Bitcoin Drops as Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Markets
Bitcoin declined on Thursday, mirroring broader losses across cryptocurrencies and other risk-sensitive assets. The move followed comments from U.S. President Donald Trump signaling a potential escalation in military actions against Iran in the coming weeks.
Despite the drop, Bitcoin continues to trade within the range that has defined most of the year, after a relatively positive start to April.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency fell 2.9% to $66,465.7 in early trading.
Trump Signals Intensified Military Action
Trump stated that the United States would significantly increase its military operations against Iran over the next two to three weeks, claiming that key objectives were close to being achieved.
He emphasized that the U.S. would act “extremely hard,” particularly targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Trump also warned that Iran’s energy infrastructure could be targeted if no agreement is reached.
These remarks reduced expectations for a near-term de-escalation, especially after earlier signals suggested a possible military pullback.
Risk Assets Slide Across Global Markets
Following Trump’s statements, global risk sentiment deteriorated. Asian equities and U.S. stock futures both posted notable losses, reflecting growing concerns over prolonged geopolitical instability.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies reacted similarly, as investors moved away from higher-risk assets.
Bitcoin ETFs See First Inflows Since October
In contrast to the price decline, Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded their first monthly inflows since October, according to SoSoValue data.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted approximately $1.2 billion in net inflows during March, ending a four-month streak of outflows. This came despite Bitcoin having dropped as much as 50% from its October peak.
While Bitcoin showed relative resilience compared to other speculative assets in March, it remains down roughly 24% so far in 2026 and has largely traded around the $60,000 level throughout the year.
Altcoins Under Pressure as Risk Appetite Fades
The broader cryptocurrency market also moved lower. Ethereum declined 4.7% to $2,049.22, while XRP dropped 3.6% to $1.3139.
Other major altcoins, including Solana, Cardano, and BNB, fell between 4% and 7%. Among meme coins, Dogecoin lost 4.6%, while the TRUMP token declined 5.6%.
