Bitcoin ATMs were (and still are) the most tangible and literal implementation of crypto. They turned the process of buying and selling crypto from an abstract act done on a screen and moved it into the real world, enabling people to buy Bitcoin without verification, a bank account, or any real understanding of how custody […]
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Bitcoin fell toward the $72,000 level after a new wave of reported US military strikes on Iran pushed oil higher and sent another shock through risk assets. The largest cryptocurrency fell as much as 3.6% over a 24-hour window, touching an intraday low of $72,792, according to CryptoSlate's data. It has slightly recovered to $73,274 […]
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Nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply moves through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran now wants a cut of it — not by force, but through Bitcoin. Related Reading: XRP Will Go ‘Higher, Much Higher,’ Analyst Says, Betting On Explosive Breakout A Platform Built Around Geography Iran’s Ministry of Economy launched Hormuz Safe on May 16, 2026, a maritime insurance platform that lets cargo operators pay with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies instead of going through traditional banks. Once a payment clears on-chain, the cargo gets immediate insurance coverage along with a digitally signed receipt. The target market is ships passing through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz — one of the most heavily trafficked shipping corridors in the world. Iranian media have reported that the platform could eventually bring in more than $10 billion a year. No official figures have been released to back that number up. Sidestepping The Dollar For years, Western sanctions have blocked Iran from the global banking system, cutting it off from tools like SWIFT and dollar-based transactions. Hormuz Safe fits into a broader pattern of Iran looking to crypto as a workaround. Reports indicate the country has been exploring Bitcoin, stablecoins, and blockchain systems as ways to keep trade moving despite those restrictions. The idea behind the platform is straightforward. Instead of threatening to shut down a critical shipping lane during periods of tension, Iran appears to be trying to profit from the traffic that already flows through it. Early Stage, Big Questions Despite the attention the launch has drawn, Hormuz Safe is still very much a work in progress. Reports say the platform has little more than a basic landing page online, and key legal and technical details remain unanswered. The biggest obstacle for potential customers is sanctions exposure. US regulators have a track record of going after companies that do business with Iranian state-linked entities. Related Reading: Warren Zeroes In On Crypto Deal Structure As $75M Loan Draws Attention Any shipping operator that signs up could face secondary sanctions or compliance problems back home. On top of that, insurance certificates issued through an Iranian crypto platform may not be recognized by ports and regulators in other countries. Hormuz Safe remains an early-stage initiative that has generated more attention than actual business activity. Still, it reflects a growing trend: crypto is increasingly becoming a tool not just for traders and investors, but also for countries seeking alternatives to financial systems that have long been used against them. Featured image from Reuters, chart from TradingView
US-listed Bitcoin ETF flows have suffered their most severe weekly capital flight since the end of January, with investors pulling exactly $1 billion from the products. The primary catalyst for the sudden institutional risk aversion appears to be the shifting US economic backdrop. CryptoSlate's data show that rising inflation concerns, alongside steep ETF outflows, led Bitcoin's […]
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Bitcoin’s break below $80,000 has pushed traders toward a crowded leverage zone where a further decline could force about $1 billion of long positions out of the market. According to CryptoSlate data, the largest cryptocurrency fell to as low as $78,725 after US inflation readings came in hotter than expected, weakening expectations that the Federal […]
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Bitcoin is hovering just below $80,000 as President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing for a high-stakes meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, turning the visit into a live test of whether the crypto market’s latest risk rally has enough support to survive a difficult macro week. The trip comes as traders are already contending with […]
