The Financial Times reports Iran is considering accepting cryptocurrency and other digital payment methods as transit fees from fully loaded oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The move could shift how energy transit payments are processed and raise regulatory concerns.
Cryptocurrency markets climbed 2.5% Monday after President Trump hinted at a possible diplomatic resolution with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, while U.S. stock futures slipped.
Iran has introduced an approximate $1 per barrel toll for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and is asking for payment in Chinese yuan or stablecoins. The move could nudge energy payments away from the dollar and raise fresh compliance questions for shippers and insurers.
Bitcoin and Ethereum jumped to multi-day highs and equities rallied after Iran’s president signaled he was seeking to end the conflict. Markets treated the comments as a reduction in geopolitical risk, boosting risk-on assets.
Washington said it has no plans to invade Iran in the near term, but the reassurance failed to stop a sharp crypto market sell-off that pushed prices to new lows despite reports of ongoing peace talks.
DJT jumped 6% Monday after former President Donald Trump described talks with Iran as “productive,” lifting U.S. markets and wiping out last week’s losses. The move underscores how political headlines can quickly drive sentiment in risk assets.
Cryptocurrencies slid sharply after reports of an attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field wiped out earlier gains, adding new geopolitical risk to already jittery markets. The incident follows Tehran’s recent threats to escalate tensions with the U.S. and Israel and further unsettled traders.
Urea futures jumped 34% after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions choked commodity shipments, rattling agricultural supply chains. Traders are watching Bitcoin as investors reassess risk and potential flows into alternative assets.
Cryptocurrency markets are trading sharply lower as the U.S.-Iran conflict enters its third week, with Bitcoin and major altcoins under renewed selling pressure after Iran vowed to escalate following a U.S. strike on Kharg Island.
On March 3, 2026, U.S. federal authorities moved a small amount of Bitcoin from a government-controlled wallet, the first blockchain-recorded Bitcoin transaction by the U.S. this year. The transfer was logged on-chain amid heightened tensions around Iran.