Iran – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com Latest Crypto News Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:09:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 https://i0.wp.com/earlybirdsinvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-New-Project-2024-12-17T235703.455.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Iran – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com 32 32 240146708 Gaza, Iran, and a Nobel Prize: Trump and Netanyahu meet in Washington https://earlybirdsinvest.com/gaza-iran-and-a-nobel-prize-trump-and-netanyahu-meet-in-washington/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/gaza-iran-and-a-nobel-prize-trump-and-netanyahu-meet-in-washington/#respond Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:09:46 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/gaza-iran-and-a-nobel-prize-trump-and-netanyahu-meet-in-washington/

President Donald Trump sounded confident on Sunday when he told a reporter that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas could be reached by the end of the week.

Israel has reportedly proposed a 60-day ceasefire and the return of 10 living and 18 deceased hostages, out of approximately 50 remaining Israeli hostages, of whom 20 are believed to be alive. Hamas continues to push for a permanent end to the conflict.

Negotiations between the two sides are being conducted indirectly, with Qatar and Egypt leading the talks. The calculus on the part of the US and Israel appears to be that, with Iran and its proxy forces in the region significantly weakened, Hamas will be ready to make more concessions.

These talks are taking place against the backdrop of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with daily reports of Israeli troops displacing Palestinians and firing on hungry, desperate people trying to get food as Palestinian children struggle with starvation, malnutrition, and disease. Israeli soldiers have also been killed in recent fighting.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making the rounds in Washington, DC, this week. It’s his third visit since Trump returned to office, more than any other foreign leader.

At a dinner at the White House on Monday evening, Netanyahu presented Trump with a copy of a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump has repeatedly expressed his interest in getting the peace prize — an accolade that President Barack Obama received early in his presidency — and has cited his “peacekeeping” efforts in the Middle East, including attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, as justification.

Ending the war in Gaza, Trump believes, would cement his legacy. But he has to convince Netanyahu to agree to that. To get the latest on where things stand between Trump and Netanyahu, Today, Explained co-host Noel King spoke to Michael Koplow, chief policy officer at Israel Policy Forum.

Below is an excerpt of their conversation, edited for length and clarity. There’s much more in the full podcast, so listen to Today, Explained wherever you get podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify.

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have run hot and cold on each other since Trump took office in January. Where do things stand between them right now?

Right now, it seems that their relationship is at a high point. But even in the past six months, we’ve seen significant ups and significant downs.

On the one hand, this is now Prime Minister Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House in President Trump’s second term, and that would indicate that these two men have a closer relationship than any other two leaders on the face of the planet. But these visits have not always been so harmonious, and they’ve not always been so great for Prime Minister Netanyahu, particularly the second visit.

On that second visit, Prime Minister Netanyahu seemed to be blindsided in the Oval Office in front of cameras by a number of things that President Trump said. He was blindsided on tariffs when he had come to Washington ostensibly to try to remove any tariffs that President Trump was going to put on Israel. And not only was he not successful in doing so, President Trump sat in front of the cameras and talked about how the United States gives Israel $4 billion a year, and that’s a lot of money and it should get something in return.

He was also blindsided in that meeting on the issue of Iran. President Trump announced in that meeting that the United States was going to enter into direct talks with Iran, something that Prime Minister Netanyahu was certainly opposed to. Now we know how that turned out two months later, but at the time, it was seen as a pretty significant signal that President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu were not on the same page.

In addition to the awkwardness of that second visit — during President Trump’s last visit to the Middle East, he went to Saudi Arabia, he went to Qatar, he went to the UAE. He made a huge production out of those visits, talking about how much he loved the region, but he didn’t go to Israel and many people interpreted that as a snub. Was it?

I don’t think it was a snub. I think that he went to the region because he wanted to come home with high-profile, visible demonstrations of US strength and demonstrate that he could bring deals back home. Ultimately, he thinks of himself as a dealmaker, and there were all sorts of trade deals and promises for investment to be found in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Those were not going to be found in Israel.

He took that trip to the Middle East back in May. What’s changed since then?

The biggest thing that has changed is the campaign against Iran, where you had 12 days of Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities and personnel, and then you had the very high-profile US strike on the three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.

In Israel and certainly within the administration — and I share this assessment — that campaign is viewed as being incredibly successful. And unlike when President Trump traveled to the region, this is a case where Israel presents him with a big and visible win and he’s touting it as much as he can.

So Israel gives him a win on Iran, and now, as President Trump is wont, he’s looking for another win. On Sunday, he tells reporters that a deal on Gaza is close. What do you think he’s trying to telegraph and what happens if he’s wrong? Does he take it out on Netanyahu?

There are two things that President Trump has consistently talked about in terms of his vision for the Middle East and what he wants to accomplish. One was preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. And whether that has now been done definitively or not, President Trump is certainly treating it as if this is mission accomplished, and Iran is now not going to get a nuclear weapon.

The second thing that he’s consistently talked about is bringing the fighting in Gaza to an end and expanding the Abraham Accords and bringing other countries into the circle of normalization, all of which I think in his mind is supposed to lead to the Nobel Peace Prize, which really I think is the goal that he seems to put above almost anything else in the realm of foreign policy.

To accomplish that second one, he needs Prime Minister Netanyahu to go along with what he wants because there is no world in which the fighting in Gaza will end unless Prime Minister Netanyahu agrees to do it. If Prime Minister Netanyahu does not go along with it, there may be consequences, and it may be that President Trump eventually moves on.

