Bitcoin Slumps as Middle East Tensions Rattle Global Markets
Bitcoin is on track for a fifth consecutive weekly drop as escalating tensions in the Middle East push investors toward safe-haven assets and strengthen the U.S. dollar. The risk-off mood has kept crypto demand subdued even as U.S. stock futures tick higher into corporate earnings season; traders are watching Walmart’s report for signals about consumer resilience.
The Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes, due this week, add another layer of uncertainty that could steer flows between equities, bonds and crypto. For market participants, a firmer dollar and heightened geopolitical risk suggest continued near-term volatility for BTC, with sentiment likely to swing quickly depending on geopolitical developments and the tone of Fed commentary. Investors should expect choppy trading and monitor macro cues before repositioning in crypto markets.