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Bitcoin fell below $68,000, dropping nearly 4% in 24 hours as rising Iran tensions and a massive $14 billion options expiry pressured markets. The move triggered broad crypto selling, with major altcoins declining 4%–5% while traders shifted toward risk-off positioning amid growing macro uncertainty.
Bitcoin Falls Below $68K as Iran Tensions Increase
Bitcoin price fell under the key $70,000 level before sliding below $68,000 as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East intensified. Reports of potential escalation involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran weakened investor sentiment, pushing traders to reduce risk exposure.
As a result, Bitcoin is behaving more like a risk asset, reacting quickly to global uncertainty and oil price volatility.
The market briefly saw relief when ceasefire rumors surfaced, pushing Bitcoin back above $70,000. However, the rally faded quickly, confirming weak buying momentum. The rejection also highlighted how sensitive crypto markets have become to geopolitical headlines.
$14 Billion Bitcoin Options Expiry Adds Volatility
Bitcoin is also facing one of the largest options expiries of 2026, with roughly $14 billion in contracts set to expire. This represents nearly 40% of total open interest on Deribit, making it a major short-term catalyst for volatility.
The max pain level is currently around $75,000, meaning price movements could remain choppy as traders hedge positions. Large expiries often create mechanical price action, pulling Bitcoin toward specific levels and increasing short-term uncertainty.
Market sentiment has weakened alongside the expiry. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has dropped to “extreme fear,” with a score of 13, showing rising caution among traders.
Crypto Market Drops as Liquidations Cross $240M
Bitcoin hasn’t been doing so well, even before today. In the last 7 days, the price has fallen by around 6%. The recent volatility has also been triggered by more than $240 million in liquidations, which happened during the week.
In fact, the whole crypto market declined. Ethereum, XRP, Solana, BNB, and several others have experienced 4% to 5% declines in the last 24 hours.
Interestingly, whales have accumulated about 61,000 BTC lately, and Bitcoin ETFs still pulled in $2.5 billion over the past month.
Related: $17B in Crypto Options Set to Expire Friday as Bitcoin Faces Volatility Test