Crypto pundit Star has highlighted that crypto decentralization is a myth, noting that crypto networks and firms can freeze funds. The pundit specifically alluded to the Tether freeze and Arbitrum’s move to freeze the crypto assets stolen by the Kelp DAO exploiter. Pundit Highlights Crypto Decentralization Myth In an X post, Star stated that centralization has been exposed inside TRON USDT. The pundit noted that Tether just executed the largest freeze in its history, freezing $344 million USDT, which it carried out in coordination with OFAC and the U.S. law enforcement. This was executed directly through the USDT smart contract, with the funds visible but completely unusable. Related Reading: What The Kelp DAO’s $292 Million Hack Means For XRP Holders Earning Yield Further commenting on how it works, Star explained that Tether has admin control over USDT contracts, which proves that crypto decentralization is a myth. The pundit added that this admin control enables the USDT issuer to blacklist any address, freeze balances instantly, and permanently destroy funds. It is worth noting that Tether had confirmed the freeze, stating that it supported the U.S. government in freezing $344 million USDT across two addresses, which were on the TRON network. The firm added that the freeze was executed after the addresses were identified, preventing further movement of funds. A CNN report confirmed that the U.S. government directed the freeze of these USDT funds because they are linked to Iran. Iran had notably opted against stablecoins in favor of Bitcoin for toll payments at the Strait of Hormuz over fears of seizure, further highlighting the myth around crypto decentralization. Meanwhile, Star pointed out that the Tether freeze on TRON came just days after the network’s founder, Justin Sun, said that TRON is the most decentralized blockchain in the world after the Arbitrum incident. Sun has yet to comment on the Tether freeze on the TRON network, which occurred earlier this week. The Arbitrum Incident Also Raises Concerns Star also cited the Arbitrum incident to highlight that crypto decentralization is a myth. Earlier this week, Arbitrum announced that the network’s Security Council had taken emergency action to freeze the 30,766 ETH being held in the Arbitrum address that is connected to the Kelp DAO exploiter. Related Reading: Remember Arbitrum? This Analyst Just Predicted That A 7,400% Rally Is Coming The network stated that the Security Council acted with input from law enforcement regarding the exploiter’s identity. It is worth noting that the Kelp DAO exploiter had stolen up to $292 million in staked ETH from the Kelp DAO bridge last weekend. Meanwhile, Arbitrum’s decision to freeze this ETH drew mixed reactions. Crypto pundit Pledditor noted that Arbitrum, which has regularly received praise from Vitalik Buterin as the most decentralized Layer-2, has just frozen funds. On the other hand, Helius CEO Mert praised the move, noting that Arbitrum having the means of control and refusing to use it to appease the exploiters would be a “much worse and dishonorable outcome.” Featured image from Pxfuel, chart from Tradingview.com
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index crept up two points to 29 out of 100 on Monday — its highest reading since late January — but that number still signals fear among Bitcoin investors. Related Reading: Strategy Raises $1.76B War Chest As Saylor Signals Bigger Bitcoin Buy Markets had barely settled from a rough weekend before the index was being watched again as a barometer of just how shaky confidence remains in the crypto space. That unease has a clear cause. A two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, which had given financial markets a brief lift and helped keep oil prices in check, is now under serious strain. It is set to expire Wednesday. Source: Alternative.me US Military Seizure Rattles Markets The trouble started Saturday when Iran said it would shut down key oil shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz. Bitcoin, which had climbed to $78,300 on Coinbase late Friday — its strongest price since early February — quickly gave up those gains. By Saturday and into early Sunday, it had slid to between $75,000 and $76,000. Then came Sunday night. The US military opened fire on an Iranian cargo ship and later took control of it, saying the vessel had attempted to break through a US blockade of Iranian ports. Tehran called the move a ceasefire violation and vowed retaliation. Iran also pulled out of peace talks scheduled for Monday in Islamabad, Pakistan. Bitcoin dropped sharply. It briefly fell under $74,000. JUST IN: Bitcoin falls under $74,000 after Iran rejects second round of peace talks with the US. pic.twitter.com/Bxyx687J3a — Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) April 19, 2026 Stock Futures And Oil Feel The Pressure Too Crypto was not the only market caught off guard. S&P 500 futures fell 0.78% Sunday night. Nasdaq-100 futures dropped 0.6%. Dow Jones futures lost roughly 450 points, or about 0.89%. Oil moved in the opposite direction. With Iran threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors for crude — oil futures surged more than 4.5%, pushing above $95 a barrel. Related Reading: Alibaba AI Model Puts XRP Price Between $7 And $42 By Year-End Ceasefire Expiry Puts Wednesday In Focus The coming days will likely determine where things head next. With Iran rejecting new negotiations and the ceasefire window closing fast, traders are watching closely. The brief rally Bitcoin enjoyed last week, built partly on hopes that US-Iran tensions were cooling, has been wiped out. At last check, Bitcoin was trading near $75,098. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
