Crypto Markets Slip as Trump Signals Strikes on Iran

Crypto markets edged lower as traders reacted to comments and actions by President Donald Trump about Iran and the movement of U.S. military equipment to the region. Markets were positioned for a risk-off open ahead of a Situation Room meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

On Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social an image referencing nuclear escalation and wrote “Clock is Ticking,” adding that “there won’t be anything left of them” if a deal is not reached. Verified flight trackers showed a U.S. Air Force airlift moving weapons and equipment to bases across the region. The White House listed a Situation Room session for Tuesday to review military options, with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expected to attend.

Bitcoin traded near $78,312 on Sunday, about 4% lower over the past week. Ether sat near $2,188 after a roughly 7.5% weekly decline. Traders flagged the market as headline-driven and said positions could be trimmed at the start of the trading week if risk appetite fell.

Analysts highlighted oil-route risk centered on the Strait of Hormuz. Modeling used by some analysts estimates that a sustained closure or significant disruption of the strait could push crude oil to between $105 and $165 per barrel, depending on the duration of the disruption. Those analysts said higher oil prices would likely feed into U.S. inflation measures, put upward pressure on Treasury yields and could delay expectations for Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts.

Analysts also noted that past episodes of rising inflation and higher yields have weighed on risk assets, including bitcoin. Market participants said a large crypto sell-off would probably require sustained moves higher in Treasury yields rather than only short-term geopolitical headlines.

Markets will watch Tuesday’s meeting and any follow-up posts for signs of escalation or de-escalation. Former Congresswoman Marjorie Tailor warned, “If you send in U.S. military troops into Iran, there is going to be a political revolution in America.” Officials described the Situation Room session as a review of military options and did not provide details of specific operations.