Investors are currently sifting through a decade of market data to see if a massive spike in energy costs will sink Bitcoin and the crypto market. Related Reading: Bitcoin ETFs Pull In $56B As CEO Pitches Crypto Over Gold While many people focus on the immediate price of oil, the real damage to Bitcoin in the past often came from internal industry blowouts rather than what was happening at the gas pump. The 2014 crash happened alongside the Mt. Gox exchange failure. In 2022, the Terra-Luna collapse wiped out billions. These events, rather than just expensive fuel, played the biggest role in deepening previous bear markets. The Weight Of Geopolitics On Digital Assets Reports indicate that West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil jumped above the $104 mark on Monday. This is the highest price seen in nearly four years. US President Donald Trump recently expressed a desire for the US to maintain indefinite control over the oil industry in Iran. Such statements and global tensions usually push oil higher. When energy becomes this expensive, it often acts as a drag on the entire economy. It takes money out of the pockets of everyday people who might otherwise buy digital assets. Data shows that Bitcoin miners also feel the sting because their operations require significant amounts of power. In the past 12 years, there have only been three times when oil hit this specific $104 level. Because these events are so rare, some analysts believe it is hard to say for sure that one causes the other. The first instance occurred in June 2014 when ISIS moved into northern Iraq. Bitcoin was trading around $600 at the time but lost 21% of its value over the next 10 weeks. It stayed down for a long time. It actually took more than two years for the price to climb back to where it started before that specific oil spike. Searching For Patterns In A Volatile Market The most recent example happened in May 2022. This followed a proposal by the European Commission to phase out Russian oil imports. Bitcoin did not just dip; it fell 25% in only seven days. That specific crash started a bear market that lasted for 19 months. Even though oil prices eventually dropped back below $100 for several years, the damage to the crypto world was already done. Based on reports, the current return to triple-digit oil prices has many traders on edge. They are watching to see if history will repeat itself or if the market has become strong enough to handle the pressure. Related Reading: 8.25M XRP Exit Long-Term Holders As Whales Buy $1.20–$3 A Fear Of Broad Economic Pullbacks Not every spike leads to a permanent disaster. In March 2022, Bitcoin dropped 15% after the Russia-Ukraine war began and oil soared. However, that loss was erased in less than a month. Even though oil stayed high, Bitcoin managed to recover its footing quickly. This shows that the relationship between the two is not always a straight line. Sometimes the market reacts to the news of war more than the actual cost of the commodity. Featured image from Trade Brains, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin quietly gained ground while gold crumbled. That contrast has become one of the more telling stories to emerge from weeks of escalating conflict in the Middle East, as the two assets — long compared as competing stores of value — have moved in sharply opposite directions since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February. Related Reading: Bitcoin Gains Ground On Gold Even As Both Assets Slide Bitcoin Climbs As Gold Bleeds Since those first attacks, Bitcoin has risen more than 11% to around $70,650. Gold, meanwhile, has shed over 12% from its peak. Reports indicate the cryptocurrency has held up better than expected under the pressure of a widening war — a performance that has drawn attention in financial markets still trying to make sense of the conflict’s economic fallout. Gold’s losses accelerated this week. The metal dropped 3.4% on Friday alone, closing around $4,480 per ounce. For the full week of March 16-20, the decline reached 10% — the steepest weekly fall since 1983, according to data confirmed by TradingView. It surpassed even the sharp drop seen in late January, when gold shed hundreds of dollars in a matter of days and wiped out more than $2 trillion in market value within weeks of hitting $5,500 per ounce. That January plunge shocked investors. This one may have rattled them more. Fed Signals No Rate Cuts, Adding Pressure On Gold The Federal Reserve is adding to gold’s troubles. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that rising energy prices — driven in part by war-related disruptions in the Middle East — are expected to push inflation higher in the near term. Traders have responded by pulling back expectations for rate cuts in 2025. Rates are now widely expected to hold steady through the year. That shift matters for gold. When interest rates stay high, bonds and other yield-bearing instruments become more attractive by comparison. Gold pays no interest. It earns nothing while it sits. Reports note that this dynamic has weighed on demand from institutional investors who might otherwise hold the metal as a hedge. Related Reading: Crypto Adoption No Longer Optional, Survey Finds As 72% Of Finance Leaders Signal Commitment Trump Signals Possible Wind-Down Of Military Push The Iran conflict has also disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors. That disruption has stoked fears of a prolonged energy crunch, adding more uncertainty to global markets already on edge. US President Donald Trump said Friday he was considering pulling back from military operations in the region. At the same time, the US has deployed thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, and airstrikes have continued. The mixed signals have left markets guessing about what comes next. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin is outperforming equities and gold since the Middle East conflict began, as institutional inflows return while broader market sentiment remains cautious.