Crypto traders traded more than $500 million in synthetic oil futures over the weekend on the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, betting that renewed military conflict in the Middle East could push crude prices back to $100 a barrel. The surge in blockchain-based trading followed Iran's abrupt decision to shut the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, […]
The post Is crude heading back to $100? Crypto traders drive $500M weekend Hyperliquid oil bets over Strait of Hormuz closure appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Crypto analyst Hanzo has predicted that Bitcoin will rally to a new all-time high (ATH) of $170,000 in the next bull run. He also revealed what level investors should look to buy BTC in this bear market as they target this potential rally to $170,000. Bitcoin To Rally To $170,000 In Next Bull Run In an X post, Hanzo stated that Bitcoin is going to $170,000 and advised investors to buy BTC at $58,000 and sell it at $165,000. His statement suggests that the flagship crypto is likely to bottom out at $58,000 in this bear market. Meanwhile, his accompanying chart showed that BTC could reach $170,000 by 2029, which would mark the peak of the next bull market. Related Reading: This Indicator Used To Predict Bitcoin Bottoms Is Flashing Below $50,000 Meanwhile, it is worth noting that his prediction comes amid a Bitcoin relief rally to as high as $78,000 yesterday, with the flagship crypto reaching its highest level since February. The relief rally came as Iran announced that it has reopened the Strait of Hormuz. The rally also comes amid optimism that the U.S.-Iran war could end soon. However, Hanzo’s prediction indicates that the bear market isn’t over for Bitcoin despite this relief rally and that the flagship crypto is still likely to crash to as low as $58,000 before it bottoms. Crypto analyst Doctor Profit, who called the BTC top last year, also described this recent rally as a bull trap. In an X post, the analyst pointed out that he had previously mentioned that Bitcoin would see a strong bull trap before going down. He added that the next BTC crash will also affect the U.S. stock market and predicted it could happen within the next one to two months. A Correction Is Likely To Happen Sooner Rather Than Later Crypto analyst Colin opined that a Bitcoin correction is likely to happen sooner rather than later. This came as he questioned whether the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will be a sell-the-news event. He added that the market has likely already priced in this event over the last 12 days, which is why BTC’s recovery began earlier. Related Reading: Analyst Reveals The Chances Of Bitcoin Price Crashing Again The analyst also mentioned that Bitcoin is currently at an interesting crossroads as it looks to break out of a descending channel. His accompanying chart showed that BTC will need to break above $78,000 to invalidate the current bearish trend. However, Colin suggested that there is a high likelihood that $78,000 is the local top, with another downtrend on the horizon. At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price is trading at around $77,200, up over 3% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Bitcoin climbed toward $80,000 after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was fully open to commercial traffic for the remainder of the ceasefire period, easing pressure on one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints and triggering a broader risk-on move across markets. The largest cryptocurrency rose 5% on the news to as high as […]
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US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to announce that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open for passage — a declaration that came hours after Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, confirmed the waterway would be unblocked for all commercial vessels during the remaining period of the US-Iran ceasefire. Related Reading: Bitcoin, Ethereum Trading Expands As Charles Schwab Enters Crypto Market Trump Weighs In As Bitcoin Climbs Bitcoin reacted fast. The leading cryptocurrency jumped sharply after Araghchi’s announcement and rose above $77,000 — its highest mark since February. At the time of reporting, it was trading around $77,300, up more than 1.8% on the day, according to CoinMarketCap data. Trump had expressed optimism the previous day that the war with Iran would soon end. His Truth Social post citing Iran’s announcement added weight to what was already a significant shift in the region’s security posture. “The Strait will be open for the period of the remaining US-Iran ceasefire, which expires on April 22,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. The ceasefire between the US and Iran has a hard deadline — April 22. The Strait reopening is tied to that window, and Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization has already announced a coordinated route that vessels will be required to follow. Lebanon Deal Unlocks The Wider Equation The decision to reopen the Strait did not happen in isolation. Iran had long maintained that Lebanon was part of the