto-related equities saw large gains at the Wednesday open, rebounding from Tuesday's selloff.
What to know:
- Crypto-related stocks rallied at the open of Wednesday's U.S. session as bitcoin briefly climbed above $72,000 for the first time in nearly a month.
- COIN, MSTR, GLXY, HOOD surged 8%-12%, with miners BITF, HUT, IREN also bouncing.
- Bitcoin's move into the closely watched $70,000 to $72,000 range, which has capped recent rallies, is a key test of whether the latest advance can be sustained.
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