I think that what we’re seeing right now from Prime Minister Netanyahu is an effort to really extend the clock. The first part of this is a potential 60-day ceasefire in Gaza that will not bring a permanent end to the war, but will give President Trump the opening that he seeks at the moment. And if this negotiation is successful, then it also buys Prime Minister Netanyahu two months to figure out whether he wants to keep it going or whether, at the end of 60 days, the fighting in Gaza will resume.

[Netanyahu] likes extending his options as much as he can, and so buying this time will be important and it will allow him to give the president something that the president is really demanding from him, and that should keep the heat off at least for a little bit.

These two men have different motivations when it comes to the Palestinian people. Netanyahu doesn’t seem to care about Palestinians. He cares about Israel’s security. Trump wants a deal in Gaza because he likes doing deals. Do you think that Donald Trump cares what happens to the Palestinian people?

When President Trump speaks about Palestinians, certainly during this term in office, he tends to do it with a degree of empathy that we don’t always see from him on other issues. It’s pretty consistent when he talks about Gaza for him to talk about the fact that Palestinians are suffering and that they deserve better. We don’t often hear that sort of language from Prime Minister Netanyahu and from many Israeli leaders.

The problem is that for any real resolution to Gaza, you need some sort of political vision. President Trump often talks about how Palestinians deserve better lives and should have better lives. But it’s rare to hear him talk about how he thinks they will get there politically as opposed to this just being a quality of life issue.

We saw it when he announced his “Gaza Riviera” plan during that first Netanyahu trip to Washington, and we saw it again even last night when President Trump got a question about two states, and he didn’t answer it. He punted it to Netanyahu. Netanyahu made it very clear that Israel does not see a Palestinian state as part of the Israeli-Palestinian political future.

Both Trump and Netanyahu need this relationship. Trump needs Netanyahu. Netanyahu needs Trump. Who needs whom more, do you think?

Netanyahu absolutely needs Trump more than Trump needs Netanyahu.

The things that Trump wants right now from Netanyahu are things that would be nice to have. He wants to expand the Abraham Accords. He wants to have better coordination throughout the region. He wants his Nobel Prize. But ultimately, the United States has lots of other issues on its plate. The United States is a global superpower, whereas Israel is not. And the United States can work on all sorts of other things even if the Trump-Netanyahu relationship turns out to be poor and the coordination turns out to not be what President Trump wants.

From Prime Minister Netanyahu’s side, the United States is indispensable, and there are all sorts of things that he wants that he has to have President Trump for. We saw this in practice with Iran, where Israel embarked on airstrikes on its own, but it was clear from the beginning that it needed the United States not only to buy into what Israel was doing but to actually step in and act.

Ultimately, Prime Minister Netanyahu cannot afford to be on President Trump’s bad side, and I think that that’s going to cause him some difficult choices ahead when it comes to Gaza, where there’s no question that President Trump wants that war to end. Prime Minister Netanyahu also may want it to end, but he wants it to end on very specific and narrow terms. And if the two men end up crosswise on that question, Prime Minister Netanyahu really cannot afford to get into a rift with President Trump.

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/gaza-iran-and-a-nobel-prize-trump-and-netanyahu-meet-in-washington/feed/ 0 46712
Iran and Israel spent over $25B during the ’12-day war,’ equivalent to 1% of total Bitcoin supply https://earlybirdsinvest.com/iran-and-israel-spent-over-25b-during-the-12-day-war-equivalent-to-1-of-total-bitcoin-supply/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/iran-and-israel-spent-over-25b-during-the-12-day-war-equivalent-to-1-of-total-bitcoin-supply/#respond Thu, 26 Jun 2025 02:04:29 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/iran-and-israel-spent-over-25b-during-the-12-day-war-equivalent-to-1-of-total-bitcoin-supply/

The Iran-Israel conflict reportedly cost the two nations roughly $25.5 billion, worth over 240,837 BTC at current prices, according to a report by Opportunity Cost, a digital tool that translates global spending into Bitcoin and Satoshi equivalents.

According to the platform, Israel fired Arrow interceptor missiles, each costing around $3 million or 28.3 BTC, to counter Iranian missiles priced at about $2 million or 18.9 BTC each. This exchange repeated every night for nearly two weeks, during which time Israel launched 50 to 100 of these high-tech interceptors.

On the other hand, Iran’s approach focused on volume, deploying over 400 ballistic missiles and more than 1,000 drones. The cost of its offensive weaponry alone amounted to approximately 7,554 BTC.

Meanwhile, Israel spent at least 2,124 BTC on Arrow interceptors, which is just one component of its broader missile defense strategy.

The US also took part in the conflict through an airstrike campaign called “Midnight Hammer.” The mission involved deploying seven stealth bombers that dropped bunker-busting munitions, each strike estimated at 30.2 BTC or $3.2 million. That single night added roughly 9,400 BTC to the overall cost of the standoff.

By the end of the conflict, the three nations had spent resources equivalent in value to roughly 1% of Bitcoin’s total supply, 240,837 BTC.

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/iran-and-israel-spent-over-25b-during-the-12-day-war-equivalent-to-1-of-total-bitcoin-supply/feed/ 0 44138
Trump and Iran: Why does the US keep intervening in Mideast wars? https://earlybirdsinvest.com/trump-and-iran-why-does-the-us-keep-intervening-in-mideast-wars/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/trump-and-iran-why-does-the-us-keep-intervening-in-mideast-wars/#respond Wed, 25 Jun 2025 19:18:04 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/trump-and-iran-why-does-the-us-keep-intervening-in-mideast-wars/

In April 1980, President Jimmy Carter authorized Operation Eagle Claw, an ill-fated military operation to rescue the American hostages held at the US embassy in Iran. Since then, every US president has ordered at least one — usually more than one — military intervention in the Middle East and North Africa.