conditions it agreed to in its ceasefire with the US. When Israel and Lebanon struck a 10-day ceasefire deal, it cleared a key condition for Iran to act. The Lebanon agreement, in effect, opened the door for the Hormuz announcement. That chain of events — Lebanon deal, then Hormuz reopening, then Bitcoin rally — unfolded within a compressed period, catching markets mid-session. The crypto market responded across the board, with broader sentiment lifted by reduced tensions in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. A significant share of global oil exports passes through it. Any closure or threat of closure tends to rattle energy markets and risk assets alike. Its reopening, even on a temporary basis, removes one source of uncertainty for traders. Related Reading: Bitcoin Pressure Builds As Miners Dump 32K BTC In Just 3 Months What Happens After April 22? The current arrangement has a short shelf life. The ceasefire between the US and Iran expires in five days. Whether it gets extended — and whether the Strait remains open past that point — depends on negotiations that are still ongoing. Reports indicate that Iran views the Lebanon ceasefire as validation of its broader position in the talks. A resolution to the wider conflict, if reached, would likely be seen as a positive signal for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market. For now, the price reaction suggests traders are pricing in a degree of cautious optimism. No formal extension to the US-Iran ceasefire has been announced. Featured image from SeaTradeMaritimeNews, chart from TradingView
Bitwise Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Matt Hougan has explained why the Bitcoin price has shown strength amid the US-Iran war, with the leading crypto rallying above $75,000. BTC is notably up over 12% since the war started, outperforming the stock market and gold. Why The Bitcoin Price Has Rallied Above $75,000 Despite U.S.-Iran War In his weekly Bitwise memo, Hougan stated that the Bitcoin price strength during the US-Iran war stems from the conflict itself. He explained that BTC has outperformed gold and the stock market because investors are betting on either of the crypto’s two major use cases or narratives. The first narrative is that Bitcoin will become “digital gold” and so will be able to compete with physical gold in the $38 trillion “store of value” market. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bulls Must Hold This Level Or Price Could Crash To $65,000 Again He noted that this is BTC’s current use case, and this narrative may be why the Bitcoin price has rallied amid the US-Iran war as investors see it as a safe haven rather than a risk asset. The Bitwise CIO described this bet on BTC as digital gold as very attractive and predicted that the leading crypto could reach $1 million if it captures 17% of the store-of-value market. Meanwhile, Hougan stated that the second bet on BTC is the belief that it might act like a traditional currency, suggesting that this is another reason that it is outperforming during this ongoing conflict. He noted that this second bet is like an “out-of-the-money call option” where it pays off if BTC is used more widely for international settlement. The Bitwise CIO stated that for most of Bitcoin’s life, it seemed unlikely that it would become a global currency, as until a few years ago, the world relied exclusively on dollar-based financial rails. However, that is now changing. He alluded to Iran receiving BTC for toll payments at the Strait of Hormuz, which has boosted the crypto’s status as a currency and contributed to the Bitcoin price rally. World Monetary Order Is Flipping In BTC’s Favor The Bitwise CIO noted that the US-Iran war has made the world monetary order more volatile, but has also increased the probability that Bitcoin will become a global currency. As such, the war has made BTC a more valuable out-of-the-money call option, which is why the Bitcoin price has shown strength during this period. Related Reading: Analyst Who Successfully Shorted The Bitcoin Price Top Announces A Change In His Plan Hougan added that with Iran’s move to accept BTC payments, the world has taken a step closer to integrating an apolitical currency into the global financial ecosystem. Therefore, whenever conflicts like the US-Iran war occur, the incentive to invest in apolitical assets like BTC increases, which serves as a catalyst for a higher Bitcoin price. At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price is trading at around $75,100, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com
A wave of forced liquidations swept through crypto markets on Tuesday as traders who had bet against Bitcoin and Ether were caught off guard by a sharp price surge tied to hopes of a US-Iran agreement. Related Reading: Dollar’s Shrinking Value Adds Fuel To XRP Bull Case: Finance Expert Around 80% of the $530 million in total liquidations over 24 hours — roughly $425 million — came from leveraged short positions in the two largest cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin touched just under $75,000 on CoinMarketCap, a level not seen in nearly a month, before running into heavy resistance and retreating to about $74,655. Ether made an even bigger move, climbing 7% to reach $2,378 — its highest point since early February. Geopolitical Hopes Fuel The Move The rally came as markets began pricing in the possibility of a negotiated end to weeks of tension between Washington