Bitcoin jumps toward $69K as oil plunges 30% amid US–Iran tensions

Bitcoins

Bitcoin surged nearly 5% on Monday, climbing toward $69,000 as investors assessed the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, which triggered sharp volatility across global markets.

Oil markets saw the most dramatic moves. Crude futures briefly surged as high as $119.48 shortly after midnight, marking their highest level since July 2022 and reflecting fears of supply disruptions tied to Middle East tensions.

However, prices quickly reversed. By Monday afternoon oil had plunged as much as 31% from its overnight peak, dropping to around $81 before rebounding near $88 at press time, highlighting the extreme volatility in energy markets since the outbreak of the conflict.

The sharp swings came as investors weighed the potential duration of the confrontation. Donald Trump signaled the US military campaign against Iran could be nearing completion, suggesting the operation was progressing faster than expected.

“I think the war is very complete, pretty much,” Trump told CBS News in a phone interview Monday, adding the military operation was “very far ahead” of its initial four to five week timeframe.

Traditional markets initially reacted cautiously. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both fell about 0.5% earlier in the day, reflecting uncertainty around geopolitical risks and energy prices.

Equities later reversed course after Trump’s comments. By Monday afternoon, the S&P 500 was up about 0.8% on the day while the Nasdaq gained roughly 1.24%.

Crypto markets strengthened throughout the session. Bitcoin traded between $65,000 and $67,000 from Sunday into Monday morning, before climbing toward $69,000 following Trump’s remarks, showing resilience despite broader market turbulence.

Other major digital assets also advanced. Ether held above $2,000, Solana traded around $85, and XRP hovered near $1.37, as the broader crypto market moved higher alongside Bitcoin.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Estefano Gomez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Estefano Gomez Read More

Latest

Green steel startup Boston Metal is doubling down on critical metals

The startup Boston Metal has raised a $75 million funding round to produce critical metals, MIT Technology Review can exclusively report.   The company has been known largely for its efforts to clean up steel production, an industry that's responsible for about 8% of global greenhouse emissions today. With the additional money, the new focus could

Embracer Follows Ubisoft In Splitting Off New Publisher To Handle Huge IP, Tomb Raider & LOTR Included

Say hello to Fellowship Entertainment by Ben Kerry 11 hours ago Embracer Group has today announced plans to create a secondary publishing label called Fellowship Entertainment, in order to "capture the full potential of the high-quality assets" that the group currently owns. The Swedish game publisher says that it hopes to spin off Fellowship Entertainment

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Daughter Apple Martin in Nancy Meyers Movie

Gwyneth Paltrow's Daughter Apple Martin Makes Directorial Debut With Student Show Apple Martin doesn’t fall far from the tree. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin ’s daughter will be following in her mom’s acting footsteps and making her movie debut in Nancy Meyers’ upcoming film, Deadline and Entertainment Weekly reported on May 18. The 22-year-old—who graduated

Newsletter

Don't miss

Green steel startup Boston Metal is doubling down on critical metals

The startup Boston Metal has raised a $75 million funding round to produce critical metals, MIT Technology Review can exclusively report.   The company has been known largely for its efforts to clean up steel production, an industry that's responsible for about 8% of global greenhouse emissions today. With the additional money, the new focus could

Embracer Follows Ubisoft In Splitting Off New Publisher To Handle Huge IP, Tomb Raider & LOTR Included

Say hello to Fellowship Entertainment by Ben Kerry 11 hours ago Embracer Group has today announced plans to create a secondary publishing label called Fellowship Entertainment, in order to "capture the full potential of the high-quality assets" that the group currently owns. The Swedish game publisher says that it hopes to spin off Fellowship Entertainment

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Daughter Apple Martin in Nancy Meyers Movie

Gwyneth Paltrow's Daughter Apple Martin Makes Directorial Debut With Student Show Apple Martin doesn’t fall far from the tree. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin ’s daughter will be following in her mom’s acting footsteps and making her movie debut in Nancy Meyers’ upcoming film, Deadline and Entertainment Weekly reported on May 18. The 22-year-old—who graduated

Lil Wayne speaks out after feeling overlooked by Coachella and the Grammys

Music Lil Wayne reacts to Coachell and Grammys snub Award-winning...

Tesla’s Business Has Become Much More Diversified in Just the Past Five Years. Does That Make Its Stock a Better Buy Today?

Key Points Tesla's energy generation and storage segment generated 27% revenue growth last year. The company's non-automotive segments were able to help offset a double-digit decline in auto revenue in 2025. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is known for its electric vehicles (EVs), and while they

WD sees sustainability as key business driver in an ‘AI economy’

Hard drive company WD promoted long-term operations and sustainability executive Jackie Jung to become its first chief sustainability officer in February, as it steps up sales to companies building AI data centers. Her vision: Turn sustainability into a “brand” for WD, a strategy that reduces risk for the $6 billion company (formerly known as Western

5 Business Ideas Worth Starting in 2026

If there is one thing Nigerians understand well, it is how to spot opportunity inside hardship. In 2026, that mindset will matter more than ever. The economy is tough, competition is rising, and many people are looking for smarter ways to earn, build, and survive. But even in a difficult environment, some businesses still stand