Bitcoin continues to hold firm near the $71,000 level, registering a modest 0.25% gain since midnight UTC and consolidating atop a broader 4% advance recorded over the prior 24-hour trading window.
AI-linked digital assets dominated performance during Asian trading hours, with decentralized machine-learning network Bittensor (TAO) and surging 5.8% and 4.1% respectively. The catalyst behind those moves appears to be remarks from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who asserted that artificial general intelligence (AGI) — broadly defined as AI capable of matching the full cognitive range of human intelligence — has effectively already been realized.
Beyond the AI sector tailwind, broader market sentiment continues to be shaped by ongoing developments in the Middle East, where fresh strikes in Tel Aviv and Lebanon on Tuesday have renewed uncertainty. On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that a 48-hour ultimatum involving the Strait of Hormuz had been placed on hold after "good and productive" diplomatic discussions with Iran — though Iranian officials swiftly characterized those claims as "fake news."
Commodity markets reflect the ongoing tension, with oil holding near $100 per barrel. U.S. equity futures have tilted negative, with both Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 futures each slipping approximately 0.1% from midnight levels.
Against this turbulent backdrop, the cryptocurrency market has demonstrated notable resilience. Bitcoin, in particular, has outpaced gold — traditionally regarded as the premier safe-haven asset — in terms of price performance since the onset of the regional conflict, reinforcing the narrative of digital assets as an emerging store of value under macroeconomic stress.
Here's how Treasuries could shape Trump's Iran war and bitcoin moves
Treasury yields and swap spreads could eventually pressure the Trump administration to moderate the conflict, analysts argue.
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