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Bitcoin is entering one of its most consequential trading weeks since its February correction, with Middle East tensions pushing oil prices higher, inflation expectations hardening, and options traders positioning for a possible break above $85,000. According to CryptoSlate's data, the largest digital asset briefly dipped on Sunday after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest response […]
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US banks are mounting an aggressive lobbying effort to stall the CLARITY Act, even as key US lawmakers signal a fast-tracked timeline to put the bill on the president’s desk before July 4. The legislative clash centers on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, a sweeping regulatory framework that cleared the House with bipartisan support […]
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Bitcoin rose above $82,000 as oil prices tumbled amid a powerful tailwind from a sudden and dramatic de-escalation in US-Iran geopolitical tensions. Data from CryptoSlate showed that BTC extended a weeklong rebound that has lifted its value by more than 7% this week after President Donald Trump paused a US military operation in the Strait […]
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If Bitcoin closes above $80,000 on a daily candle, a short squeeze could send prices racing toward $82,230 — a level that hasn’t been tested in seven months. Related Reading: XRP Bulls Eye Breakout As Ripple Unveils 13,000 Bank Connections Worldwide That’s the scenario analysts are watching after a massive wave of selling halted Bitcoin’s climb at a key resistance zone over the weekend. Short Sellers Dominate The Derivatives Market Data from Binance futures shows nearly 63% of open positions are currently short, meaning a large share of traders are betting on lower prices. According to analyst Frigg, that setup cuts both ways. If buyers manage to push Bitcoin through $80,000 and hold it, those short positions would be forced to close, adding buying pressure and potentially accelerating a move to the 200-day moving average at $82,230. $BTC touched $80,526 this morning. it’s at $79,900 on rn. a wick is not a close. here’s what actually moved it. Trump announced Project Freedom Sunday night U.S. escorting stranded vessels through the Strait of Hormuz starting today. 15,000 troops, destroyers, 100+ aircraft.… pic.twitter.com/p1SP4Ktilc — Frigg ???? (@0xfrigg) May 4, 2026 That threshold hasn’t been tested since last October. The derivatives picture sits on top of a broader accumulation trend. Reports indicate whale wallets added 270,000 BTC through April, while Bitcoin held on exchanges fell to its lowest level in seven years. Less Bitcoin on exchanges typically signals that holders are moving coins into cold storage — not preparing to sell. Bitcoin: Taker Sell Volume hits $1.67B in a single hour, highest value in 2 weeks???? pic.twitter.com/2Otd8PIRg8 — Maartunn (@JA_Maartun) May 4, 2026 $1.67 Billion In One Hour The selling spike itself came fast. CryptoQuant analyst Maartunn flagged that taker sell volume hit $1.67 billion in a single hour — the highest reading in two weeks — right as Bitcoin crossed $80,000 for the first time since January 2026. Taker sell volume tracks market orders placed immediately at the best available price. When that number spikes, it points to urgent selling rather than patient, limit-order activity. Based on the data, analysts said $80,000 acted more like a distribution zone than a true breakout point, with sellers absorbing demand faster than buyers could sustain momentum. Bitcoin pulled back after the rejection, retreating from a high of $80,500 reached just hours earlier. Macro Events Helped Fuel The Run-Up The rally itself had a geopolitical trigger. US President Donald Trump announced what his administration called Project Freedom on Sunday, with the US military beginning to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz using 15,000 troops, destroyers, and more than 100 aircraft. Related Reading: Long-Dormant Bitcoin Whale Transfers 11,300 BTC, Sparking Market Speculation The operation pushed oil prices lower and lifted sentiment across risk assets, Bitcoin included. Frigg noted the situation remains unstable. A tanker was struck near Fujairah the same morning, and Iran described the US operation as a ceasefire violation. The brief improvement in market mood, she said, has not resolved the underlying tension. Featured image from Vecteezy, chart from TradingView
