Cryptocurrencies Decline Sharply as Israel Strikes Iran
Cryptocurrencies declined due to geopolitical tensions following Israeli airstrikes on Iran's nuclear and missile sites, prompting investors to seek safety in traditional assets like gold.
- The CoinDesk 20 Index fell 6.1% within 24 hours, with bitcoin down 2.9%.
- Gold futures increased by 1.3%, reaching $3,445 per ounce.
- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated the strikes aimed to undermine Iran’s military capabilities.
- Iran retaliated with drone launches towards Israel, escalating tensions further.
- Global market indices also dropped: Japan’s Nikkei -0.9%, U.S. index futures -1.2%, Euro Stoxx 50 -1.35%.
- U.S. crude oil prices surged over 6% to $73, with Brent crude spiking up to 14% at times.
- Earlier gains in crypto were erased, particularly for Solana (SOL), which fell nearly 9.5% after ETF speculation.
- Despite optimism about ETF approvals, investor focus has shifted to Middle Eastern developments.
Market Movements
- Bitcoin (BTC) is down 2.42% at $104,889.07.
- Ethereum (ETH) decreased 8.81% to $2,523.28.
- The CoinDesk 20 Index is down 6.04% at 3,007.21.
Key Events to Watch
- June 16: 21Shares will execute a 3-for-1 share split for ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF.
- June 16: Brazil’s B3 exchange to launch USD-settled ether and solana futures contracts.
- June 15-17: G7 Summit taking place in Canada.
- June 17: U.S. Senate votes on the GENIUS Act regarding stablecoins.
Liquidation Overview
- In the past 24 hours, 248,759 traders were liquidated, totaling $1.16 billion.
Technical Analysis
- Ether faces resistance; a daily close above $2,480 is needed for strength indication.
Crypto Equities Performance
- Coinbase Global (COIN) closed at $241.05 (-3.84%).
- MARA Holdings (MARA) ended at $15.82 (-3.24%).
- Riot Platforms (RIOT) finished at $10.21 (-3.22%).