Bitcoin Rises 5% Above $72,000 on Short Covering and Retail Inflows

Bitcoin gained 5% in the past 24 hours to trade above $72,000, driven mainly by short covering and renewed retail inflows rather than broad-based market confidence, DL News reports. Bitcoin exchange-traded funds saw $462 million in inflows, and DefiLlama data show March could become the first month since October to post positive net flows. Bitfire CEO Livio Weng said he is optimistic about the rebound and argued it underscores Bitcoin's appeal as a safe-haven asset during heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.