A high-stakes tug-of-war is unfolding in the digital asset markets as Bitcoin wrestles with the critical $80,000 threshold. While long-term holders are capitalizing on the recent surge to lock in massive profits, a relentless wave of institutional capital flowing into exchange-traded funds is absorbing the sell-off, keeping hopes for a near-term rally toward $90,000 firmly […]
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A fire broke out at a petroleum facility in Fujairah after Iran launched four ballistic missiles at the UAE, confirming what many feared — the fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US was fracturing in real time. Related Reading: Satoshi’s 22,000 Wallets Could Make Quantum Attacks On Bitcoin Far More Difficult: Expert Oil Markets Feel The Burn Brent crude futures jumped more than 4%, hitting an intraday high above $114 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate wasn’t far behind, gaining over 3% and briefly crossing $105. The strikes rattled energy markets immediately, given the UAE’s proximity to key shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf. The UAE’s Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems intercepted three of the four incoming missiles. The fourth fell into the sea. No major casualties were reported from the interceptions, but the petroleum site fire in Fujairah signaled that the attack wasn’t without consequence. Earlier in the day, reports had circulated that Iran also struck US Navy vessels escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command denied those reports. The back-and-forth of claims and denials added to an already tense atmosphere before the UAE confirmed the missile strikes. تم رصد عدد أربعة صواريخ جوالة قادمة من إيران باتجاه الدولة حيث تم التعامل بنجاح مع ثلاث صورايخ فوق المياة الإقليمية للدولة وسقط آخر في البحر. وأكدت وزارة الدفاع أن الأصوات المسموعة في مناطق متفرقة من الدولة هي نتيجة الاعتراض النجاح للتهديدات الجوية. وتنوه الوزارة الجمهور الكريم… pic.twitter.com/LqHJ5oLzL9 — وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) May 4, 2026 Bitcoin Holds As Geopolitical Pressure Mounts Crypto markets, meanwhile, told a different story. Bitcoin held firm through the chaos, rising from $79,200 to nearly $81,000 — a level the coin had not touched since January. The move came even as oil spiked and headlines grew increasingly alarming. The rally had been building on optimism that a US-Iran peace deal was within reach and that the CLARITY Act, a piece of crypto legislation, could pass this year. Both catalysts had pushed investor sentiment higher in the days before the strikes. US President Donald Trump had disclosed the day prior that the US thumbed down Iran’s most recent ceasefire proposal. Iran, for its part, warned that it was fully prepared to respond to what it called any “adventures or foolishness” from Washington. With those tensions already in the background, the UAE missile strikes landed as confirmation that negotiations were going nowhere fast. Related Reading: No CLARITY Act Needed? XRP Could Be Ready For Its Next Big Surge Trump Yet To Respond To The Strikes As of the time of reporting, Trump had not publicly made any comments on Iran’s attack on the UAE. His silence came despite the missile assault posing a direct challenge to US interests in the region — and to any hope of a near-term resolution to the military confrontation. Whether the missile strike represents a one-time escalation or the start of something larger remains to be seen. What’s clear is that the ceasefire, already described as shaky, took a serious hit. Oil markets are pricing in more uncertainty. Bitcoin, for now, is not. Featured image from MetaAI, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin briefly reclaimed the $80,000 psychological level during early Asian trading hours on May 4, the first time since February, amid its quiet upward march in recent weeks. Data from CryptoSlate showed that the top crypto touched an intraday high of $80,529 before slipping back toward $79,621 as of press time. However, what looks like […]
