Global Unrest Rattles Crypto: Bitcoin and Ethereum Prices Slide Amid Geopolitical Concerns
Jun 18, 2025
2 min read
Heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly surrounding the Iran-Israel conflict and a recent evacuation warning from former President Trump, have sent ripples through the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two largest digital assets, experienced notable price declines, impacting broader altcoin performance as investors reacted to the escalating global uncertainty.
Crypto Market Reacts to Geopolitical Unrest
The cryptocurrency market experienced a significant pullback following escalating tensions in the Middle East. Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) led the decline, with most major altcoins also seeing red. This downturn reflects a broader market sensitivity to global instability, as investors tend to move away from riskier assets during times of uncertainty.
Cryptocurrency | Approximate Price | Daily Change |
|---|---|---|
Bitcoin (BTC) | $105,869 | -0.9% |
Ethereum (ETH) | $2,551 | -2.3% |
Other cryptocurrencies like Solana (SOL), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Shiba Inu (SHIB) also recorded declines, ranging from 2.9% to 3.6%. XRP, however, showed slight resilience, attempting to stabilize near critical support levels.
Key Takeaways
Geopolitical tensions, specifically the Iran-Israel conflict and related warnings, triggered a broad cryptocurrency market downturn.
Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced price drops, though institutional interest via spot ETFs remained steady.
Technical indicators for BTC and ETH suggest a bearish bias, with prices testing crucial support levels.
The market saw substantial liquidations, totaling over $354 million across 104,900 traders in a 24-hour period, highlighting increased volatility.
Institutional Interest and Technical Outlook
Despite the price corrections, institutional interest in spot Bitcoin and Ethereum Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) remained robust. Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $412 million in daily net inflows, with BlackRock's IBIT leading the charge. Ethereum spot ETFs also saw net inflows of $21 million, indicating continued institutional confidence in the long-term prospects of these assets.
From a technical perspective, Bitcoin's price action remained muted below the $107,000 resistance level. Indicators like the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) and Relative Strength Index (RSI) for both BTC and ETH showed a bearish bias, signaling potential for further downside if key support levels are breached. Bitcoin is testing its 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) around $103,000, while Ethereum is holding above its 200-day EMA at $2,476.
Looking Ahead
Market participants are closely monitoring global developments and upcoming macroeconomic events, such as the Federal Reserve meeting. While expectations lean towards steady interest rates, any remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell could influence market sentiment and the direction of cryptocurrency prices. Traders are also watching for signs of trend continuation, with some analysts suggesting that the most profitable phase of the current Bitcoin cycle may still be ahead, provided key technical patterns hold.
Sources
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Drop As Geopolitical Tensions Escalate - Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC)Common units of fractional undivided beneficial interest (ARCA:BTC), Benzinga.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple – BTC, ETH, and XRP stabilize near critical support levels, FXStreet.
Bitcoin, Ethereum Fall as Israel-Iran Conflict Keeps Cryptos on Edge. XRP Rises., Barron's.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP broadly stall as Middle East tensions keep markets on edge, FXStreet.