and Tehran. Jeff Mei, chief operating officer at crypto exchange BTSE, said traders believe the two sides are drawing closer to an agreement. Iran’s oil exports are central to its economy, and a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane could put severe pressure on the country to come to the table. “Now, it appears that Iran is frantically looking to broker a deal, and stock and crypto markets are rallying as a response,” Mei said. US President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that a military blockade had begun. He threatened to eliminate any Iranian vessels that come near. Trump also told reporters Iran wants to reach a deal, but his administration will not sign anything that allows Tehran to pursue nuclear weapons. The broader crypto market climbed to a total value of $2.6 trillion — its highest in a month — as the news spread. About 177,000 traders were liquidated across markets over a 24-hour period, according to data from CoinGlass. Not Everyone Is Convinced The rapid price jump did not go unquestioned. Valerius Labs, a market analyst, pushed back on the idea that the move signals a genuine recovery. “This isn’t a breakout,” the firm said. “It’s a short squeeze running into overhead supply. Real buyers show up above the 200-day simple moving average, not 15% below it.” Related Reading: TRUMP Buying Frenzy Builds Ahead Of Mar-A-Lago Power Event Some analysts reported that over $300 billion in crypto short positions were wiped out in just a few hours, adding more than $100 billion to the total market cap in the process. Beyond the short squeeze, other forces may also be at work. Reports indicate that institutional buying through spot crypto exchange-traded funds, along with purchases by centralized exchanges, could be adding fuel to Bitcoin’s climb. Still, the rejection at $75,000 resistance kept the bulls from claiming a clean win. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView
Previous bear markets left scars that are hard to ignore. The 2017 crash wiped out more than 80% of Bitcoin’s value. The 2021 collapse took nearly 77%. So when a fresh wave of analysts began calling for a drop to $50,000, the warnings carried weight — at least on paper. Related Reading: TRUMP Buying Frenzy Builds Ahead Of Mar-A-Lago Power Event A Different Kind Of Cycle Nick Ruck, director of LVRG Research, said the $50,000 level was being eyed as the last major buying opportunity before any real recovery could take hold. A drop to that price, he said, would represent a “healthy cycle reset” given the pressure from broader economic forces and weak movement of capital into crypto. But Ruck also raised a point that separates this downturn from past ones: Bitcoin is already down roughly 40% from its record high, and this time around, large institutions are involved in ways they simply weren’t before. That changes the math. Prior crashes were driven mostly by retail traders — ordinary people buying and panic-selling. Institutional money behaves differently, and consistent buying pressure from that side of the market may be putting a floor under prices that didn’t exist in earlier cycles. “There is a chance this cycle might not reach an idealized 60% drawdown,” Ruck said, pointing to what he called a distinctively macro-structured market environment. Bitcoin: the big flush… I don’t think we’ve had it yet I don’t think $60,000 was the bottom You can pray for it of course ???? but it won’t help Trend is still down The few % bounces are tiny if you zoom out I will reconsider this stance in case bull strength returns It’s just… — Ivan on Tech ???????????? Head Trader @ Bullmania (@IvanOnTech) April 13, 2026 Trader and author Ivan Liljeqvist posted to X that Bitcoin had yet to experience what he called “the big flush.” He said he didn’t believe $60,000 marked the bottom, and that the overall trend remained pointed downward. The small bounces seen along the way, he argued, looked minor against the bigger price picture. Analyst Merlijn Enkelaar echoed that view, suggesting Bitcoin was entering a second bear phase that could push prices to $50,000 before any wider distribution of gains takes place. THREE PHASES. BITCOIN ABOUT TO ENTERTHE SECOND. Accumulation: done. Manipulation: loading. Distribution: $150K. Pending. $70K is the decision. Hold it: manipulation is short. Lose it: $50K first. They ran this playbook once already. You watched it happen. pic.twitter.com/yJMAeA6Tfh — Merlijn The Trader (@MerlijnTrader) April 13, 2026 Geopolitical Tensions Drive Swings Crypto prices don’t move in a vacuum. A temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran sent Bitcoin briefly above $75,000 — the kind of jump that happens when fear lifts, even for a moment. US President Donald Trump announced the two-week pause in hostilities, and markets responded quickly. But the relief didn’t last. Peace talks broke down over the weekend, and by Monday Bitcoin had slipped back below $71,000 after Trump ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Rising consumer prices, reported in Friday’s CPI data, added further weight. Bitcoin’s all-time high stands at $126,198, set in October 2025. At current prices around $72,500 to $74,600, that puts the drawdown at roughly 40% to 44% — deep, but still well short of the 60% collapse that some models suggest a full bear market requires. BTC STILL LOOKS SUPER BEARISH HTF Weekly short imbalances were filled and rn we can only go to 1M imbalance, which is ~$80K Right