Under Ronald Reagan, there was the bombing of Libya and the deployment of Marines to Lebanon. Under George H.W. Bush, there was Operation Desert Storm. Under Bill Clinton, airstrikes against Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq and against al-Qaeda in Sudan. Under George W. Bush, the invasion of Iraq. Under Barack Obama, a multicountry counterterrorist drone campaign, the toppling of Muammar al-Qaddafi’s regime in Libya, and the redeployment of US troops to Iraq to fight ISIS. Under Donald Trump’s first term, an expanded campaign against ISIS, missile strikes against the Syrian regime, and the targeted assassination of Iran’s most powerful military leaders. Under Joe Biden, the deployment of US troops to the region following the October 7, 2023, attack and the airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Now, in his second term, Trump has crossed another Rubicon, becoming the first US president to use military force on the soil of America’s longtime adversary, Iran. Though a ceasefire has now been declared, it’s very possible this crisis is only beginning, particularly if, as US intelligence agencies reportedly believe, much of Iran’s nuclear program is still intact after the strikes.

Trump’s pivot toward the Middle East is a surprising turn from this president. This is a very different message from the one he delivered in Saudi Arabia just last month when he decried “neocons” and “interventionists” for ill-considered attempts to remake the region through force. Trump has said in the past, in reference to the Iraq war, that “GOING INTO THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE WORST DECISION EVER MADE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY,” and he has generally appeared to view the region — apart from wealthy Gulf States — as a hopeless war zone with little to offer the US.

While he was often stymied in his attempts to withdraw troops in his first term by hawkish advisers, this time many of his senior appointees have been so-called “restrainers,” who advocate pulling back from US military commitments overseas or “prioritizers,” who want to shift attention to what they see as the more important challenge posed by China. Until very recently, they appeared to have the upper hand. But in the current crisis, the US actually relocated important military assets from the Pacific to the Middle East to the consternation of some Pentagon officials.

The stated desire to end “endless wars” in the Middle East and shift to bigger priorities is something the Trump administration has in common with the other two post-Iraq war presidencies. Barack Obama was elected in large part because of his opposition to the war in Iraq. In 2011, his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, promised a “pivot” to Asia and the Pacific for US foreign policy priorities. The Arab Spring and the rise of ISIS got in the way of that, and the phrase “pivot to Asia” became a running joke in US foreign policy circles. Joe Biden withdrew US troops from Afghanistan — not a Middle Eastern country but very much the archetypal “endless war” of the post-9/11 era — and put forward a foreign policy vision emphasizing great power competition with China. His national security adviser infamously described the Middle East as “quieter than it has been in decades” just days before the October 7 attacks shattered that quiet and shifted his boss’s priorities.

“Right now, President Trump is having what I call his ‘Michael Corleone’ moment, and at some point, every president has one,” said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, referring to Al Pacino’s famous line in The Godfather III, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

But why does this dynamic keep repeating? Why, 45 years after Operation Eagle Claw and 22 after the invasion of Iraq, can’t the US military “get out” of this region?

The Middle East is still important…and still has a lot of problems

One big reason why the US keeps getting drawn into the Middle East’s crises is that those crises keep happening.

“The Middle East is an area of enduring national security interest of the United States, and it’s far from stable,” said Emily Harding, a former CIA analyst now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “And as a result, we’re going to keep getting dragged in until it reaches something resembling stability.”

Why is it an important interest? The simple answer is economics. The Middle East contains two of the global economy’s most important chokepoints: the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of global oil flows, and the Red Sea, through which 12 percent of global trade flowed until shipping was disrupted by Houthi attacks.

The “no blood for oil” slogans of Iraq War protesters were an oversimplification, but it’s undoubtedly true that keeping the region’s oil and gas flowing to the world has been a US priority since Franklin Roosevelt met with the king of Saudi Arabia aboard a cruiser on the Suez Canal in 1945, kicking off the modern US-Saudi relationship. In the 1970s, the principle that the US would use military force to prevent any country from a hostile takeover of the Gulf region, and its vast energy supplies, was enshrined as the “Carter Doctrine.”

Today, thanks to domestic production, the US is much less directly dependent on Middle Eastern oil than it used to be, but disruptions in the region can cause global energy prices to spike.

Beyond economics, events ranging from the 9/11 attacks to the Syrian refugee crisis have illustrated that the Middle East’s regional politics don’t always stay regional.

America’s unique relationship with Israel is another reason why the US is continually involved in regional crises. For decades, the US has supported Israel and attempted, with mixed success, to help mediate its relationships with its neighbors and with the Palestinian territories. But the US military actually actively participating in Israel’s wars rather than just sending weapons — as happened to some extent under Biden and now much more explicitly under Trump — is a fairly new dynamic.

America is still the region’s preeminent outside power

Ever since the 1960s, when Britain withdrew many of its “East of Suez” troop deployments, America has been the preeminent military power in the region. That remains true despite growing concern in Washington about China or Russia’s influence.

When crises do erupt, the US, with more than 40,000 troops in bases throughout the region and close security and political partnerships with key powers in the region, is often the outside power best positionedto intervene. When the Houthis began attacking shipping traveling through the Red Sea, there was little question of what country would lead the operation to combat them, much to the irritation of America Firsters like Vice President JD Vance.