Other major business events across the UAE, such as Middle East Energy Dubai and the Dubai International Boat Show, have also been postponed or delayed.
Investors are turning more defensive as geopolitical tensions rise and key U.S. labor market data approaches.
A retired US Army combat medic has predicted that XRP will overtake Bitcoin as the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency — a claim that would require XRP’s price to climb from $1.41 to nearly $24. Related Reading: Iran’s Crypto Market Shaken As Outflows Skyrocket 700% A Long Road To The Top Patrick L. Riley, who now operates as a market commentator on social media, posted the forecast on X without offering supporting data or a specific timeline. It was not his first time making the claim. Last month, Riley said XRP would become the top-ranked crypto within six years, regardless of whether Bitcoin breaks the $150,000 price level this year. He added that if Bitcoin fails to reach that threshold and reclaim its 12-year trend line, it could collapse to as low as $1,000. Based on current market data, XRP sits fourth by total market value at close to $87 billion. Bitcoin leads at $1.45 trillion. Ethereum ranks second at $254 billion. BNB holds third place at $89.3 billion, just ahead of XRP. I’m going to make two very not bold predictions. 1: This will not be a 4-5 week long war. 2: XRP will pass Bitcoin. — Patrick L Riley (@Acquired_Savant) March 4, 2026 Before XRP could even challenge Bitcoin, it would first need to pass BNB — a gap of roughly 3.5% — and then Ethereum, which would require a price increase of about 190%, pushing XRP past $4.15. Surpassing Bitcoin would demand a further surge to $23.70. XRP last overtook Ethereum in December 2019. Since then, the token has bounced between third and fourth place, often trading blows with BNB for position. Other Voices, Similar Claims Riley is not alone in making this kind of forecast. In August 2025, a finance commentator known as Coach JV said XRP would claim the top spot by 2030, with Bitcoin falling to second. In March 2025, Jacob King, CEO of SwanDesk, made a similar argument after the US government confirmed it had added XRP to its national crypto stockpile. King said the US had effectively sidelined Bitcoin by choosing XRP for its strategic reserve, and that XRP’s market cap would surpass Bitcoin’s with certainty. No timeline was given. Riley Also Weighs In On The Israel-Iran War Beyond crypto, Riley’s post touched on the military conflict between Israel and Iran that broke out on February 28. The US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian leadership, nuclear infrastructure, and proxy forces. Related Reading: US Should Act On Bitcoin, Not Just Praise It, Ex-Advisor To Trump Says Reports indicate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the campaign, along with other senior officials. Iran responded with more than 200 missiles and drones targeting Israeli territory and US military positions in the Gulf region. At the outset, US President Donald Trump said the operation might run for about four to five weeks, with the possibility it could stretch longer. Riley later rejected that estimate in a post, though he did not explain what led him to think the conflict would wrap up sooner. Featured image from Vecteezy, chart from TradingView
Hours after explosions were reported in Tehran, digital money began moving. Reports say cryptocurrency withdrawals from Iran’s largest exchange jumped sharply as news of US and Israeli airstrikes spread across the country. Related Reading: Crypto’s Quietest Month In Nearly A Year — But Hackers Haven’t Gone Away Blockchain data reviewed by analytics firms shows outflows rising about 700% in a short window, a spike that stood out against normal daily activity. Crypto Rush Follows Airstrikes According to blockchain tracking firm Elliptic, wallets linked to Nobitex, Iran’s biggest crypto trading platform, sent out far more funds than usual within minutes of the first strike. In less than an hour, transfers climbed into the millions of dollars. The surge was quick. It was also brief. The timing caught attention. Based on reports, the jump began almost immediately after confirmation of military action. Digital assets were shifted to external wallets and, in some cases, to overseas exchanges. For