Bitcoin Price Briefly Hits $73,000 as Ethereum On-Chain Activity Reaches ATH
Bitcoin briefly touched $73,300 on Friday - its highest level in weeks - while Ethereum network usage hit a record, signaling demand that its price hasn't caught up with yet.
Summary:
- Bitcoin hit $73,339 intraday.
- Total crypto market cap reached $2.47T.
- Ethereum transfer count hit an all-time high.
Bitcoin crossed $73,000 but the price had slipped back to around $72,877. It’s the first time BTC has touched that level in several weeks, and it came on the back of a gradual recovery that started near $68,000 earlier this week.
What the BTC chart is telling traders right now
The hourly RSI is sitting at 65.20 – firm, but with room to run before hitting overbought territory at 70. The MACD line crossed above its signal line and histogram bars have turned green, which short-term traders typically read as confirmation the uptrend has legs. The 1h chart shows a clean structure of higher lows dating back to April 8, with Friday’s $73,339 spike sitting as the new near-term high to beat.
Whether Bitcoin can defend $72,500 on any near-term pullback will be the key level to watch. A clean hold there keeps the structure intact. A break below it likely means another range-bound session before the next attempt.
Crypto market snapshot – April 10, 2026
The wider market closed the week in decent shape. Total crypto market cap hit $2.47 trillion, up roughly 2% on the day. According to data from CoinMarketCap, the Altcoin Season indicator sat at 35/100 – squarely in Bitcoin season – meaning capital is still rotating toward BTC rather than spreading broadly into smaller coins.
Bitcoin leads with a market cap of $1.46 trillion and 24-hour volume above $42 billion. Ethereum follows at $270 billion market cap, trading at $2,237. XRP holds $83.2 billion, BNB sits just below at $82.6 billion. Solana rounds out the top tier at $48.8 billion, while TRON trades at $0.318 with a $30.1 billion cap.
READ MORE: Japan Reclassifies Crypto as Financial Instruments, Opening Door to ETFs and Institutional Capital
Across the board, 7-day performance is positive – BTC up 8.73%, ETH up 9%, SOL up 5.59%, with XRP, BNB, and TRON posting gains between 1.24% and 3.18%.
Ethereum’s on-chain signal – and why it matters more than the price
Ethereum was the best 7-day performer among major altcoins, up 9%, but the more interesting story isn’t the price move — it’s what’s happening underneath it. On-chain data from CryptoQuant shows Ethereum’s total transfer count hit a new all-time high this week, surpassing the peaks from the 2021 bull run. Network usage is at a record. Price is not.
That kind of divergence – activity surging while price lags – has historically preceded meaningful upside re-ratings, though timing it is notoriously difficult. If more people are actually using the network than ever before, the asset is arguably undervalued relative to its utility. Markets tend to close that gap eventually. How long that takes is the hard part.
Solana added 3.19% in 24 hours and 5.59% over the week, holding ground around $84.90. XRP ticked up 1.37% on the day. BNB was close to flat short-term but up 3.18% on the week. TRON was the laggard, slipping slightly over 24 hours while managing a modest 1.24% gain over seven days.
What the sentiment data says
The Fear & Greed Index at 49 – dead center neutral – is actually a healthy sign at this stage of a recovery. When prices start climbing and sentiment stays measured, it usually means the move isn’t being fueled by late-stage retail FOMO. The market is cautious, not euphoric. That’s the kind of backdrop that tends to support further upside rather than a sharp reversal.
The information presented in this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or trading advice. Coinspress.com does not promote or advocate for any particular investment strategy, asset, or cryptocurrency project. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and unpredictable – always perform your own research and seek guidance from a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.
Alexander Zdravkov
Reporter at CoinsPress
Alexander Zdravkov is a market analyst and crypto journalist with interests in economics, broader financial markets and digital assets. His journey into crypto began more than four years ago, driven by a fascination with the rapid evolution of blockchain technology and the transformative potential of decentralized finance. He began analyzing market cycles and identifying emerging trends before they reach the mainstream. He holds a degree in International Relations - a background that helped shape his broader perspective on global economics, geopolitics, and the interconnected nature of modern financial markets. Whether covering the latest developments in the crypto sector or exploring broader macroeconomic themes, Alexander focuses on giving readers context rather than simply repeating headlines. During his career, he has authored more than 10,000 articles covering cryptocurrencies, traditional finance, and global market developments. His work spans everything from Bitcoin and altcoins to macroeconomic trends influencing risk assets worldwide.
