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Will Bitcoin repeat the 2021 ‘gasoline fractal’? THIS data says…

By Olayiwola Dolapo · Published March 24, 2026 · 3 min read · Source: AMBCrypto
Bitcoin
Written by Written by Olayiwola Dolapo Reviewed by Reviewed by Renuka Tahelyani Updated 05:00 IST March 25, 2026 Share Share
Bitcoin [BTC]

Bitcoin has held a relatively firm structure despite escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel, the Gulf states, and Iran. The market has absorbed repeated shocks, yet Bitcoin continues to trade without a decisive breakdown.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin [BTC] hovered around $71,000, showing resilience under pressure.

This suggests that current macro headwinds have not impacted price action as severely as anticipated, particularly when compared to the sharp dislocation seen during the liquidation event on the 10th of October, 2025.

However, beneath this stability, a developing pattern signals potential weakness ahead.

Energy markets and Bitcoin: A resurfacing correlation

The ongoing conflict has significantly disrupted global energy markets. Concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, alongside refinery outages, have driven gasoline prices higher and tightened supply conditions.

Amid this backdrop, a fractal pattern has emerged linking Bitcoin’s price action with gasoline market movements, echoing a structure last observed in 2021.

This relationship is reflected in the Bitcoin–RBOB Gasoline Futures Continuous Contract (NYMEX: RB1!), which tracks Bitcoin against the nearest expiring gasoline futures contract. Current chart behavior shows a notable alignment between both assets.

Bitcoin-Gasoline chart.
Source: Alphractal

Bitcoin appears to have rejected a key resistance trendline, formed a lower high, and entered a downward trajectory, closely mirroring its 2021 setup.

During that cycle, the pattern unfolded gradually before reaching a definitive bottom. A similar path may now be forming.

With no confirmed price floor in place, current conditions suggest Bitcoin could extend its decline before establishing a base, potentially setting up the next long-term rally phase.

Liquidity contraction signals caution

Global M2 supply remains a critical indicator for assessing market direction and identifying potential bottoms.

As a measure of total liquid money across major economies, M2 reflects the capital available for deployment into financial assets, including Bitcoin.

Recent data shows a sharp contraction of $470 billion in global M2 within a single week. This decline points to tightening liquidity conditions and reduced capacity for capital rotation into risk assets in the near term.

Global M2 money supply
Source: CoinGlass

At the same time, traditional safe-haven assets are failing to attract sustained inflows. Instead, capital appears to be moving into select fiat positions and highly liquid instruments, indicating a defensive market stance.

Gold underscores this shift. The asset has posted its first bearish monthly performance since December 2024, declining 19% in March and erasing gains recorded in January and February 2026.

This correction represents a $6.6 trillion loss in market value over three months, a scale that highlights the extent of capital withdrawal across global markets and amounts to roughly 4.6 times Bitcoin’s current market capitalization.

Stablecoins point to sidelined capital

Stablecoin supply trends suggest that investors are not exiting the market entirely but repositioning.

Data from DeFiLlama shows that total stablecoin supply has reached a new all-time high of $316.9 billion. This rise signals a shift toward capital preservation rather than risk exposure.

Investors are increasingly holding stablecoins to shield against volatility while maintaining readiness to re-enter the market. This positioning reflects expectations of future opportunities rather than a loss of conviction.

However, as long as geopolitical tensions persist, capital is likely to remain concentrated in stable assets. This limits rotation into Bitcoin and may continue to weigh on price stability in the short term.


Final Summary

Olayiwola Dolapo

Journalist

Olayiwola Dolapo is a Crypto Research Analyst at AMBCrypto, driven by a mission to make the digital asset space more transparent and understandable for all. His journey was catalyzed by an early experience in the market that underscored the importance of deep, foundational knowledge—a principle that now guides his professional work.

This article was originally published on AMBCrypto and is republished here under RSS syndication for informational purposes. All rights and intellectual property remain with the original author. If you are the author and wish to have this article removed, please contact us at [email protected].

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