Bitcoin (BTC) showed a downward trend on the 28th, pushed down to the $73,000 level during intraday trading. The virtual asset market, which had been maintaining recently record-high price levels, is being shaken as it faces geopolitical risks in the Middle East and pressure from short-term profit-taking.

According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin traded around $73,250 on this day, down more than 3% over 24 hours. At one point during the day, the drop widened to the $72,900 level. Its market capitalization fell to approximately $1.46 trillion, while the 24-hour trading volume exceeded $42 billion.

The market is paying close attention to the strengthening of risk-asset avoidance sentiment following reports that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a missile attack on a U.S. military base in Kuwait after the U.S. airstrike on Iran. As concerns over a renewed clash between the United States and Iran grow, volatility across the broader global financial market is expanding.

In particular, unlike the recent strength of the New York Stock Exchange centered around AI tech stocks, an analysis suggests that Bitcoin faced overlapping fatigue from its short-term gains, leading to increased profit-taking pressure. Some investors believe that short-term selling pressure expanded after strong resistance was formed around the $75,000 mark.

Changes in the fund flows of spot ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) are also a key variable for the market. The interpretation that the momentum of the rally has weakened as the pace of recent ETF inflows has somewhat slowed is gaining traction. Major altcoins such as Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP are also showing simultaneous weakness, indicating shrinking investor sentiment.

However, one sector of the market suggests that Bitcoin is still defending the $70,000 level, meaning the mid- to long-term upward trend is being maintained. The possibility of an attempted rebound is also raised if institutional fund inflows and the global liquidity environment turn friendly again. In the future, the Middle East situation, U.S. interest rate expectations, and ETF fund flows are expected to act as key variables that will determine Bitcoin's direction.

[※ The information provided in this article is intended for the general delivery of virtual asset-related news and does not constitute investment solicitation or financial advice. Virtual assets are subject to high price volatility, and any losses resulting from investments are the responsibility of the investor. Please ensure careful consideration and seek professional advice before making any investment decisions. This publication does not bear legal or financial responsibility for the said information.]