Bitcoin slips after Trump warns Iran’s civilization could be destroyed

Bitcoin’s price dropped back below $68,000 on Tuesday as geopolitical uncertainty surged after US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran of potential destruction, saying “a whole civilization will die tonight.”

“I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in the early morning. He added that with a “complete and total regime change” in place, there was potential for positive developments, and called the moment one of the most important in Iran’s recent history.

“47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end,” he said.

Markets, which had been cautiously digesting weeks of US–Iran military escalation under the campaign branded “Operation Epic Fury,” interpreted President Trump’s statement as a sign that things might get considerably worse. The announcement sent crude oil sharply higher, with US crude above $114, and Bitcoin sold off hard as risk assets came under pressure.

In the last 24 hours, Ether slipped 3.5% to hover around $2,000. BNB declined 2%, and XRP and Solana were down approximately 4% each. The total crypto market capitalization declined 2% to $2.4 trillion.

On institutional demand, there is a sign of renewed accumulation following weeks of mixed sentiment. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded their largest single-day inflow on Monday as investors poured $471 million.

Analysts suggest these flows reflect forward-looking positioning, as investors anticipate possible shifts in global monetary policy.

Still, the market faces headwinds. Rising oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and persistent inflation concerns reduce expectations of imminent rate cuts. Market structure also appears fragile, with limited organic demand and increased downside risk below key price levels.

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