Crypto Market Rallies as Trump Issues Iran Ultimatum

川普宣稱美國基本接管伊朗並擬打擊地下核設施鎬山，將衝突淡化為非戰爭以顧及期中選情。地緣緊張局勢推升布蘭特原油突破95美元，並引發比特幣跌至79,577美元及以太坊走跌。專家指出該地下設施難以常規武器摧毀，市場擔憂衝突若擴大將加劇金融震盪。

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have repeatedly threatened shipping through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, a chokepoint linking Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal. Roughly 12% of global trade and a quarter of container traffic transit the passage, making any escalation a threat to energy supplies, freight costs and inflation. A broader conflict could also trigger a flight from risk: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies trade around the clock and often react sharply to sudden geopolitical shocks, though their direction is not assured.

On July 23, the Houthis said missiles and drones struck the Saudi oil tankers Encelia and Layla, setting both vessels ablaze. The Saudi Press Agency confirmed a fire aboard Encelia and said there were no casualties; the second claim remained unconfirmed by Riyadh. President Donald Trump threatened the Houthis with “major military punishment” if attacks continued. A day earlier, he said the United States would destroy one Iranian bridge or power plant for every ship Iran attacked, as U.S. forces entered a 12th straight night of strikes on Iran.

The conflict between the United States and Iran has heightened geopolitical risks in the Middle East, while concerns over oil supplies and inflation weighed on global risk assets at one point. Bitcoin and crypto-related stocks such as Coinbase and Strategy are highly sensitive to liquidity and safe-haven sentiment, meaning signs of a ceasefire or negotiations are quickly reflected in cryptocurrency prices and U.S. equities.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in July that military operations against Iran were progressing better than expected and that a conflict initially projected to last four to five weeks could end early. He also said U.S.-Iran negotiations had made significant progress. The comments pushed Bitcoin back above $69,000, extended gains in crypto-related stocks and the broader U.S. equity market, and sent oil prices sharply lower.

The United States and Iran have long been at odds over Tehran’s nuclear program, economic sanctions and security in the Middle East. Any escalation could also affect energy supplies and global risk assets. US President Donald Trump has revived negotiations while insisting that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons, making diplomatic developments an important source of volatility for bitcoin and crypto-related stocks.

Trump recently said Iran had called him and was “desperate to make a deal,” as the two countries advanced a new round of negotiations. He reiterated that he would not accept Iran retaining nuclear weapons. Prediction market Polymarket showed traders raising the probability of a peace agreement by April 30 to 65%. Bitcoin briefly fell below $104,000 before crypto-related stocks broadly advanced.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States was prepared to bomb Iran, citing suspected covert transfers of Iranian missiles and the U.S. seizure of a vessel carrying Chinese materials. An escalation of the conflict in the Middle East could drive up oil and safe-haven asset prices while putting selling pressure on highly volatile risk assets such as Bitcoin.

Trump recently said the "clock is ticking" for action against Iran and rejected a proposal from Tehran. Iran's air-defense systems were subsequently reported to have intercepted hostile targets. U.S. crude futures briefly surged by $5 on the news, while Bitcoin fell below $76,000 and Ethereum dropped under $2,300. Crypto-related stocks including Coinbase and Robinhood also declined.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for Persian Gulf oil shipments to global markets. After tensions escalated over Iran’s nuclear weapons threat and transit fees, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a full U.S. Navy blockade to intercept vessels that had paid Iran and clear mines. The move triggered sharp swings in oil and bitcoin as concerns over energy supplies and demand for safe-haven assets intensified.

After the blockade took effect at 10 p.m. that evening, WTI crude rose above $101 a barrel, while bitcoin briefly fell to $70,600, breaking below $70,800. Crypto long-position liquidations reached $203 million, affecting about 147,000 traders. Bitcoin later rebounded to $72,500, while Trump called the British prime minister to discuss restoring shipping and Iran proposed a three-stage framework for negotiations.

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly backed “regime change” in Iran for the first time, and the White House reposted the statement, signaling that Washington may be shifting from pressure toward political intervention. If conflict in the Middle East drives up energy prices, it could intensify global inflation and demand for financial safe havens while limiting the Federal Reserve’s scope to cut interest rates.

As of July 20, mounting geopolitical risks had fueled selling in crypto assets, pushing Bitcoin below $74,000. The situation also subjected Fed nominee Kevin Warsh, who holds crypto- and AI-related assets, to scrutiny over inflation and conflict-of-interest disclosures. Volatility in oil prices and risk assets will be a key variable shaping the path of interest rates.

US President Donald Trump imposed a 24-hour deadline on US-Iran peace talks and warned that failure to reach an agreement could trigger devastating military action. The situation in Iran has implications for Middle East energy supplies and global financial markets. Any escalation could cause sharp volatility in oil prices, risk assets and cryptocurrencies.

As of July 20, 2026, the New York Post reported that Trump had warned the United States would “completely destroy” Iran if the talks failed, adding that the US fleet had been deployed with its most powerful weapons. The ultimatum and military threat heightened demand for safe-haven assets, sending Bitcoin below the $71,000 mark.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued Iran a 48-hour ultimatum on Truth Social, demanding a ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He threatened to destroy bridges, oil fields and power infrastructure across Iran if it failed to comply. The threat drove up oil prices and demand for safe-haven assets, while the highly leveraged, round-the-clock crypto market moved first to price in the geopolitical risk.

On the eve of the deadline, Bitcoin briefly topped $70,000 before plunging from $69,000 to a low of $67,200. It later recovered to around $69,000. Crypto liquidations totaled $335 million over the past 24 hours, affecting more than 170,000 traders, while market sentiment remained in the “extreme fear” zone for a 46th consecutive day.

U.S. President Donald Trump raised his condition for a ceasefire with Iran to “unconditional surrender” and ruled out a separate deal, escalating risks surrounding the nuclear dispute, the regional conflict and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is a critical artery for global oil shipments. Concerns about military strikes or a blockade could drive up oil prices, the dollar and demand for safe-haven assets while weighing on risk assets such as bitcoin and stocks.

As of July 19, Trump had given Iran 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, adding that any retaliation would draw an “extremely hard” response. Bitcoin briefly fell below $69,200 and traded as low as about $68,000 after the announcement. Oil rose, while ether, solana and global equities also came under pressure.