Michael Wahid Hanna, director of the US program at Crisis Group, says another reason the US often feels compelled to intervene in Middle East crises is that it “had a major role in fomenting” something. He pointed to what he called the “two great sins of the post-Cold War era for the United States,” the failure to secure a resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict in the 1990s, when the US enjoyed far more leverage than it does today, and the invasion of Iraq. Both continue to drive instability in the region today.

As Secretary of State Colin Powell’s famous “Pottery Barn rule” warned in the run-up to the war in Iraq, “if you break it, you own it.”

What if we’re the problem?

Advocates of US engagement in the Middle East argue that if we pull back, it will create power vacuums that will be filled by malign actors. Obama felt compelled to redeploy US troops to Iraq just three years after withdrawing them when the country’s military collapsed in the face of ISIS.

But advocates of foreign policy restraint argue that the US isn’t doomed to keep intervening, and that its presence isn’t actually helping.

Stephen Wertheim, senior fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, believes that US security partnerships can actually embolden governments in the Middle East to escalate crises, knowing that they can count on US support to deal with the consequences. The most recent illustration is Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to attack Iran, made under the correct assumption that he would have backup from the Trump administration.

“What we have is a delusion in which we think that we can continue to maintain close security partnerships with states in the Middle East, station hundreds of thousands of US service members around the region indefinitely, and that somehow the next bombing will restore deterrence, and we’ll get to peace and stability,” he said. “That hasn’t worked for my whole lifetime.

Whether you think America is uniquely positioned to provide stability or that it’s the cause of the instability, voters should probably treat promises of pivots away from the Middle East with skepticism.

Promising to bring American troops home is always going to be a political winner. And whether it’s a rising China or America’s own borders, one thing there’s agreement on across the political spectrum is that America’s core security interests are not in the Middle East. That’s especially true as the country’s post-9/11 focus on terrorism has faded.

But, says Michael Rubin, senior fellow and Mideast specialist at the American Enterprise Institute, “Most Americans understand history through the lens of four-year increments. We believe each administration starts with a tabula rasa.”

Administrations are often optimistic that one military campaign (such as Israel’s recent decimation of Iran’s Axis of Resistance) or one grand bargain (such as the Biden administration’s attempts to reach a Saudi-Israel normalization deal that would also revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process) will resolve the region’s issues enough that America can move on to other things.

The region’s leaders, many of whom have been in power for decades, often take a longer view. More likely is that the regional crises, some of which we’ve played a role in creating, will be occupying America’s attention for administrations to come.

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/trump-and-iran-why-does-the-us-keep-intervening-in-mideast-wars/feed/ 0 44094
Asia Morning Briefing: BTC Reclaims 100K as Markets Shrug off Iran Strike https://earlybirdsinvest.com/asia-morning-briefing-btc-reclaims-100k-as-markets-shrug-off-iran-strike/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/asia-morning-briefing-btc-reclaims-100k-as-markets-shrug-off-iran-strike/#respond Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:10:39 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/asia-morning-briefing-btc-reclaims-100k-as-markets-shrug-off-iran-strike/

Good Morning, Asia. Here’s what’s making news in the markets:

Welcome to Asia Morning Briefing, a daily summary of top stories during U.S. hours and an overview of market moves and analysis. For a detailed overview of U.S. markets, see CoinDesk’s Crypto Daybook Americas.

As Asia begins the trading week, bitcoin {{BTC}} is trading above $100,500 as the initial volatility from news over the weekend that the U.S. struck some of Iran’s nuclear facilities begins to subside.

While prices briefly dipped below six figures on Sunday in a risk-off reaction, markets have since stabilized. Equity futures are flat, and gold is up only marginally, suggesting that traders are not yet pricing in a broader escalation.

The lack of follow-through in traditional markets may reflect expectations that Iran’s response will be contained or delayed, rather than immediate and destabilizing.

Crude oil is holding its gains near $76 per barrel after spiking nearly 4% Sunday evening on fears that Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil shipments. Still, commentary from U.S. officials and muted early-week trading suggest that investors remain in a wait-and-see mode.

In crypto markets, altcoins that had mirrored BTC’s weekend drop, like ether

, XRP , and solana’s SOL , are also clawing back losses.

For now, the market appears to be treating the U.S.-Iran clash as a geopolitical flashpoint, not a structural break.

(CoinDesk)

(CoinDesk)

OKX Considering U.S. IPO: Report

Crypto exchange OKX is considering a public listing in the U.S., according to a report from The Information.

Earlier this year, the exchange announced a U.S. expansion after settling with the Department of Justice over accusations that it operated in the country without a money transmitter license.

Among other crypto-linked companies, Bullish, a competitor to OKX and the parent company of CoinDesk, is also said to be considering an IPO given investors’ appetite for companies with exposure to digital assets.

OKX told CoinDesk it had no comment on the matter.

Polymarket Bettors Less Certain About Second U.S. Strike on Iran

Polymarket bettors are cooling to the idea that the U.S will hit Iran a second time before the end of the month.

The ‘yes’ side of a contract asking if the U.S. will conduct another military action on Iran by June 30 is now trading at 54%, from 74% in the hours after the initial strike on Iranian nuclear sites.

There appears to be a growing market belief that deconfliction – on both sides – is on the agenda, as evidenced by another contract asking bettors about the likelihood of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently trading at 49% down from 52%.

