Bitcoin, ether little changed as U.S. launches fresh Iran strikes
CoinDesk 2026-07-12 06:18:15
Context: The United States launched a third round of airstrikes on Iran this week, targeting the country's ability to attack commercial vessels, in response to Iranian forces hitting a Cyprus-flagged container ship. Tehran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed "until further notice," a critical waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil moves. Despite this escalation, Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies showed little price movement.
Key Facts
- The U.S. launched its third round of strikes on Iran this week, with President Trump ordering the strikes, which targeted Iran's ability to attack commercial vessels, after Iranian forces hit a Cyprus-flagged container ship.
- Bitcoin traded around $63,800 on Saturday, down 0.3% over 24 hours and up 2% on the week, with only slight daily moves despite the new U.S. airstrikes on Iran and Tehran's declaration that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz.
- Ether was similarly quiet at about $1,800, up 2% on the week, while other major cryptocurrencies, including XRP and dogecoin, also saw only fractional price changes.
- Iranian state media reported explosions along the country's southern coast, including the energy hubs of Bushehr and Asalouyeh and the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Bandar-e Dayyer.
- Vessel-tracking data showed some traffic around the Strait of Hormuz in Asian morning hours Sunday, though movement through the chokepoint remained well below normal.