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Bitcoin’s technical indicators had just started flashing warning signs when crude oil markets made things worse. The MACD histogram turned red — a signal that buying pressure was fading — right as West Texas Intermediate crude surged past $104 a barrel, rattling risk assets across the board. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bull Run Brewing: ATH In Sight By Late 2026: Analyst Bitcoin Gives Back Recent Gains BTC had clawed its way above $78,000 earlier this week, briefly restoring confidence among buyers. That recovery is now gone. The cryptocurrency slipped below $77,000 on April 28, trading at $76,180 — its lowest level since April 22, when it had just reclaimed that threshold after weeks of struggling beneath it. The $77,000 mark carries weight in Bitcoin’s recent history. The asset first broke below it in early February and spent a prolonged stretch under it. A failed retest on April 17 kept sellers in control. The brief breakout on April 22 looked like a turning point. It wasn’t. For Bitcoin to get back on track, analysts say it needs to retake $77,000 and push through the upper Bollinger Band near $79,850. Until then, the immediate floor sits around $75,490, near the middle Bollinger Band — a level BTC has bounced from before, though holding it is far from guaranteed. Oil Jumps As Iran Talks Hit A Wall The backdrop driving the sell-off is a breakdown in US-Iran negotiations. On April 27, Iran put forward a new proposal through Pakistani intermediaries. The offer included reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting a US blockade, while asking to push nuclear discussions to a later stage. US President Donald Trump rejected it. His administration made clear that the terms didn’t go far enough — particularly on nuclear weapons, which Trump said Iran could not be allowed to develop. A planned US delegation trip to Islamabad had already been canceled after earlier Iranian terms were seen as insufficient, with travel security concerns also cited. Indirect back-channel communication continues, but face-to-face talks remain frozen. Oil markets moved fast. WTI crude shot from $98 to a peak of $104 before pulling back slightly to $101. That still left it up 2.50% on the day and more than 4% on the week, following a 12.70% surge the prior week. Related Reading: Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve Could Be Near As White House Signals Major Update Crypto Markets Feel The Pressure Bitcoin retreated 2% on April 28 after sliding 1.64% the previous day. The consecutive losses erased what had looked like a meaningful recovery, leaving the asset more than $3,000 below where it traded just days earlier. Broader market uncertainty tied to Middle East tensions is adding to the pressure. When oil climbs sharply, it typically signals supply fears and geopolitical instability — conditions that tend to push investors away from higher-risk assets like crypto. Featured image from MetaAI, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin held near $78,000 on Friday as oil prices climbed past $100 a barrel, testing whether the largest digital asset can sustain its April rebound while the US-Iran conflict keeps energy markets on edge. The move came after President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric over the Strait of Hormuz, saying the US Navy controlled the […]
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Bitcoin futures markets lit up within an hour of US President Donald Trump hinting that diplomatic talks with Iran could resume as early as Friday. Open interest on Binance climbed nearly 2%, while CME recorded a 0.5% rise, reflecting a quick surge in bullish bets from derivatives traders. Related Reading: A New Phase For XRP? Integrations Keep Rolling In Across The Ecosystem Derivatives Market Responds Fast Total Bitcoin futures open interest jumped over 8% in 24 hours, crossing $62 billion, according to data from CoinGlass. That kind of movement in the derivatives market signals traders are positioning for further upside, not just reacting to a short-term bounce. Bitcoin itself climbed more than 4% over the same period, pushing past $78,000 — a level that puts the $80K target back within reach after weeks of pressure. Price action followed in the wake of US equities indexes rebounding from their previous losses. The S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones all climbed by about 1%, benefiting from the ceasefire extension as well as strong company earnings results. Risk assets across the board were bid up as investors responded to the softer tone coming out of Washington. Trump told the New York Post that a second round of talks was possible as soon as Friday — a comment that quickly circulated across financial markets. Pakistan has also backed the push, with mediators actively working to set up a new round of negotiations. The ceasefire between the US and Iran had already been extended by three to five days before these latest signals emerged. Iran’s Position Remains Unclear But the picture on Iran’s side is far from settled. According to the Tasnim news agency, Iran had no current plans to negotiate on Friday — a direct contradiction of Trump’s stated expectations. Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not been communicating directly, and a divide between IRGC generals and Iran’s civilian negotiators is adding to the uncertainty. Iranian forces also seized two cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz shortly after the ceasefire extension was announced, a move that complicated the diplomatic mood. Trump’s negotiators, based on reports, are now unsure whether there are reliable partners on the Iranian side to move a deal forward. Related Reading: Consistent XRP Buys Could Deliver Outsized Gains By 2030: Finance Expert Bitcoin Volume Data Raises Caution Bitcoin’s 24-hour trading volume dropped 30% even as the price climbed. That gap between price action and volume is a familiar warning sign in crypto markets — it suggests the rally may lack the broad participation needed to hold higher levels. Despite the $80K target drawing attention again, thin volume means the move could reverse quickly if the geopolitical situation shifts. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin is accelerating toward the $80,000 threshold as market participants navigate a complex intersection of Middle Eastern geopolitics, shifting monetary policy regimes, and a heavily skewed derivatives market. Data from CryptoSlate shows that the digital asset's surge from recent lows was driven by the temporary diplomatic relief between the US and Iran. However, the underlying […]
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Institutional investors are looking past the crypto market’s two largest behemoths, aggressively rotating capital into alternative cryptocurrencies as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East agitate traditional markets. Data from SoSoValue shows that US-based investment vehicles tracking the spot price of XRP absorbed $55.39 million in fresh capital over the past week, positioning the asset as […]
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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, […]
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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
Ethereum has already shown the way. While Bitcoin climbed roughly 5% in a single day, Ether moved more than 8% — outpacing it by a factor of nearly 1.4. That gap, according to one analyst, is a preview of what the broader crypto market could do if Bitcoin keeps climbing through the rest of April. Related Reading: ‘Extremely Good News’ – XRP DeFi Momentum Builds As SEC Softens Position On Interfaces A Specific Price Level Is Drawing Attention Michael Van de Poppe, founder of MN Fund and a widely followed market analyst, says Bitcoin has a clear path to the $80,000–$85,000 range before the month closes out. He made the call on X this week, pointing to a recovering global market as the main force behind the expected move. Bitcoin was trading around $74,500 at the time of his post, up more than 5% in 24 hours, with trading volume jumping over 90% over the same period. #Bitcoin aims to attack the highs and is consolidating around $75K. If it blasts through $75K with volume, we’ll be in for $80-85K this month, as that’s where the higher timeframe resistances are. Yesterday I’ve made an analysis with several scenarios that I’m looking for.… pic.twitter.com/zq47n6NhXk — Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) April 14, 2026 The $85,000 target would mark a return to price levels Bitcoin last visited in late January, when it slipped from around $89,000 down to $84,600. Getting back there would represent a gain of nearly 14% from where it stood when Van de Poppe made his call. One level matters more than the rest right now: $75,000. According to Van de Poppe, breaking through that resistance with strong volume behind it sets the stage for the run to $80,000–$85,000 — where heavier selling pressure from longer-term chart history tends to sit. Bitcoin had already pushed past $75,000 by the time the analysis circulated. Downside Support Gives The Bull Case A Floor Van de Poppe also outlined what could keep the bullish scenario alive even if prices pull back. Based on his analysis, as long as Bitcoin holds above $72,000, there is better than a 70% chance it trades above $80,000 before April ends. That support zone acts as a line in the sand. A drop below it would likely change the picture. Related Reading: Dollar’s Shrinking Value Adds Fuel To XRP Bull Case: Finance Expert The backdrop helping Bitcoin here is broader than crypto. Global markets have been stabilizing after weeks of pressure tied to geopolitical tensions, and Bitcoin has moved in step with that recovery. Altcoins Could Amplify The Move Van de Poppe’s bigger claim may be the one about altcoins. He sees them moving at two to three times Bitcoin’s rate — meaning if Bitcoin gains 10%, altcoins could rise 20% to 30% or more. Reports indicate that this pattern tends to follow a predictable path. Capital flows into Bitcoin first, then into large-cap coins, and eventually rotates into smaller altcoins. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