Market Movements:

  • BTC: Bitcoin rebounded to $101,419 after a volatile 4.5% intraday swing, finding strong support at $99,000 amid geopolitical tensions and surging institutional buying interest, according to CoinDesk Research’s technical analysis data.
  • ETH: Ethereum fell 2.3% to $2,237 amid U.S.-Iran tensions, breaking a six-week consolidation pattern despite over $500 million in institutional accumulation.
  • Gold: Bank of America analysts predict gold could hit $4,000 an ounce within a year, an 18% jump, driven less by geopolitical tensions and more by mounting U.S. fiscal debt and a global shift by central banks away from the dollar toward gold.
  • Nikkei 225: Asia-Pacific markets fell Monday as the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites fueled oil price spikes and fears of broader Middle East escalation, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 down 0.56%.

Elsewhere in Crypto:

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/asia-morning-briefing-btc-reclaims-100k-as-markets-shrug-off-iran-strike/feed/ 0 43597
Oil markets tense amid U.S. airstrikes on Iran, while Bitcoin price holds steady https://earlybirdsinvest.com/oil-markets-tense-amid-u-s-airstrikes-on-iran-while-bitcoin-price-holds-steady/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/oil-markets-tense-amid-u-s-airstrikes-on-iran-while-bitcoin-price-holds-steady/#respond Sun, 22 Jun 2025 19:32:51 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/oil-markets-tense-amid-u-s-airstrikes-on-iran-while-bitcoin-price-holds-steady/

Global oil markets are on high alert following U.S. airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz, with fears mounting over a potential closure of the critical Strait of Hormuz. The military action, announced by President Donald Trump last night, has intensified geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and raised concerns about a sharp spike in oil prices.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only water access from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and has historically been one of the most strategically important shipping bottlenecks.

Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply flows through the Strait. Any disruption to it could send crude prices soaring to $120–$130 per barrel, threatening global economic stability and stoking inflation, since soaring oil prices translate into higher costs of everyday goods for consumers.

Despite the U.S. joining forces with Israel last night to attack Iran’s nuclear program, the global benchmark Brent crude remains relatively stable for now, trading at around $72 per barrel. The situation remains highly volatile as markets await further clarity on Iran’s response and the status of the Strait.

Since news of the strikes, the price of Bitcoin has shown resilience, currently trading above $102,600 and remaining steady even as traditional markets brace for potential shocks. This stability reinforces the growing perception among investors that Bitcoin is no longer just a speculative asset but is increasingly being recognized as a safe-haven option in times of geopolitical turmoil.

Bitcoin’s fixed supply, decentralized nature, and rising adoption have contributed to its new role as a hedge against inflation and global instability. As oil prices and traditional assets face turbulence, Bitcoin’s calm performance suggests that it is increasingly being viewed as a complementary risk-off alongside gold. This is a trend that will likely strengthen as the global economy becomes increasingly digital and interconnected.

Moreover, since the Bitcoin and crypto markets are open to trade 24/7, they are often the first to be sold off over the weekends as investors flee to safety. Bitcoin’s price barely flinching amid the news of the U.S. airstrikes demonstrates the undeniable maturation of the market.

 

Bitcoin Market Data

At the time of press 2:10 pm UTC on Jun. 22, 2025, Bitcoin is ranked #1 by market cap and the price is down 1.15% over the past 24 hours. Bitcoin has a market capitalization of $2.04 trillion with a 24-hour trading volume of $48.7 billion. Learn more about Bitcoin ›

Crypto Market Summary

At the time of press 2:10 pm UTC on Jun. 22, 2025, the total crypto market is valued at at $3.14 trillion with a 24-hour volume of $116.13 billion. Bitcoin dominance is currently at 65.01%. Learn more about the crypto market ›

 

 

Mentioned in this article
]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/oil-markets-tense-amid-u-s-airstrikes-on-iran-while-bitcoin-price-holds-steady/feed/ 0 43513
Bitcoin Price Prediction: Already Down, Iran Attacks Send BTC Price to $102,760 – Buy the Dip? https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-prediction-already-down-iran-attacks-send-btc-price-to-102760-buy-the-dip/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-prediction-already-down-iran-attacks-send-btc-price-to-102760-buy-the-dip/#respond Sun, 22 Jun 2025 10:53:29 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-prediction-already-down-iran-attacks-send-btc-price-to-102760-buy-the-dip/

Crypto Writer

Arslan Butt

Crypto Writer

Arslan Butt

About Author

Arslan Butt is an experienced webinar speaker, market analyst, and content writer specializing in crypto, forex, and commodities. He provides expert insights, trading strategies, and in-depth analysis…

Last updated: 


Why Trust Cryptonews

Cryptonews has covered the cryptocurrency industry topics since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts have extensive experience in market analysis and blockchain technologies. We strive to maintain high editorial standards, focusing on factual accuracy and balanced reporting across all areas – from cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects to industry events, products, and technological developments. Our ongoing presence in the industry reflects our commitment to delivering relevant information in the evolving world of digital assets. Read more about Cryptonews

Bitcoin (BTC) has dropped sharply as geopolitical tensions rise, down to $102,760 as risk assets sell off. The decline follows a major escalation in the Middle East where US military forces struck Iran’s nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, expanding the Israel-Iran conflict.

This geopolitical shock triggered immediate market reactions with investors moving into traditional safe-haven assets like gold and the US dollar. Bitcoin, seen as a speculative asset during times of high volatility, fell 9% from its monthly high of $111,800 to $101,053.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is at $102,777 with over $47 billion in daily volume.

