President Trump warned that the US is prepared to launch “large-scale strikes” against Iran if attacks on Israel continue, ratcheting up a military standoff that has already sent shockwaves through cryptocurrency markets this year.
The threat is not hypothetical posturing. It follows actual military operations that began on February 28, 2026, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian nuclear and missile sites, setting off a cycle of retaliation that has yet to fully subside.
The conflict timeline and its crypto fallout
Bitcoin’s reaction was swift and painful. The price fell below $77,000 as traders rushed to de-risk, with liquidations reaching $350 million in a single wave.
The pattern since February has been remarkably consistent. Military escalation triggers selloffs. Diplomatic progress triggers rebounds. Traders who’ve been paying attention have essentially been trading the news cycle as much as any on-chain metric.