More than 87% of Argentinians surveyed in a January Coinbase poll said they view crypto and blockchain technology as a way to strengthen their financial independence — a sign that the role of Bitcoin in the global economy may already be shifting well beyond what markets have priced in. Related Reading: ‘Extremely Good News’ – XRP DeFi Momentum Builds As SEC Softens Position On Interfaces Bitcoin’s Dual Role Draws New Attention Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, made that case publicly this week. He said Bitcoin could one day command a total addressable market larger than gold’s $34 trillion valuation — but only if it manages to function both as a store of value and as an actual working currency. That’s a bigger claim than what Bitcoin bulls have traditionally made. For years, the comparison to gold was the headline argument. Now, a war is adding a new layer to that conversation. https://t.co/jxIcOn1e23 — Matt Hougan (@Matt_Hougan) April 14, 2026 Iran has proposed allowing ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to pay a toll in crypto. The plan, reported in recent days amid escalating conflict with the United States, is being watched closely by Bitcoin investors. To Hougan, it points to something larger. In a world where countries have turned financial systems into weapons, he wrote on social media, Bitcoin is emerging as an option that no single government controls. A $1 Million Price Target — And Possibly Higher Hougan previously put a number on his store-of-value thesis: if Bitcoin captures 17% of that market over the next decade, each coin could be worth $1 million. Based on his latest comments, that figure may need to be revised upward if Bitcoin begins functioning like a currency alongside its role as a savings vehicle. At the time of writing, Bitcoin trades around $74,150, with a total market cap of roughly $1.4 trillion. Gold, by comparison, sits at $4,854 per ounce, with an estimated market cap exceeding $33 trillion. Corporate treasuries have also been buying in. Data shows private and public companies collectively hold more than 1.5 million Bitcoin, valued at over $116 billion. Merchant Adoption Remains A Work In Progress Still, the currency side of the equation has ground to cover. A study by academic publisher Springer Nature found roughly 11,000 merchants worldwide currently accept Bitcoin as payment — a relatively modest number for an asset of its size. Related Reading: Dollar’s Shrinking Value Adds Fuel To XRP Bull Case: Finance Expert Adoption has been strongest in countries where local currencies have collapsed. Citizens in Turkey and Venezuela, like those in Argentina, have turned to Bitcoin to protect savings against persistent inflation. Whether Iran’s crypto toll proposal signals a turning point for Bitcoin as an international currency — or simply reflects one sanctioned nation finding a workaround — remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Bitwise believes the story is bigger than gold alone. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
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
Bitcoin price fell during Asian trading hours after a weekend diplomatic push between Washington and Tehran broke down and a new US maritime order raised fresh concern over energy flows from the Middle East. This pulled the top crypto lower alongside equities, reinforcing the market’s sensitivity to oil, inflation, and broader risk sentiment. According to […]
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Bitcoin climbed back above $70,000 on Wednesday after news that the United States and Iran had agreed to a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. According to CryptoSlate's data, the top crypto rose 5% to a peak of $72,734 before retracing to $71,477 as of press time. Data from CryptoQuant showed […]
The post Traders poured $3 billion into Binance after Bitcoin hit $72,734 on ceasefire headlines – what are they betting on? appeared first on CryptoSlate.
