US Central Command began striking multiple targets inside Iran at approximately 5:15 p.m. ET on June 10, following direct orders from President Donald Trump. The military action was triggered by Iran’s downing of a US Army Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz, effectively ending what had been a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Bitcoin responded the way it usually does when missiles start flying. It went down. The largest cryptocurrency fell roughly 2% to trade around $61,000 in the immediate aftermath.
What happened and why it matters
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the strikes as “strong” and “clear,” while Trump warned Tehran to expect severe consequences for what he characterized as stalled negotiations.
Roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz on any given day, which is why oil prices surged almost immediately after the strikes began. Equity markets responded with predictable caution, with stock futures pulling back as traders recalibrated risk exposure.