The risk-off tone intensified after Iranian officials condemned the strikes and threatened retaliation. Iran’s Foreign Minister called for an emergency UN meeting, while Secretary-General António Guterres warned of a situation “getting out of control”. This sent equities and digital assets into a tailspin with BTC leading the way.

Bitcoin Traders Reprice Risk as Bitcoin Falls

The US strikes have deepened global fears of a wider war involving Israel, the US, and Iran. As tensions rose, Israel closed its airspace, Iran threatened key military and nuclear sites in the region and media reports emerged of bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles used in the operation.

While the IAEA confirmed no radiation leaks, the psychological impact was big. Fears of disruption to global trade, energy markets and long-term regional security sent traders running. Bitcoin’s role as a hedge has again been called into question as it’s behaving like a risk asset during times of global stress.

  • Monthly Drop: ~8.93% from $111,800 to $102,438
  • Weekly Loss: Over 2% and still falling
  • Market Cap: $2.04 trillion
  • Circulating Supply: 19.88 million BTC

Former President Donald Trump’s comments saying the strikes were a “big success” only added to the fears of further escalation. With diplomacy stalled and Iran warning of “consequences forever” the crypto market is uncertain.

Unless the political situation stabilizes, Bitcoin will likely continue to underperform as traders reduce risk.

Bitcoin Technical Analysis: Still Cautionary

From a technical perspective, the Bitcoin price prediction remains bearish. The 2-hour chart shows price action stuck in a descending channel with lower highs and lower lows. BTC failed to retest $103,932—the 50-period EMA which is now acting as resistance.

A series of small candles at $102,900 indicates indecision, but no bullish reversal patterns, such as a morning star or three white soldiers, have formed to change the trend. Momentum is weak with the MACD signal lines flatlining below zero and the histogram not recovering.

BTC did briefly touch support at $101,478 before bouncing with a long lower wick, so buyers are defending that level for now.

Bitcoin Trade Idea:

  • Entry: At $102,900 on bearish confirmation (e.g. shooting star or bearish engulfing)
  • Stop-Loss: Above $104,100
  • Target 1: $101,478
  • Target 2: $100,451

Until price breaks above $104,031 and out of the descending channel the short-term is bearish. Any bounce is likely corrective not a reversal.

Conclusion

Bitcoin’s drop to $102,760 is a sign of investors reducing risk in the Middle East chaos. With macro headwinds getting stronger and no technical confirmation of a bottom, traders should be cautious. A true “buy the dip” opportunity may require a ceasefire or a confirmed break above resistance.

Best Wallet ($BEST): Crypto Storage Meets Early Access

Best Wallet is emerging as a leading crypto platform, combining advanced security with seamless access to early-stage tokens. Available on Google Play and the App Store, it supports over 1,000 cryptocurrencies and is the first wallet to integrate Fireblocks’ MPC-CMP security protocol.

One of its standout features is the Upcoming Tokens page, allowing users to purchase presale tokens directly within the app—no wallet connections or external sites required. This secure, no-KYC experience makes Best Wallet ideal for both beginners and seasoned investors.

The $BEST token powers the ecosystem, offering reduced transaction fees, higher staking yields, early project access, and governance rights. Users can also earn through in-app quests and airdrops.

With over $13.45 million raised and the price now at $0.025205, the presale is gaining momentum. Secure your $BEST allocation before the next price jump, and gain early access to a wallet that’s redefining how crypto enthusiasts and investors interact with digital assets.


]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-prediction-already-down-iran-attacks-send-btc-price-to-102760-buy-the-dip/feed/ 0 43453
Bitcoin price risks sub-$100K dive after Trump confirms Iran strikes https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-risks-sub-100k-dive-after-trump-confirms-iran-strikes/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-risks-sub-100k-dive-after-trump-confirms-iran-strikes/#respond Sun, 22 Jun 2025 10:45:50 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-risks-sub-100k-dive-after-trump-confirms-iran-strikes/

Key points:

  • Bitcoin sees a snap reaction to news of direct US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, dipping below $102,000.

  • Traders note that war-based headlines have acted as a BTC price springboard in the past.

  • Price analysis suggests that a local bottom may coincide with order book liquidity at around $97,000.

Bitcoin (BTC) risked new month-to-date lows into the June 22 weekly close as geopolitical threats soured crypto sentiment.

BTC/USD 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Bitcoin can still gain from war headlines — Traders

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD falling under $102,000 as US President Donald Trump confirmed strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran.

Iran, Trump said during a televised address uploaded to Truth Social, “must now make peace” or face additional strikes.

Ahead of what promised to be a volatile open to the Wall Street trading week, Bitcoin traders began considering potential BTC price bottom levels.

“A dump towards $93K-$94K before bottom formation and reversal,” popular trader Cas Abbe suggested, adding that the low $90,000 zone only had a “20%-25% chance” of being reached.

BTC/USD 1-day chart. Source: Cas Abbe/X

Abbe and others referenced events in April, when BTC/USD suffered following the announcement of reciprocal US trade tariffs before beginning a sustained rebound to new all-time highs.

“In 2022, $BTC pumped +42% in 35 days after the Ukraine war began. That was deep in a bear market,” fellow trader Merlijn continued with another historical geopolitical comparison.

“Now it’s 2025. War fears rise again. But Bitcoin’s above $100K. And we’re still in a bull market. What happens if history repeats with more fuel?”

$97,000 BTC price support in play

With hours until the weekly close, however, BTC price strength still lacked conviction, leaving a key level out of reach.

Related: $112K BTC was not ‘bull market peak’: 5 things to know in Bitcoin this week

“I remain long over $93,500, but remember i really want to see the $104,500 hold for the bulls to remain in control,” trader Crypto Tony told X followers about the issue on the day.

BTC/USD 1-week chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

BTC/USD thus remained on course for its lowest weekly close since the start of May.

Previously, Cointelegraph reported on exchange order book liquidity, potentially providing the first major support band at around $97,000.

Data from monitoring resource CoinGlass showed that the area remained significant at the time of writing.

BTC liquidation heatmap. Source: CoinGlass

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-risks-sub-100k-dive-after-trump-confirms-iran-strikes/feed/ 0 43447
Ethereum Weekly Chart Nears Tower Top Formation As US Launches Attack On Iran – Details https://earlybirdsinvest.com/ethereum-weekly-chart-nears-tower-top-formation-as-us-launches-attack-on-iran-details/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/ethereum-weekly-chart-nears-tower-top-formation-as-us-launches-attack-on-iran-details/#respond Sun, 22 Jun 2025 07:14:35 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/ethereum-weekly-chart-nears-tower-top-formation-as-us-launches-attack-on-iran-details/

Reason to trust

Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality

Created by industry experts and meticulously reviewed

The highest standards in reporting and publishing

Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality

Morbi pretium leo et nisl aliquam mollis. Quisque arcu lorem, ultricies quis pellentesque nec, ullamcorper eu odio.

Ethereum has officially broken below the long-standing range it had maintained since early May, losing the critical $2,320 support level. This breakdown was triggered by escalating geopolitical tensions, as news broke that the United States had launched attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. The announcement sent shockwaves through global markets, sparking widespread risk-off behavior and panic selling across crypto. Ethereum, already trading near the bottom of its six-week consolidation range, quickly reacted with a sharp drop, dragging the broader altcoin market with it.

Related Reading

The move marks a critical shift in sentiment, as Ethereum now trades outside the range that had served as a battleground between bulls and bears for over a month. With volatility spiking and confidence shaken, traders are re-evaluating risk in light of escalating conflict in the Middle East and broader macroeconomic headwinds.

According to top analyst Big Cheds, Ethereum’s weekly chart is now flirting with a potential tower top pattern completion — a bearish reversal structure that may signal further downside unless buyers reclaim key levels in the coming days. As the situation evolves, all eyes will remain on ETH’s ability to hold new support levels or risk further decline in a fragile market environment.

Ethereum Slides 22% From June Highs – All Eyes On Weekly Structure

Ethereum has lost over 22% of its value since peaking in early June, as global instability and heightened selling pressure weigh heavily on market sentiment. The asset has now broken below its six-week range, triggering concern among investors and adding to uncertainty across the broader crypto space. With rising tensions in the Middle East—particularly following US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities—the market has entered a risk-off environment, dragging altcoins like Ethereum into deeper retracements.

Despite the volatility, Ethereum remains at the center of investor focus, as many still expect it to lead the next altseason. However, with bulls losing control of key support zones, confidence in a near-term rally continues to waver. Analysts are now split: while some predict a deeper retracement toward the $2,000 region, others argue that Ethereum is nearing exhaustion on the downside and may soon recover.

Big Cheds points to Ethereum’s weekly chart, where the price is currently flirting with a potential tower top pattern—a bearish reversal structure. If this pattern confirms, ETH may face another wave of downside before finding demand at lower supply levels.

Ethereum tower top completion | Source: Big Cheds on X
Ethereum tower top completion | Source: Big Cheds on X

If buyers step in during this pivotal moment, a recovery from this structure could quickly follow. The coming sessions will be critical in determining whether this breakdown extends or turns into a fakeout with bullish continuation. For now, traders should remain cautious, as Ethereum’s next move could define the tone of the altcoin market heading into July.

Related Reading

Ethereum Breaks Down Below Support As Volatility Spikes

Ethereum has officially broken below the $2,320 support level, signaling a shift in short-term market structure as shown in the 4-hour chart. After weeks of ranging between $2,320 and $2,650, ETH failed to reclaim its moving averages and lost bullish momentum. The price is now trading around $2,260, down sharply from its June highs near $2,900. This recent leg down follows a clean breakdown through the 50, 100, and 200-period SMAs, confirming a strong bearish momentum.

ETH loses key support level | Source: ETHUSDT chart on TradingView
ETH loses key support level | Source: ETHUSDT chart on TradingView

Volume spikes accompanied the drop, suggesting panic selling likely triggered by geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East. The price broke down aggressively with little resistance, meaning previous demand zones have now become weak. If buyers fail to step in quickly, Ethereum may revisit earlier May support levels around $2,100 or even $2,000.

Related Reading

From a technical standpoint, the breakdown invalidates the previous consolidation range, opening the door for a possible extended correction. Until ETH reclaims $2,320 and stabilizes above its moving averages, the risk of continued downside remains high. Market participants should watch closely for volume shifts or bullish divergences, but for now, Ethereum remains under pressure as uncertainty continues to dominate the macro environment. The next few sessions will be crucial for price discovery.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/ethereum-weekly-chart-nears-tower-top-formation-as-us-launches-attack-on-iran-details/feed/ 0 43441
Bitcoin Price Depends on Peace in Iran For June Breakout: Trend, Key Levels and More Post-FOMC https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-depends-on-peace-in-iran-for-june-breakout-trend-key-levels-and-more-post-fomc/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-depends-on-peace-in-iran-for-june-breakout-trend-key-levels-and-more-post-fomc/#respond Sun, 22 Jun 2025 02:52:31 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-depends-on-peace-in-iran-for-june-breakout-trend-key-levels-and-more-post-fomc/

Bitcoin price has been ranging near its highs, consolidating before continuing higher. That is the belief many traders including veteran trader Kaleo, who’s tweet is cited below. Between 9-18 of June the total inflow in BTC ETFs is $2.408 billion. Eight consecutive days of positive inflows during which price has dropped from $110,000 down to $104,000. That’s called dissonance! Or someone has sold more during that period?

#Bitcoin / $BTC

It’s easy to forget that last bull market, Bitcoin’s parabolic ascent didn’t begin until AFTER equities fully recovered from the Covid Crash and made new all time highs.

The S&P500 is once again on the verge of breaking out to new all time highs – this time… pic.twitter.com/ngJ4qhtrXZ

— K A L E O (@CryptoKaleo) June 19, 2025

DISCOVER: The 12+ Hottest Crypto Presales to Buy Right Now

Kaleo raises a good point in his analysis. Will BTC move closely to the SPX this time as well? We are to find out soon. In the meantime, let’s do our own analysis.

Crypto Survived The FOMC FUD Cycle: Bitcoin Price Analysis For June 2025

(BTCUSD)

We need to keep it simple and take a look from afar with this 1W timeframe chart. I’ve kept the levels on the chart from the previous article and added a few more. We can clearly see that so far, BTC has been rejected from its 2024 high. We are still above all Moving Averages and have a weekly Fair Value Gap. The RSI level here is also lower than back in 2024.

DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025

(BTCUSD)

On the 1D chart, we will start with Moving Averages. MA50 is still holding, though it looks like it might not be for long. MA100 is about to cross above MA200, which would be a sign of strength. The yellow line is previous resistance, which was broken above in May and is still to be tested as support.

The red line at $92k was support for three months—between Nov 2024 and Feb 2025—so it is another important level to watch.

DISCOVER: Top 20 Crypto to Buy in May 2025

Actionable technical insights for key levels, trend, support and resistance zones. Bitcoin price analysis for June 2025.

(BTCUSD)

Today, we will stay on high timeframes and take a look at some price action info on the 1D timeframe. We have a low at $100,000 that was tested once. That low and 4 wicks fill the FVG 2 zone. Bitcoin’s price could test this zone again and bounce. Or there is the FVG 1 zone, which still has not been tested. Many people might freak out if the price goes that low. We watch and keep a level head!

DISCOVER: 7 High-Risk High-Reward Cryptos for 2025

Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates

  • Key zones to watch are FVG 1 and FVG 2
  • Weekly FVG aligns with FVG 1
  • Price grew 40% in a month – normal to see a retrace

Why you can trust 99Bitcoins

10+ Years

Established in 2013, 99Bitcoin’s team members have been crypto experts since Bitcoin’s Early days.

90hr+

Weekly Research

100k+

Monthly readers

50+

Expert contributors

2000+

Crypto Projects Reviewed

Petar entered the crypto world in 2021. His main interest in crypto is charting and trading which he has studied for 3 years. What drew him in was his love for math, logic and seeing price move on the charts…. Read More

Read Petar Tatarski Articles

Bitcoin Price Depends on Peace in Iran For June Breakout: Trend, Key Levels and More Post-FOMC

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-depends-on-peace-in-iran-for-june-breakout-trend-key-levels-and-more-post-fomc/feed/ 0 43405
$100 Million Nobitex Hack Triggers Trading Hour Limits in Iran https://earlybirdsinvest.com/100-million-nobitex-hack-triggers-trading-hour-limits-in-iran/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/100-million-nobitex-hack-triggers-trading-hour-limits-in-iran/#respond Fri, 20 Jun 2025 06:23:58 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/100-million-nobitex-hack-triggers-trading-hour-limits-in-iran/

After a security incident at Nobitex, Iran’s cryptocurrency exchange, the country’s central bank has set new time limits for all local exchanges.

These platforms can only operate between 10 AM and 8 PM, as stated in Chainalysis’ blog post on June 18.

Nobitex reported that about $100 million worth of various digital assets, including Bitcoin
BTC


$104,280.24

, Ethereum
ETH


$2,511.30

, XRP
XRP


$2.14

, Solana
SOL


$144.67

, and Dogecoin
DOGE


$0.1675

, had been stolen.

What is Staking Crypto? (Rewards & Risks Explained SIMPLY)

Did you know?

Want to get smarter & wealthier with crypto?

Subscribe – We publish new crypto explainer videos every week!

A hacker group called “Gonjeshke Darande”, which supports Israel, said it was behind the attack. The group claimed it gained access to Nobitex’s internal systems and drained its hot wallets.

Chainalysis investigated the case and stated that the stolen funds were transferred into wallets that appear to be temporary and do not have private keys.

In response to the hack, Nobitex shut off all external connections to its systems. The team stated that they had brought the situation under control.

However, users are still unable to log in to the platform. The exchange said it plans to use its Reserve Fund to cover all lost funds. It also warned that internet issues and blocked external servers may slow down the process of reopening the platform to users.

Chainalysis also shared that Nobitex has received more than $11 billion in total crypto deposits, far more than any other exchange in Iran. For comparison, the next ten largest platforms combined have seen under $7.5 billion.

On June 12, Chainalysis reported that the black-market trading network linked to Huione Group is still active, despite claims it had shut down. How? Read the full story.

Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.
With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.
Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.
Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.


]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/100-million-nobitex-hack-triggers-trading-hour-limits-in-iran/feed/ 0 43052