More than 8 million wallets now hold XRP — a milestone that comes even as the token’s price sits well below where it stood less than a year ago. Related Reading: XRP Headed For A Price Shock, Japan’s Financial Heavyweight Says A Market Still Chasing Its Peak XRP traded at $1.35 on Monday, up roughly 4% on the day, but still more than 60% below the $3.65 high it hit in July 2025. Despite that gap, activity on the XRP Ledger has kept climbing. Wallet counts crossed 8 million, according to on-chain data, a figure that continues rising regardless of where the price stands. Most of those wallets belong to retail holders with relatively small balances. A much smaller group controls the bulk of the supply. Trading volume told a different story entirely. Data from CoinGlass put XRP’s combined spot and futures activity at $3.86 billion in a single 24-hour window — $3.25 billion of that coming through futures markets and $605 million through spot trading. Open interest stood at $2.50 billion, a sign that traders are not just moving in and out quickly but holding positions. Binance led all exchanges in futures open interest, posting $140 million. Upbit followed at $111 million, with Coinbase close behind at $85 million. That spread across both global and US-based platforms points to broad participation rather than activity concentrated in one region. Despite a softening of the $XRP price that began in July 2025 (shown in black), wallets continue to climb (shown in blue). ????8.1M #XRP Ledger wallets as of April 4, 2026 Source: CryptoQuant pic.twitter.com/vSpOd94jg7 — ????Eri ~ Carpe Diem (@sentosumosaba) April 5, 2026 Volume Climbs Across Borders XRP’s market cap sat at $82 billion during the same period. The numbers came on a day when broader crypto markets were also moving. Bitcoin briefly pushed back above $69,000, gaining 4% after reports emerged of a possible easing in Middle East tensions. Whether that momentum would carry over to major altcoins like XRP remains unclear. Some believe that the high trading volume was an indication of a possible buy pressure before a bigger move. Others attributed the high volume of futures to the large weight of the derivative instrument as compared to spot trading. This means that the high trading volume of futures might not have represented the same conviction as spot trading. Related Reading: Bitcoin ETFs Gaining Ground, Could Soon Surpass Gold—Analyst Retailers Lead, Institutions Monitor The wallet analysis of XRP indicates that the cryptocurrency network is still dominated by ordinary people instead of big organizations. Millions of wallets have little XRP holdings while the few wallets dominate the majority of XRP supply. The data indicates that such a distribution model has remained the same despite the fall in price since its all-time high last year. With the high volume of trading, increasing wallets, and stagnant prices, analysts are wondering how XRP will proceed in the future. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
West Texas Intermediate crude has hit $115 a barrel, gasoline prices in the US are up nearly 40% since late February, and Bitcoin is still trying to break through a wall it has failed to climb six times now. That is the world Bitcoin finds itself in on Monday as it briefly touched $69,550 — a modest 3.30% gain that nevertheless sent shockwaves through the derivatives market. Related Reading: Bitcoin Stumbles Hard: The Worst Q1 In Years Raises Big Questions Short Sellers Take The Hardest Hit Over $276 million in leveraged positions were wiped out in 24 hours, hitting 80,200 traders across crypto derivatives platforms. The damage was not spread evenly. Bears took the brunt of it. According to CoinGlass data, short positions accounted for $188 million of the $210 million liquidated in just the 12-hour window around the price surge. Long liquidations, by comparison, came in at $24 million. Traders who had been betting on a continued decline were caught flat-footed as Bitcoin pushed back toward the $70,000 mark it has repeatedly failed to hold since early February. The asset remains well off its best levels. Bitcoin set an all-time high of $126,000 on October 6, 2025. At current prices, it is trading roughly 45% below that record — context that puts Monday’s rally in sharper perspective. A Squeeze Could Still Be Coming The positioning data tells an uneven story. Based on CoinGlass figures, more than $6 billion in short positions are stacked near $72,500. If Bitcoin pushes up to that level, those positions could be forced to close in rapid succession. On the downside, about $2 billion in long positions sit near $65,000 — a smaller but real risk if momentum fades. That gap between short and long exposure is what has some traders watching closely for a possible extended squeeze. Bitcoin has made six runs at $70,000 since slipping below it in early February. Each attempt has fallen short. Monday’s move is the latest test of that resistance, and it arrives against a backdrop that is anything but calm. Related Reading: Bitcoin ETFs Gaining Ground, Could Soon Surpass Gold—Analyst Energy Shock Adds Pressure On All Fronts A standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has been tightening its grip on global energy markets since late February. Iran has rejected ceasefire terms, insisting compensation for war-related damage must be addressed before the strait reopens. Oil prices have surged as a result. US gasoline costs are up sharply, and broader inflation fears have followed. US President Donald Trump has called for Iran to reopen the waterway, citing global trade concerns. Reports indicate he has also suggested a deal with Iran may be within reach, while warning of severe consequences if talks collapse — including potential US control over Iranian oil resources. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView