[Summary] Israel and the U.S. launch a sudden airstrike on Iran... Cryptocurrency market evaporates 140 billion within 15 minutes
After reports of the U.S. military and Israeli forces attacking the Iranian presidential palace and intelligence agencies, the global cryptocurrency market plummeted into chaos. As the Middle East military conflict escalates into a full-scale war, risk asset investment sentiment has sharply cooled.
Crypto Market “Bloody Saturday”… Bitcoin Falls Below $64,000
Within just 15 minutes of the news of the Middle East airstrikes, over $100 million (approximately 1.4 trillion Korean won) in long positions were forcibly liquidated.
Bitcoin (BTC): Dropped about 3% after the news, falling below the $64,000 mark.
Ethereum (ETH): Suffered a heavier hit than Bitcoin, falling over 5% and dropping below $1,900.
Overall Market: Approximately 6% wiped out in market value, with most assets showing red (decline) on market data platforms like “Crypto Bubble.”
Tragedies and Mixed Emotions for High-Leverage Investors
On-chain analysis platform Lookonchain reported on the severe investment cases caused by this volatility.
Liquidation case: Four days ago, well-known trader “Machi,” who deposited about $245,000, was liquidated due to leveraged position liquidation, with his account balance plummeting to just $13,580.
Success story: On the other hand, on prediction market Polymarket, since February 8, there has been a prediction that the U.S. and Israel would strike Iran’s “Vivaldi007,” reportedly earning about $385,000 from this event.
Proof of “Risk Assets” Rather Than “Digital Gold”
This crash again confirms that in geopolitical crises, cryptocurrencies are classified as “risk assets” rather than “safe assets.”
Past example: In June 2025, when the U.S. military attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, Bitcoin also dropped 7%, giving up the $100,000 level.
Current trend: Investors are selling off cryptocurrencies and shifting funds into traditional safe assets like gold and the US dollar.
Future Outlook: The Strait of Hormuz Blockade Is Key
Market experts are closely watching Iran’s response. Warnings suggest that if the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for 20% of global oil transportation, is blocked, energy prices could surge, and inflation fears could intensify, potentially causing crypto values to drop another 10-20% in the short term.
Currently, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are restraining from further updates on actions, while global financial markets remain highly tense, closely monitoring whether Iran will launch retaliatory attacks.
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