Why was Bitcoin up on Jul 18, 2026, 4:55 AM UTC?

Bitcoin is essentially flat over 15 minutes and 1 hour with only mild 0.7% gains over 24 hours, suggesting no strong directional pressure currently. The recent news mix—AI competition concerns, US stock market volatility, Iran geopolitical tensions, and regulatory scrutiny—appears scattered rather than cohesively bullish or bearish, likely explaining the lack of decisive price momentum at this moment.