after it, I am waiting for a final huge dump to one of my targets: $59K or $50K Either way last dump is coming Notifs on, I’ll call exact bottom pic.twitter.com/twHr5VhxRr — symbiote (@cryptosymbiiote) April 13, 2026 Analysts Split On What Comes Next One analyst posting under the name “symbiote” called the chart “super bearish” on longer time frames, saying a final large drop to either $59,000 or $50,000 was still coming. Others are less certain the floor hasn’t already been set. Related Reading: Dollar’s Shrinking Value Adds Fuel To XRP Bull Case: Finance Expert What makes this cycle harder to read is the mix of forces pulling in both directions. Institutional investment and ETF inflows provide steady demand. Global conflict, inflation data, and uncertain monetary policy cut against that. Neither side has clearly hit the proverbial bullseye. Bitcoin touched a low of around $66,000 in early April before recovering. Whether that low holds — or whether the market has another leg down before it finds real footing — remains an open question that even the most watched voices in crypto can’t agree on. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
XRP has lost 38% of its value over the past year. Bitcoin hasn’t done much better, sliding more than 16%. Yet a finance expert is telling investors those numbers miss the bigger picture. Related Reading: TRUMP Buying Frenzy Builds Ahead Of Mar-A-Lago Power Event Cash Is Losing Ground Too John Vasquez, who goes by Coach JV on social media, says the real story isn’t short-term price drops — it’s what’s happening to the dollar. Data shows the purchasing power of the US dollar has fallen 28% over the past decade, dropping from 43.10 to 30.9 on the Consumer Price Index. Over that same 10-year stretch, both Bitcoin and XRP have climbed nearly 200 times in value. By that measure, Vasquez argues, holding cash has quietly been the bigger loser. His comments came through a post on X, where he laid out his case for why global tensions are strengthening the long-term argument for crypto assets — not weakening it. XRP & Bitcoin narrative getting stronger day by day. In the long run this will play out well. Short term expect extreme volatility. pic.twitter.com/2BXRKw3MFD — Coach, JV (@Coachjv_) April 12, 2026 Oil, Credit, And The Dollar’s Global Standing Vasquez pointed to rising oil prices linked to disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz as a driver of inflation pressure. At the same time, he warned of tightening credit conditions and what he called a developing global credit crisis. Countries moving away from dependence on the US dollar — a shift often described as de-dollarization — are also part of what he sees reshaping the financial order. Reports indicate he also cited Japan’s interest rate changes and the unwinding of so-called carry trades as added stress points for the global system. These are moves by investors who borrow in low-interest currencies to buy higher-yielding assets elsewhere. When those trades unwind, markets can move fast and hard. He described two possible roads ahead: one where central banks keep printing money and hold interest rates low, extending current imbalances, and another where stock and credit markets suffer a sharp correction. Neither path, in his view, favors holding cash. Crypto Still Struggles As A Near-Term Hedge Crypto prices haven’t cooperated with that theory. Since Middle East tensions flared again in February, Bitcoin and XRP have held steady but gone nowhere. Markets have shown relative stability but not gains. That sits awkwardly against the argument that geopolitical risk drives money into decentralized assets. Related Reading: Forget XRP Forecasts: The ‘Delusional’ Crowd Could Have The Last Laugh Still, Vasquez says the strategy is to accumulate during downturns, not react to them. His long-term positioning includes XRP, Bitcoin, silver, and income-generating assets. His core message is preparation — financial and psychological — for an economic environment that looks increasingly unstable. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
Crypto analyst Crypflow has explained what the Bitcoin relief rally above $71,000 means for the leading crypto and hinted that BTC could still drop lower. This came as the analyst alluded to the previous bear markets and how recent rallies are mirroring price action in past cycles. Analyst Warns Relief Rallies Are Getting Weaker Amid Bitcoin’s Rally Above $71,000 In an X post, Crypflow stated that Bitcoin relief rallies are weakening and that every bear market has them. He noted that during the 2014 bear market, BTC saw relief rallies of up to 100% while in 2018, it saw rallies of between 50% and 90%. These relief rallies weakened during the 2022 bear market, as Bitcoin saw relief rallies of only up to 45%. Related Reading: Bitcoin Flashes ‘Dangerous’ Macro Fractal – What To Expect For Price The Bitcoin relief rallies in this cycle have again weakened, with the largest rally so far 26%. Crypflow noted that each cycle, these relief rallies lose strength, but that doesn’t mean that BTC can’t go higher in the short term. However, he warned that there is still significant resistance above, suggesting the leading crypto could drop further before it finds a bottom. Bitcoin recently rallied above $73,000 as the U.S.