many Iranians who already face sanctions and banking limits, crypto has become one of the few ways to move value across borders. Nobitex has long operated in a gray zone shaped by sanctions and capital controls. Crypto use in the country has grown over the years as access to global finance tightened. During past waves of unrest, similar patterns were recorded, though not always at this scale. Internet Blackout Slows The Flow The rush did not last. Reports note that internet connectivity across Iran dropped by about 99% shortly after the strikes, limiting further transfers. With connections cut or heavily restricted, the stream of outgoing crypto transactions slowed to a trickle. TRM Labs, another blockchain analytics firm, said the spike may reflect short-term panic rather than an organized effort to move large pools of capital. A sharp move from a low base can look dramatic in percentage terms. Some transactions were completed before the blackout. Others appear to have stalled. Transfers can be initiated quickly, but they still depend on access to the internet and functioning platforms. When connectivity disappears, so does that option. Weakened Currency Iran’s economy has been under strain for years. Sanctions tied to its nuclear program and regional policies have limited trade and weakened the national currency. Crypto mining and trading, at times tolerated and at other times restricted, have offered an alternative path for some citizens and businesses. Related Reading: Wall Street Giant JPMorgan Sees Clarity Act Driving Second-Half Upside There has been no public sign that the spike altered broader crypto prices. Bitcoin and other major tokens reacted more to global risk sentiment than to activity inside Iran alone. Still, the 700% surge serves as another example of how quickly digital money can respond to geopolitical shocks. For a few tense hours, crypto became a lifeline for some users in Iran. Then the cables went dark, and the flow slowed. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from TradingView
War is burning across the Middle East. Oil prices are climbing. Stock markets in Asia have taken a hit. And yet, Bitcoin is still standing above $66,000 — a fact that has caught the attention of analysts keeping a close eye on the market. Related Reading: Crypto’s Quietest Month In Nearly A Year — But Hackers Haven’t Gone Away Calm Where There Should Be Panic The group most closely watched during moments of market stress is what analysts call short-term holders — people who bought Bitcoin recently and are most likely to sell fast when things go wrong. Based on reports from on-chain data platform CryptoQuant, that group has stayed unusually quiet. When Bitcoin slipped into the $63,000 to $64,000 range on Feb. 28, exchange inflows from recent buyers barely moved. No major wave of selling followed. No spike in coins being rushed to exchanges at a loss. That was not the case earlier in February. Reports say that on Feb. 5-6, short-term holders sent 89,000 BTC to exchanges at a loss within a single 24-hour window. It was a clear panic event. Since then, those kinds of loss-driven transfers have been falling steadily — and the Iran escalation did not reverse that trend. CryptoQuant analyst Moreno, who tracked the data, says this matters because markets tend to find their footing once the most nervous sellers have already exited. If exchange inflows from short-term holders remain low, it could point to seller exhaustion and set the stage for a price recovery. A sudden jump in those inflows, however, would suggest the selling is not done. What History Says About War And Bitcoin This is not the first time Bitcoin has been tested by armed conflict. According to market analyst Ted Pillows, the pattern has played out twice before. When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Bitcoin dropped — then surged 40%. When Israel struck Iran in June 2025, Bitcoin dipped again before gaining 25%. Feb 2022: Russia attacked Ukraine. ▫️ $BTC dumped first and then rallied 40%. June 2025: Israel attacked Iran. ▫️ Bitcoin dumped first and then rallied 25%. Feb 2026: US attacked Iran. Will a similar pattern follow again? pic.twitter.com/b8FLF4aR9p — Ted (@TedPillows) February 28, 2026 Now, following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February 2026, Bitcoin has once again pulled back. Pillows is now asking whether that same rebound pattern could follow a third time. The current conflict is far larger than those earlier flashpoints. Reports say US-Israeli forces struck more than 2,000 targets across 131 Iranian cities and provinces, hitting nuclear sites, missile systems, and senior military figures, including Iran’s Supreme Leader. Related Reading: Wall Street Giant JPMorgan Sees Clarity Act Driving Second-Half Upside Bitcoin Price Action Iran fired back with missiles and drones aimed at Israel, US bases, and multiple Gulf states. The war has dragged in Lebanon, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Cyprus, and a UK military base. Bitcoin has dropped 3.5% since Feb. 26, bringing its price to $65,540. It briefly touched $63,030 on Feb. 28 before climbing back above $65,000. Given the scale of what is happening on the ground, that kind of price movement is relatively contained. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
The Bitcoin and Ethereum prices plunged sharply over the weekend as missiles flew across the Middle East, exposing just how quickly geopolitical crises can send shockwaves through the financial markets. A joint US and Israel strike on Iran triggered a violent selloff that wiped out billions of dollars from the crypto market in a matter of hours. Fresh reports now indicate that Bitcoin and Ethereum are beginning to recover. Still, with geopolitical tensions continuing to escalate, it remains uncertain whether this renewed momentum can be sustained. Bitcoin Price Recovers After US-Israel War Fueled Crash Geopolitical shockwaves rattled global financial markets this past weekend as a joint US and Israeli military operation against Iran sent Bitcoin into a sharp but brief decline, wiping out millions of dollars in long positions before a partial recovery took hold. Notably, BTC plummeted to nearly $63,000 overnight following the coordinated strikes on Iranian military targets. Related Reading: Bitcoin Has Officially Entered Bearish Territory, And It’s Headed To $35,000; Chart Shows Within 45 minutes of Israel launching its assault, Bitcoin shed $2,500 in value, while more than $200 million worth of long positions were liquidated in just one hour. The broader crypto market saw roughly $72 billion wiped out amid the chaos. The sell-off was swift and severe, with major exchange players including Binance, Coinbase, and trading firm Winternute offloading more than $3.5 billion in Bitcoin within a 20-minute window. This further added downward pressure to the already declining and volatile market. Despite the carnage, Bitcoin has since climbed back above $66,000, according to CoinMarketCap data, though volatility remains elevated as the Middle East conflict shows no signs of immediate resolution. Market analysts were quick to explain the technical reasons behind BTC’s price decline. One expert noted that Bitcoin did not crash for no reason. She explained that because it was the most accessible and highest volume asset that trades around the clock, it was significantly exposed to weekend fear and panic selling compared to other major asset classes. Ethereum Price Rebounds After Massive Sell-Off Ethereum also took a hit alongside Bitcoin following news of the US-Israel war. ETH dropped roughly 10% within just one hour of the news breaking, falling below $1,900 and erasing all the gains it had made when it briefly touched $2,000 last week. At its lowest point, Ethereum fell to around $1,850 before rebounding back above $1,950. Related Reading: Are Institutions Killing Bitcoin And Ethereum? Here’s How They’ve Fared Since Companies Got Involved Notably, the crash triggered sharp declines in Ethereum derivatives markets, with millions of dollars in liquidations. A large percentage of those liquidations came from long positions, suggesting that traders who had bet on Ethereum rising were hit the hardest. In the broader context, the Ethereum price was already experiencing a downturn, meaning the geopolitical shock had compounded an already painful downtrend for ETH holders. In addition to Ethereum, other altcoins, such as XRP, saw major sell-offs as geopolitical tensions rose. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
A full closure of the strait is unlikely or impractical, some experts argue.
The missiles started flying, and so did the sell orders. Within hours of the US and Israel launching coordinated strikes on Iran, Bitcoin had dropped as much as 3.8% to $63,038, Ethereum had fallen nearly 9%, and more than 152,000 traders had been liquidated across crypto markets. With traditional stock and bond markets closed for the weekend, digital assets absorbed the full force of the panic — alone. Related Reading: Bitcoin Sell-Off Slows Down, But The Road To Recovery Is Long — Analyst US And Israel Hit Iran’s Military And Nuclear Sites US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that the US had begun what he described as “major combat operations” against Iran, with strikes aimed at the country’s missile systems, naval assets, and nuclear infrastructure. Reports say Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz described the operation as a preemptive move, with both governments coordinating the assault. The scale and speed of the attack caught many off guard, and Iran’s response came quickly. The US is carrying out strikes on Iran, two US officials tell CNN. Follow live updates: https://t.co/pG6pfrPwlm pic.twitter.com/vPGeQ9ILHp — CNN (@CNN) February 28, 2026 According to reports, Iran launched waves of missiles and drones targeting not just Israel but American military installations across the Gulf region. A US base in Bahrain was reportedly struck. Qatar and the UAE said their defense systems intercepted projectiles flying over their territory. Explosions were heard in Dubai. Bahrain shut its airspace entirely. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency declared that all US bases and interests across the region would be considered legitimate targets. The conflict, by Saturday morning, had spread well beyond Iranian and Israeli borders. Crypto Markets Take The Hit Traditional Markets Cannot Yet Feel Stocks, bonds, and commodities markets were closed. Crypto was not. Bitcoin trades around the clock, every day of the week, which made it the only major financial market available to absorb the weekend’s fear. The selling was fast and broad. Reports say roughly $128 billion in total market value was wiped across digital assets in the hours following the strike confirmation. Related Reading: Crypto Mixing Is Back — And Criminals Adapted Faster Than The Rules Did Bitcoin fell from around $66,000 to as low as $63,038 before settling near $64,000. Ethereum dropped below $1,850. XRP slid 8% to trade near $1.29. Solana, Dogecoin, Cardano, and Chainlink each recorded losses of between 8% and 12%. According to CoinGlass data, Bitcoin futures liquidations reached approximately $192 million, with futures trading volume surging to around $68.27 billion — a sign that derivatives markets were amplifying the move rather than spot sellers driving it alone. Total liquidations across all crypto assets hit $515 million within 24 hours. The Fear and Greed Index, a widely watched measure of market sentiment, fell to 14 — deep inside extreme fear territory. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView
Plume Network has received a commercial license from the Abu Dhabi Global Market, allowing expansion into the Middle East.
Ethena’s synthetic dollar protocol draws backing from UAE-based M2 Holdings affiliate
Leading crypto exchange Binance witnessed a significant outflow of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) on June 23, with investors pulling out over 4,000 BTC and 61,000 ETH in a single day. This shift comes amid easing geopolitical tensions and declining inflation, fuelling speculation about a renewed rally. Bitcoin Likely To Rally As Global Tensions Simmer According to a recent CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor Amr Taha, Bitcoin is likely to resume its upward trajectory, bolstered by a series of recent macroeconomic and geopolitical developments. The analyst highlighted multiple positive signals that could propel the top digital asset closer to its all-time high (ATH). Related Reading: Bitcoin Yearly Trend Suggests Cycle Top Near $205,000 By Year-End, Analyst Says One of the key developments was an announcement by US President Donald Trump, who stated that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between Israel and Iran. This deal removes the immediate threat of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil supply. The ceasefire had an immediate and positive effect on global equity markets, with the S&P 500 index surpassing 6,000 for the first time since February 2025. This recovery signals growing investor confidence as geopolitical risks subside. In addition, crude oil prices dropped by 14%, adding to the disinflationary narrative. Lower energy costs help reduce production and transportation expenses, thereby supporting a broader decline in inflationary pressures. Taha concluded: The convergence of significant crypto outflows from Binance, falling oil prices, a bullish breakout in US equities, and the reduction of Middle Eastern tensions presents a striking scenario. With the geopolitical overhang removed, inflation easing, and macro markets stabilizing, Bitcoin is now well-positioned to resume its upward trajectory. Meanwhile, Bitcoin whales – wallets holding large amounts of BTC – appear to be quietly accumulating in anticipation of a breakout. In another CryptoQuant post, contributor Mignolet noted that whale accumulation has been rising steadily since BTC bottomed in April. Mignolet pointed out that whale activity typically increases during periods of low market attention or heightened fear, often foreshadowing bullish reversals. Historical data supports this trend, showing that increased accumulation often precedes significant price surges. Bullish Quarter For BTC In an X post published today, seasoned crypto analyst Titan of Crypto stated that BTC is set to close a bullish monthly candle, reinforcing the long-term uptrend for the flagship cryptocurrency. Several other on-chain and technical indicators also suggest further upside potential. For example, Bitcoin Binary CDD shows that long-term holders are continuing to hold rather than sell, indicating strong conviction in BTC’s long-term value. Related Reading: Bitcoin Forming Inverse Head And Shoulders Pattern – Is $150,000 The Next Target? At the same time, the number of short positions is climbing as BTC consolidates between $100,000 and $110,000. This dynamic raises the probability of a short squeeze, potentially propelling Bitcoin to a new ATH. At press time, BTC trades at $105,408, up 5.2% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant, X, and TradingView.com
Crypto investors don't seem fazed by the attacks.
Digital asset funds continued their winning streak last week, pulling in $1.9 billion in new investments, according to CoinShares‘ latest weekly report. This marks the ninth week in a row of positive inflows, pushing the cumulative total over the period to $12.9 billion. Year-to-date, digital asset investment products have now seen a record $13.2 billion […]
The post Bitcoin, Ethereum lead $1.9 billion crypto inflows as investors look beyond Middle East tensions appeared first on CryptoSlate.
However, other data from Glassnode suggests that investor demand for BTC remains solid.
A sudden wave of selling hit crypto markets in the early hours of Friday, as reports of an Israeli airstrike on Iran set off fresh jitters. Bitcoin sank 5%, slipping under the $104,000 mark. Altcoins fared worse, with losses ranging from 6% to 9%. Based on reports from Coinglass, more than $1 billion was wiped out in liquidations, over $1 billion of which were long positions. Related Reading: Bitcoin To $1 Million? Michael Saylor Laughs Off Crypto Winter Fears Rising Tensions Shake Global Markets According to market watchers, the strike prompted a swift move into safe assets. S&P 500 futures tumbled 1.9%, while oil and gold jumped sharply. WTI crude climbed more than 12%, reaching about $77 per barrel. Gold surged past $3,400 an ounce as investors sought shelter. Crypto Traders Feel The Heat Arthur Hayes, the ex-CEO of BitMEX, warned of rough waters ahead. “Hold on to your butts out there, degens,” he wrote after the crash. He also pointed to US President Donald Trump’s planned tariffs as an added layer of risk. Ethereum slid 8% down to $2,505, right at a key support level. Other coins fell up to 10% in just a few hours. BREAKING: S&P 500 futures extend losses to -1.9% following Israel’s attack on Iran. pic.twitter.com/QaLtjbcii6 — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) June 13, 2025 Safe Havens Caught In The Crossfire Based on reports, gold and oil didn’t hold back. Oil prices have climbed about 30% since May lows, analysts say. Anyone betting on lower inflation or early rate cuts may have to rethink things. Gold’s climb suggests that many feel uneasy about what comes next. Even so, some expect this spike to calm once tensions ease. What Comes Next For Crypto Short-term views remain mixed. Some traders see this as a knee-jerk reaction and expect a rebound once headlines fade. Others warn that the US CPI release later this week could add another twist. Inflation data could either fuel more selling or pave the way for relief if numbers come in cooler than expected. Related Reading: Bitcoin Is Just 0.2% Of Global Wealth — And That’s Why It’s Not Too Late: Analyst Volatility is back with a vengeance. Over the past weeks, markets were already on edge amid chatter of higher interest rates and global conflicts. Now, with the Middle East front in focus again, big swings may stay in place. Analysts even suggest Bitcoin could dip to $95,000 if selling continues to gather steam. A $1 billion wave of liquidations isn’t small. At the same time, the speed of the move may leave some traders hoping for a quick bounce. Watching safe-haven assets, US economic data, and any new developments in the Iran-Israel tensions will be key in the hours and days ahead. Featured image from Stratfor, chart from TradingView
Singapore Gulf Bank looks to sell equity stake to fund product expansion and a 2025 stablecoin payments acquisition.
Bitcoin price rallies as traders react to geopolitical and economic uncertainty, as the potential outcome of the upcoming US election.
The Bitcoin (BTC) market has been significantly disturbed over the last 24 hours following a series of troubling news reports. During this period, the crypto market leader has recorded notable downfalls with its price slipping below the $66,000 price mark. However, a crypto analyst with X username Luca has postulated this recent price decline can […]
BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes predicts Bitcoin's price will rise alongside surging oil and energy prices if tensions between Iran and Israel boil over.
Despite this week’s sell-off, onchain and technical data highlight an encouraging shift in the Bitcoin market.
Veteran trader Peter Brandt believes that the recent rally of Bitcoin still isn’t enough to flip the long-term bearish trend. While BTC did have a brief surge, he insists it hasn’t reached the levels needed to confirm a bullish reversal. Bitcoin needs to break $71,000 first and then confirm that, says Brandt. And while he claims this, other market analysts such as Jesse Colombo and Roman warn that geopolitical tensions and market patterns might bring BTC down even further. Related Reading: Breakout Looms: XRP To Hit $7.5 After ‘Wake-Up Line,’ According To Analyst QCP Capital highlights cautious optimism, noting that the recent sell-off appears shallow, suggesting potential for recovery. As more major traders take time to think about it, Michal van de Poppe thinks this pullback is short-term and would look forward to a retest of $60,000 support before Bitcoin makes a strong rebound. For more than seven months now, Bitcoin has traded in a downtrend with consecutive lower highs and lower lows reinforcing bearish sentiment. Even though the short-lived optimism had some toe-hold moments, according to Brandt’s chart work, the larger pattern isn’t altered. BTC must break through the higher levels of resistance at hand before a shift to the bullish side can be seen. Resistance Levels Holding Bitcoin Back According to Brandt, Bitcoin is caught between two very important levels of resistance. The first is at $70,600, while the second and the all-time high of Bitcoin is at $73,800. Both marks have capped the upward movement repeatedly, and thus, they are a must for Bitcoin’s next major move. Since Bitcoin is unlikely to convincingly break above $71,000, the asset is likely going to stay in its current consolidation scenario, Brandt believes. The recent rally in Bitcoin did NOT disturb the 7-month sequence of lower highs and lower lows. $BTC Only a close above 71,000 confirmed by a new ATH will indicate that the trend from the Nov 2022 low remains in force pic.twitter.com/lFO9A20VPD — Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) October 2, 2024 Roman is also one of the very popular crypto traders with a similar opinion. He noticed that any increases in volume along with price drops usually prove to confirm a strong downtrend. Roman believes that Bitcoin will test the $55,000-$57,000 range before any hope of reversal, which again puts emphasis on struggling to break through at those resistance levels. Moving Averages And Market Uncertainty Bitcoin’s 8-week simple moving average (SMA) has been residing at a level of around $60,526 and has served as resistance recently on the price charts. The price of BTC has hung off that line for a while, which indicates the fact that market participants haven’t really decided if they are buying or selling. It hasn’t traded too low below it to find good strength in order to move up either. For volatility, the Average True Range of Bitcoin is at 5,756. That’s a relatively small level of volatility within the market. That only means the market can generate large moves, but hasn’t built an extreme level of volatility just yet. Dealers are watching closely for these indicators because they could signal where Bitcoin will break next. Geopolitics Tensions And Market Sentiment The Middle East tension is yet another strain in the cryptocurrency market. Of course, Bitcoin has started to surge in volatility alongside growing concerns of global instability. The price of Bitcoin over the last 24 hours has gone down by 3% to reach $61,380. Actually, that fall was part of the general sell-off among cryptocurrencies within which the entire market capitalization went down by 7.6% over two days. Bitcoin and crypto always tank when there are geopolitical fears, unlike precious metals. That confirms my long-held belief that crypto is not a safe-haven. It’s yet another risk asset just like high-flying tech stocks. $BTC $GLD pic.twitter.com/SBLgLgdpKB — Jesse Colombo (@TheBubbleBubble) October 1, 2024 According to Jesse Colombo, a well-known market analyst, Bitcoin, as well as other cryptocurrencies, usually worsen during periods of geopolitical instability. As he points out: “Bitcoin and crypto always tank when there are geopolitical fears, unlike precious metals.” The history was mainly the same with Bitcoin when global tensions reached their peak. It would appear the current market is no different from this historical precedent. Related Reading: Could XRP See A 360% Surge By Christmas? Experts Think So QCP Capital remains optimistic, despite the bearish sentiment that pours out from some corners. This is a token of positivity: sell-offs from a few days ago appear shallow, and one might expect investors to remain interested in risker assets, such as Bitcoin. Similarly, Michal van de Poppe predicts a retest of the $60,000 support level, suggesting the market could reverse course if that level holds. Featured image from Finshots, chart from TradingView
BTC price expectations have flipped as geopolitical uncertainty rocks Bitcoin and risk assets.
