U.S. May Strike Iran. What It Means for Bitcoin?

Rising Middle East tensions could rattle crypto markets and stall Bitcoinโ€™s bullish momentum.

Man Staring at the night sky with two very different charts projected on it.
Created by Gabor Kovacs from DailyCoin

The crypto market is bracing for renewed volatility as reports emerge that the United States may carry out a military strike against Iran in the coming days. 

According to a Bloomberg report, senior U.S. officials are actively preparing for possible action over the weekend, citing sources familiar with internal discussions.

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While the situation remains fluid and could still be defused through diplomacy, market sentiment is already shifting. While diplomacy could still avert conflict, the crypto market is already reacting โ€” traders are turning risk-averse, fearing a broader sell-off that could trigger a steep Bitcoin correction.

Bitcoin Rally Stalls as Sentiment Turns Bearish

Geopolitical risks have already taken a toll on the cryptocurrency market. Between June 12 and 15, sentiment data from Santiment showed a sharp increase in bearish sentiment, coinciding with a 4โ€“6% drop in Bitcoinโ€™s price. This decline erased over $200 billion from the total cryptocurrency market cap.

Despite the initial decline, BTC stabilized between $104,000 and $105,000, buoyed by five consecutive days of positive ETF inflows and the absence of further military escalation.

Analysts at Santiment noted that this mirrors Bitcoinโ€™s behavior during previous geopolitical crises. During Russiaโ€™s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Bitcoin initially dropped but later recovered. A similar pattern emerged during the Israelโ€“Palestine conflict in October 2022, when BTC fell by 7% before rebounding within days.

โ€œThough there are several ongoing elements, such as ongoing tariff concerns, that are still impacting cryptocurrency, this latest real world conflict will likely continue to cause volatile and unpredictable price action,โ€ Santiment wrote in a post on X.

Markets Under Pressure

As war fears grow, other financial indicators are flashing red. Polymarket data now suggests a 62% probability that the U.S. will launch military action against Iran before July. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures are down, gold has rallied, and the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) is climbing near 99, reflecting a broader โ€œrisk-offโ€ shift across global markets.

Crypto markets have followed suit. The total crypto market cap has decreased by 1.7% over the past 24 hours to $3.26 trillion, while the 24-hour trading volume has dropped 8.2%, indicating a decline in trader activity. BTC briefly fell to a low of $103,840 amid the uncertainty.

Whatโ€™s Next for Bitcoin?

Just days before speculation surfaced about potential U.S. military action against Iran, crypto traders were eyeing a possible Bitcoin breakout set to unfold after June 30.

Trader, who goes by the name Astronomer, said Bitcoin could still climb above $170,000, citing the ongoing bull market cycle. Still, he cautioned that short-term momentum remains bearish, with a potential pullback to around $96,000 or even $90,000.

Why This Matters

Bitcoin and the broader crypto markets are increasingly sensitive to global macroeconomic and geopolitical events, as investors typically flee to safer assets like gold and the U.S. dollar, causing riskier assets like cryptocurrencies to decline.

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People Also Ask:

How do geopolitical events impact Bitcoin prices?

Geopolitical events such as conflicts, wars, or sanctions can create uncertainty in global markets. Investors often move their money into safer assets like gold or the U.S. dollar during times of crisis, which can cause volatile price swings in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Why does Bitcoin sometimes drop during crises but then recover?

Bitcoin is often seen as a risk asset, so it can initially fall when investors seek safety in traditional assets. However, Bitcoinโ€™s decentralized nature and limited supply often make it attractive in the medium to long term, leading to price recoveries after initial sell-offs.

How can investors protect their crypto holdings during volatile times?

Diversifying investments, using stop-loss orders, and keeping some assets in stablecoins or fiat currency are common strategies to manage risk during volatility. Staying informed about global events and market trends also helps in making timely decisions.

This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Author
Alex Costa

Alex Costa is a crypto writer and investor specializing in researching, analyzing and reporting on promising small-cap projects that are gaining traction in the industry. He has been in crypto since 2018, when he began looking for hidden gems in crypto. Today, he is dedicated to finding the next top performing NFTs and tokens.

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