-Iran peace talks took place over the weekend. However, the leading crypto has since retraced to around $71,000 as peace talks between the U.S. and Iran broke down. Trump also announced that the U.S. will impose a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz following the failed peace talks. Meanwhile, crypto analyst Benjamin Cowen stated in an X post that Bitcoin will very likely remain in a bear market, despite short-term countertrend rallies. He added that the hardest part of mid-term years is just not believing in every single rally. A Large Downside Move In The Coming Weeks Crypto analyst Doctor Profit stated that he expects a large downside move in the coming weeks and that it should not take much longer, as the move is very close. The analyst added that he also expects a large trap for bulls, which market makers will use to push Bitcoin lower into the $50,000 range and even further afterward. Related Reading: Higher Before Lower: How Bitcoin Price Will Get To $240,000 Doctor Profit declared that Bitcoin has not bottomed out and that the only question is how high the relief rally will be before it continues its downward momentum. He stated that the probability of a relief rally to $76,000 before rejection is extremely high. Meanwhile, the probability of a rally to between $79,000 and $84,000 is medium. The analyst also predicted a massive crash for the S&P 500 within the next two months. At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price is trading at around $71,000, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
The ongoing tensions in the Middle East continue to put immense pressure on Bitcoin and other risk assets. As investor sentiments turn increasingly cautious, analysts are weighing the potential impact of rising oil prices on Bitcoin. The overall outlook is not looking good, with projections suggesting further downside for the leading cryptocurrency. A clearer path to recovery may only appear if regional tensions ease. Surging Oil Prices Could See Bitcoin Crash Harder Market analysts have shared their thoughts and concerns with The Block about the ongoing US-Iran war and its impact on financial and crypto markets. Rachel Lucas, a crypto analyst at BTC Markets, has emphasized that the Bitcoin price continues to fluctuate amid new developments in the Middle East conflict. Related Reading: Here’s Why The Bitcoin Price Is Crashing, And Why It Could Continue Lucas noted that Bitcoin has had a volatile week, rising to $72,000 as investors hoped for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing war. He noted that these gains were quickly reversed as optimism faded and concerns over oil supply resurfaced. This, in turn, triggered a “classic risk-off unwind,” in which investors pulled back from risky assets like Bitcoin and moved to safer investments amid fear. The analyst also explained that the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz is fueling concerns about inflation. These fears make it unlikely that the Federal Reserve will lower rates anytime soon, limiting opportunities for economic relief. Consequently, uncertainty and tighter financial conditions are adding further pressure on the crypto market, contributing to the recent decline across major assets. Expressing similar concerns, market expert Jeff Mei has taken a bearish stance on Bitcoin amid persistent tensions in the Middle East. The analyst stated that oil prices will likely remain elevated, which could slow economic growth in the months ahead. According to Mei, the combination of rising energy costs and weaker economic conditions means that crypto prices still have lots of room to decline. He projected that Bitcoin could even face another price crash to $60,000 before any sustained recovery. Notably, most bearish forecasts for Bitcoin clustered around the $60,000 level, suggesting that experts may see this as Bitcoin’s final price bottom. Analysts at Bernstein have also confirmed this price floor ahead of its $150,000 projected surge in the next bull cycle. Retail Investors Remain “Fearful” Lucas has also emphasized that retail investors are currently showing signs of fear, with many either hedging their positions or waiting on the sidelines for the market to stabilize and show clear direction. Meanwhile, the Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index reflects this hesitation, as broader market sentiment stays neutral. Related Reading: The Last Time Bitcoin Sentiment Was This Bad Was 2022, But There Was A Silver Lining At the same time, the crypto Fear and Greed Index shows that the entire market is in extreme fear territory. Major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin have continued to decline, further eroding investors’ confidence. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Crude oil climbed back above $100 a barrel and Bitcoin slipped as US President Donald Trump used a White House address to say the military campaign in Iran was close to wrapping up, while also warning that more strikes could come in the next two to three weeks. Related Reading: Bitcoin Ends 5-Month Losing Run — Real Reversal Or Just April Fool’s Hype? Markets Move First Bitcoin fell about 2% during the speech, and the price was later reported at $66,400, down from where it started the address. Oil moved the other way, with crude rising to $103.55 a barrel after easing earlier in the week. The reaction fits a familiar pattern. As conflict risk rises in the Middle East, traders often move away from assets seen as risky and into markets tied more directly to energy and supply shocks. In this case, crypto and oil were moving in opposite directions almost in real time. Trump told viewers that the US military was close to completing what he called its main goals. He also said Iran’s nuclear, naval and drone capabilities had been badly damaged, along with missile and weapons production sites. The speech did not calm markets for long. Oil had already been under pressure earlier in the week after Trump suggested the fighting could wind down within weeks, but the latest remarks pushed prices back up and revived concern that the conflict may last longer than hoped. Ceasefire Talk Meets New Threats Trump also said talks were continuing, but he paired that message with a harder line. According to the address, the US is demanding that Iran give up its nuclear program, open commercial shipping routes, and stop backing regional proxy groups. Iran’s demands were far broader. Reports note that Tehran is seeking a permanent end to the war, compensation for damage, and an end to the US military presence in the region. That gap between the two sides left little room for confidence. The White House speech suggested progress, but the warning of fresh strikes over the next few weeks kept the pressure on traders and helped explain why both oil and crypto moved sharply during the address. Related Reading: Bitcoin ETFs Pull In $56B As CEO Pitches Crypto Over Gold Strait Of Hormuz Remains In Focus The conflict has already rattled energy markets before. Tensions intensified in February after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and Iran answered by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. Trump said the blockade would lift naturally once the conflict ends, arguing that Iran would need to sell oil to rebuild its economy. He also said gas prices would come back down and stock prices would rise again. Featured image from jiss.org.il, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin’s halving clock is ticking toward what analysts call a critical threshold — and the crypto market has bigger problems on its hands right now. Related Reading: XRP Ledger Signals Growth With $1M Unlock And Activity Surge Conflicting Signals From Washington And Tehran Reports indicate that US President Donald Trump described recent contact with Iranian officials as productive, suggesting both sides had found common ground on winding down hostilities. He even floated the idea of Iran sharing control over the Strait of Hormuz and working alongside whoever leads the country after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Markets moved fast on those words. Bitcoin climbed from roughly $68,850 to $71,250 — a gain of about 3.50% — while Ethereum rose 2.50% to $2,125. Oil, which had been trading above $100 a barrel, dropped to $89.40. Iran’s Foreign Ministry Pushes Back Spokesperson Esmail Baqaei said his government has not held any talks that could be described as productive with Washington. He added that Iran has not responded to messages passed through third-party countries — Turkey, Oman, and Egypt among them — urging a negotiated off-ramp from the conflict. Iran’s conditions for ending the war remain unchanged: US military bases closed, American forces disarmed, full control of the Strait of Hormuz transferred to Iranian governance, financial compensation for war damages, and a binding guarantee against future military action. Those are not conditions that bend easily. Markets Caught Between Two Stories With Washington and Tehran offering opposing accounts of where diplomacy stands, crypto traders were left with little to go on. Bitcoin stalled near the $70,000 mark, unable to hold the momentum it briefly found on Trump’s remarks. The mismatch in statements from both governments has kept investors cautious, and analysts say continued volatility is likely as long as the geopolitical situation stays unresolved. Oil prices are a key variable. If the conflict heats back up — especially around the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil passes — energy costs could surge again. Higher energy prices feed inflation, and inflation clouds the outlook for interest rates. That chain of events tends to pull risk assets lower, and crypto has not been immune. Upcoming releases on US inflation and unemployment claims, along with commentary from the Federal Reserve on how rising energy costs might shape rate decisions, are all on traders’ radar this week. Related Reading: Crypto Adoption No Longer Optional, Survey Finds As 72% Of Finance Leaders Signal Commitment Whale Activity Points To A Market At A Crossroads On-chain data shows Bitcoin’s Exchange Whale Ratio sitting at 0.7. Based on historical patterns, that level has often appeared near market bottoms, which some read as a sign that large holders are accumulating rather than selling. Featured image from Trends Research, chart from TradingView
