Bitcoin price surpasses $77,000 as AI agents adopt cryptocurrency wallets
April 18, 2026
Bitcoin has been making significant moves in the market, with the price hitting $77,124.75 in a 24-hour rally that was fueled by easing geopolitical tensions. The rally was further propelled by news that Anthropic’s top AI model, Claude Opus 4.7, can now autonomously hold and trade BTC using Coinbase’s AgentKit. This development opened up new possibilities for the cryptocurrency market.
The surge in Bitcoin’s price came on the heels of Iran’s decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on April 17, leading to a global market rally. This announcement eased concerns about a major energy chokepoint and triggered a positive market sentiment that benefited assets like Bitcoin. The move had a significant impact on oil prices, causing them to drop by over 11% and reigniting interest in risk assets.
The market rally, driven by geopolitical relief, also saw a surge in liquidations, with $379.74 million in BTC positions being forcefully closed in just 24 hours. This represented a 216% spike from the previous period, highlighting the intense volatility in the market and the rapid changes in investor sentiment. Shorts accounted for the majority of these liquidations, indicating a violent short squeeze that contributed to the price surge.
From a technical standpoint, Bitcoin broke out of a two-month range, raising questions about the sustainability of this momentum. If the price can hold above the $75,000–$75,800 support zone, the next target is the 127.2% Fibonacci extension at $81,951. However, a break below $75,000 could signal a retest of the $70,000 level, underscoring the importance of key support and resistance levels in the market.
The integration of Anthropic’s AI model, Claude Opus 4.7, into the cryptocurrency market represents a significant development in the adoption of new technologies in trading. This model enables AI agents to autonomously hold and trade Bitcoin through Coinbase’s AgentKit, bringing a new source of demand and liquidity to the market. By leveraging AI-powered bots, the market is expected to become more efficient and complex, with these bots accounting for a growing share of trading volume.
Overall, Bitcoin’s recent price surge was a result of geopolitical relief, a short squeeze, and technical breakout, signaling a potentially bullish trend for the cryptocurrency. As the market continues to evolve and incorporate new technologies like AI, the landscape of crypto trading is set to undergo significant changes, with implications for both investors and the broader financial industry.
