Bitcoin attempting to make a stand as global stock markets melt down on Iran war

Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Bitcoin attempting to make a stand as global stock markets melt down on Iran war Having already plunged in the months leading up to the Middle East conflict, crypto markets so far aren't making new lows this week. By Helene Braun | Edited by Stephen Alpher Mar 3, 2026, 4:04 p.m. Make us preferred on Google Bitcoin makes rally attempt as stocks sell off (CoinDesk) What to know : Crypto markets are showing a small bit of relative strength on Tuesday as equity markets fall sharply in response to the Iran war. Bitcoin is taking aim at $68,000 after having fallen to nearly $66,000 earlier in the day. Having run up to historic highs ahead of the Middle East conflict, precious metals are plunging along with the stock market. Yesterday's modest rally in stocks in response to a new Middle East war breaking out over the weekend — for the moment — appears to have been a headfake. In mid-morning U.S. hours, the Nasdaq is at session lows, down 2.5%. The S&P 500 is lower by 2.3%. European markets are being hit even harder, led by a 5.2% plunge in Italy's IBEX 35 and a 4.1% fall in Germany's DAX. Having run up to historic highs in the weeks leading up to the war, precious metals are tumbling as well. Gold is lower by 4.3%, silver by 7.5% and platinum by 11.3%. WTI crude oil continues to surge, up another 8% to $77 per barrel. Having declined relentlessly for about the last five months, crypto markets are, however, showing a tiny bit of relative strength. Trading at $67,700, bitcoin is down 1.5% over the past 24 hours, but higher by about 2% from its worst levels of the day. Also down over the past day, but nicely higher from the session's worst levels are ether (ETH), solana (SOL) and XRP (XRP). There's no such bounce in crypto-related stocks, which remain under heavy selling pressure on Tuesday. Shares of trading platform Robinhood (HOOD) dropped 7%, while Coinbase (COIN) fell 5%. Strategy (MSTR) and crypto platform Bullish (BLSH) each declined 4%. Stablecoin issuer Circle (CRCL) held up better but still slipped about 1%. "Historically, bitcoin, as the only liquid asset that also trades on weekends, has absorbed shocks during periods of forced risk reduction," said James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares. "This time, the price development was constructive, bitcoin gained despite the increasing instability ... This divergence is significant. The absence of significant liquidations despite rising yields and geopolitical tensions suggests that positioning is adjusted compared to previous episodes." Bitcoin News Breaking News More For You Pudgy Penguins: Challenging the Pokemon and Disney Legacy in the Global IP Race By CoinDesk Research Feb 27, 2026 Commissioned by Pudgy Penguins CoinDesk Research looks into how Pudgy Penguins disrupts traditional toys market via a phygital model. With 2M+ units sold, they scale via global partnerships and events. What to know : Disrupting a Stagnant Market : Pudgy Penguins is utilizing a "Negative CAC" model to challenge the traditional $31.7B licensed toy industry by treating physical merchandise as a profitable user acquisition tool rather than just a final product. View Full Report More For You End of bitcoin 'HODL': public miners going all-in on AI, signaling more BTC selling By James Van Straten | Edited by Stephen Alpher 23 minutes ago Public bitcoin miner balance sheets are shifting as capital rotates from bitcoin treasuries to AI infrastructure. What to know : Sales from Core Scientific, Bitdeer, Riot Platforms, and Bitfarms account for the majority of the 15,096 BTC reduction from peak holdings, signaling active treasury monetization. With bitcoin nearly 50% below all-time highs and capital shifting to AI buildouts, further BTC selling from balance sheet sales remains a likely scenario across the sector. 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