The Bitcoin and Ethereum prices continue to struggle, with BTC dropping to as low as $70,000 over the weekend. This comes as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to escalate, with no sign of a ceasefire happening anytime soon. Bitcoin and Ethereum Prices Struggle as Iran War Drags On Bitcoin and Ethereum prices remain under pressure as the war in Iran enters its third week. Tensions escalated over the weekend with attacks on the U.S. embassy in Iraq, according to a Fortune report. The U.S. embassy had indicated that these attacks were carried out by Iran-aligned terrorist militia groups. Related Reading: Bitcoin Crash Far From Over? Analyst Shares How Painful Bear Markets Can Get Notably, the attacks on the U.S. embassy came amid America’s airstrikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, a key oil terminal for the country. The Bitcoin and Ethereum prices notably fell following the U.S. strikes on the Island. The strikes sparked concerns that it could further drive oil prices higher, which is bearish for BTC and ETH. Brent crude oil futures have already risen to as high as $106 today, according to TradingView data, in response to U.S. strikes on Kharg Island. Oil prices could also continue to rise as the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil chokepoint, remains effectively closed. About 20% of the global oil supply passes through the Strait, which is why its closure could spark a massive supply shock and lead to new highs. Market analyst XWIN Research warned that Bitcoin could face significant outflows if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, which would put pressure on not just BTC but the Ethereum price and other crypto assets. In an interview on ABC’s ‘This Week,’ U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that there are no guarantees that oil prices would fall in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Bitcoin and Ethereum prices are also facing pressure, with the Fed unlikely to cut interest rates at this week’s FOMC meeting. There are also concerns that the FOMC could further delay in cutting rates due to the rising oil prices, which threaten to drive inflation higher. Peter Brandt Predicts That A Rally May Be On The Cards Veteran trader Peter Brandt has suggested that Bitcoin could see a relief rally even amid the U.S.-Iran war. In an X post, he shared an accompanying chart showing BTC could reach as high as $88,000. BTC and the Ethereum prices may already be seeing this relief rally, with these crypto assets up over 3% and 7%, respectively, today. Related Reading: Ethereum Topples Bitcoin By 3x In Major Metric, But Can Price Still Reclaim $5,000? Crypto analyst Julio Moreno had earlier warned that the crypto market is still in a bear market despite any potential relief rallies for the Bitcoin and Ethereum prices. Expert Benjamin Cowen echoed a similar sentiment, noting that BTC often spends more time going up than down. He added that when the flagship crypto goes down, it goes down very quickly, sets a low, and then trends up for a week before going lower. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Crypto analyst Doctor Profit has provided insights into what to expect from the Bitcoin price after it dropped below $70,000 over the weekend. This comes as the leading crypto continues to face pressure due to the U.S.-Iran war and volatile oil prices. What To Expect From The Bitcoin Price In an X post, Doctor Profit said that he expects the Bitcoin price to move sideways between $57,000 and $87,000. The analyst noted that this sideways price action is not bullish but a preparation for what is coming in the next few months for the leading crypto. He predicts that BTC could drop to between $50,000 and $44,000 in the coming months. Related Reading: Bitcoin Is Repeating 2022 Playbook That Triggered Crash To $17,500 Doctor Profit also noted that the Bitcoin price is mirroring the 2022 price action, when BTC fell 52% from its all-time high (ATH) before rising 44% from its low, then falling again. As such, the leading crypto is expected to follow the same fractal and rally to the upside in the coming months, then drop below $60,000. The analyst said that market psychology supports a relief bounce, as the fear and greed index is currently at an extreme level of fear. As such, the Bitcoin price could move in the opposite direction, with many expecting a decline. Doctor Profit added that before the next leg down, the market needs to create additional liquidity in the downside and take the liquidity that was built to the upside. The Bitcoin price, however, continues to face huge resistance at the $70,000 level, negating any sustained rally. BTC also faces pressure amid the Iran war, which continues to make oil prices volatile. The leading crypto had climbed to as high as $71,000 yesterday but sharply dropped below $70,000 following reports that Iran was moving to deploy Naval mines at the Strait of Hormuz. Another Local Bottom Could Form Between $57,000 and $60,000 Doctor Profit said he considers $57,000 to $60,000 the local bottom but not the macro bottom, and expects this area to be tested multiple times. The analyst described this range as where it makes sense to buy. He also believes that there is no reason to sell at the moment because upside potential remains. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bear Market Could Be Shrinking, But Are We Watching History Repeating Itself? Doctor Profit said that the largest and most aggressive long-term bets will be placed much lower between the $50,000 level and into the low $40,000. This is where the analyst plans to re-enter the market with “serious size” ahead of the next bull cycle. This is also the area he expects the Bitcoin price to form a macro bottom. The analyst expects the Bitcoin price to drop to the $50,000 to $40,000 range between September and October later this year. In the meantime, he predicts that BTC will continue to see a “long and boring” sideways price action. At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price is trading at around $69,800, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com