A single statement from Donald Trump was enough to shake up the crypto market. Last night, on Truth Social, the former American president dropped a bombshell: ‘We know exactly where the ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but we will not kill him… for now.’ This explosive declaration comes amidst an escalation between Israel and Iran, following Israeli strikes on Iranian installations and Tehran’s retaliations. And when the Middle East ignites, markets do not like it. Especially not the crypto markets, which are incredibly sensitive to the global geopolitical climate.
Trump meddles with Iran-Israel conflict: Bitcoin falls
The reaction was swift:
- Bitcoin (BTC) dropped from $104,310 to $103,553 before stabilizing at $104,000 later in the day.
- Ethereum (ETH) lost 1.3%, falling below $2,470.
- XRP followed a similar trajectory, sliding from $2.14 to $2.12.
Investors clearly felt the shift in wind. The Crypto Fear & Greed index, a key gauge of market sentiment, plummeted by 16 points in just a few hours, falling into the ‘neutral’ zone for the first time in 11 days.
BTC, ETH, XRP: everyone plunges
This is not the first time that a Trump pressure tactic has rocked the crypto world. Since his reelection in November 2024, he has become a direct player in the volatility of digital markets. His return to power propelled Bitcoin above $100,000 for the first time in history on December 5th.
But the celebration is fragile: just days after taking office, an announcement of import taxes on China, Mexico, and Canada was enough to push Bitcoin back below the 100K mark. Since then, every strong statement from Trump is scrutinized as a market signal.
