Bitcoin falls below $67,000 as U.S. equities slide and oil pushes higher

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Bitcoin falls below $67,000 as U.S. equities slide and oil pushes higher

Risk off sentiment builds ahead of Tuesday’s open, with investors moving into the dollar and watching energy markets amid ongoing Middle East tensions.

By James Van Straten|Edited by Oliver Knight

Mar 3, 2026, 9:11 a.m.

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(Joa70/Pixabay modified by CoinDesk)

What to know:

• Risk assets retreat, with bitcoin down more than 2.5%, QQQ off 1% pre market, and crypto equities including Strategy, Coinbase, and Galaxy Digital falling around 2%.
• Defensive positioning builds as the dollar index climbs above 99 and Treasury yields push toward 4.1%, while oil holds firm above $74 amid ongoing geopolitical tension.

Day four of the Middle East conflict is bringing renewed volatility to global markets during Tuesday's pre-market, with a clear shift toward risk off positioning.

Bitcoin is down 3% over the past 24 hours, slipping below $67,000 after briefly touching $70,000 on Monday. In equities, the Invesco QQQ (QQQ) ETF closed slightly higher to start the week but is now down about 2% in pre market trading.

Metals are also under pressure. Gold and silver are both lower, with gold holding above $5,300 per ounce and silver sliding another 4% to around $85 per ounce.

In energy markets, WTI crude oil is above $74 per barrel up 5% over the past 24 hours, nearing Sunday futures highs just above $75. Meanwhile, the US dollar is strengthening sharply, with the DXY index climbing above 99, a level not seen since Jan. 20.

Treasury yields are edging higher across the curve. The US 10 year yield is holding firmly above 4% and pushing toward 4.1%, reflecting persistent rate pressure.

Crypto related equities are tracking bitcoin lower. Strategy (MSTR), the largest publicly traded holder of bitcoin, is down 2%. Coinbase (COIN) has fallen 5%, Galaxy Digital is off 3%, and AI focused miners IREN (IREN) and Cipher Digital (CIFR) are also down roughly 4%.

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