Trump’s Iran Airstrike Sends Bitcoin Below $101K

Bitcoin Dips Below $101K After Trump Confirms U.S. Airstrikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites

Bitcoin briefly dropped below $101,000 on Saturday evening after former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American military forces had launched coordinated airstrikes on multiple Iranian nuclear facilities.

At approximately 7:50 p.m. ET, Trump posted on Truth Social that the United States had “completed a very successful attack” on three key sites in Iran—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan—marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing tensions between Iran, Israel, and Western allies.

“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home,” Trump wrote.
“There is not another military in the world that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”

The post triggered immediate market volatility. Within minutes, Bitcoin (BTC) fell to $100,945, according to data from CoinMarketCap and TradingView, as investors reacted to fears of a broader geopolitical conflict. By 8:00 p.m., BTC had recovered slightly to trade around $102,350.

Over $40 Billion Erased from Crypto Market in Three Hours

Between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET, over $40 billion was wiped from the global cryptocurrency market cap, led by sharp selloffs in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins.

The move came amid rising investor uncertainty and a rush toward traditional safe havens like gold and oil. Gold surged 1.9%, nearing $2,400 an ounce, while Brent crude oil jumped above $94 per barrel.

“Bitcoin remains vulnerable during global instability. While it has some safe-haven attributes, it’s not yet fully trusted as a store of value in wartime scenarios,” said Katie Stockton, managing partner at Fairlead Strategies, in a note to clients.

Strike Details and Market Fallout

The airstrikes follow recent speculation that the U.S. and Israel were preparing military action in response to growing Iranian aggression and nuclear enrichment activity. Defense analysts believe the strikes were enabled by earlier Israeli raids that took out critical radar systems in Iran, providing clear airspace for U.S. stealth bombers and drones.

Though Trump had previously stated that a final decision could take “up to two weeks,” his Saturday post revealed that plans had already been executed, catching markets off guard.

According to Coinglass, more than $580 million in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated in the hours following the announcement, with Bitcoin and Ethereum bearing the brunt of the damage.

“The crypto markets were already nervous due to macroeconomic pressures. Geopolitical events like this only add fuel to the volatility,” said Noelle Acheson, crypto analyst and author of the Crypto Is Macro Now newsletter.

Trump to Address the Nation

Trump is expected to deliver a televised address at 10:00 p.m. ET, where he will outline the objectives and results of the airstrikes. Political analysts suggest the former president is positioning himself as a strong military leader ahead of the 2026 election cycle, amid growing instability in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Iran has not officially responded to the attack. However, Iranian state-affiliated media confirmed “multiple explosions” near the Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities, sparking fears of possible retaliation.

Crypto Market Outlook

With tensions rising and no immediate resolution in sight, analysts expect continued volatility across digital assets.

“Unless there’s de-escalation, Bitcoin could see further downside pressure,” said Mark Connors, head of research at 3iQ.
“Investors should tread carefully and avoid excessive leverage.”

Despite its reputation among some as “digital gold,” Bitcoin has often failed to hold up during extreme geopolitical shocks, instead behaving more like a risk asset. However, some traders see longer-term opportunities, especially if sanctions, capital controls, or restrictions on banking systems emerge in the aftermath of the conflict.