Singapore-based Liminal won approval to operate as a regulated custodian, another sign of its expanding footprint in the APAC and MENA regions.
Tensions in the Middle East ramped up over the weekend following an Iranian drone and missile attack, which saw the price of PAX Gold and Bitcoin reacting very differently.
The price of Bitcoin took a nose dive on Saturday following reports of Iran launching missile and drone attacks on Israel. Alongside the market leader, many other prominent cryptocurrencies also experienced a significant selloff as news of a brewing international conflict in the Middle East circulated on the internet. Related Reading: Bitcoin Halving: A Tale Of 2 Emotions – Will FOMO Or FUD Rule The Market? Bitcoin Suffers Major Decline For Second Consecutive Day According to multiple reports on April 13, Iran commenced a drone attack against Israel in retaliation to an attack on an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria on April 1 which claimed the lives of nine Iranian officers, including a highly ranked general in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards. This incident marked Iran’s first-ever direct assault on the Jewish state following years of rising political tensions between both countries. With the Iranian forces confirming further missile attacks on “specific targets” in Israel, it is likely that both nations may be heading for a full-scale war. Following reports of the drone attacks in the Middle East, Bitcoin’s price dropped by 8.07%, falling from $67,132.1 to $61,710.58, reflecting a high selling pressure. Interestingly, this price action marked the second consecutive day the maiden cryptocurrency suffered a significant loss following a 5% decline on Friday amidst minor turbulence in the US stock markets. Generally, Bitcoin has shown an underwhelming performance in the past weeks, recording a 12.51% loss in the last month based on data from CoinMarketCap. The maiden cryptocurrency has struggled to replicate its bullish form seen at the beginning of 2024 when it achieved a new all time high price of $73,750.07. However, with the Halving event fast approaching, BTC investors are likely optimistic about a potentially massive price gain in the coming months based on historical price data. Currently, Bitcoin trades at $63,943, showing a 3.61% gain from its earlier slump on Saturday. In tandem, the token’s daily trading volume is up by 22.46% and valued at $57.37 billion. Bitcoin trading at $63,971 on the daily chart | Source: BTCUSDT chart on Tradingview.com Related Reading: Waiting For The Bitcoin Bull Run To Resume? Here’s The Indicator To Watch For Altcoins Not Spared From Market Crash Alongside Bitcoin, the price of altcoins also decreased significantly due to the escalated geopolitical tension in the Middle East. Ethereum, the most popular altcoin and second largest cryptocurrency, suffered a loss of 10.89%, falling as low as $2,880.16 Meanwhile, other prominent tokens such as Solana (SOL), XRP, and Avalanche (AVAX) also recorded price dips to the tune of 12.68%,18.11%, and 16.00%, respectively. Generally, the total crypto market cap declined by 7.78%, falling to around $2.2 trillion. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from Tradingview
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies fall sharply following Iran’s attack on Israel.
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