Bitcoin Surges, Oil Slides as Trump Says Iran Has Announced Strait of Hormuz Reopening

Friday, 17/04/2026 | 19:34 GMT by Jared Kirui
  • Total crypto market cap rose about 3% over the past 24 hours to around 2.61 trillion dollars.
  • WTI crude was quoted down about 12% on the day at around 83 dollars.
Bitcoin token on a blue background

A sudden shift in Middle East tensions sent shockwaves through global markets, pushing Bitcoin to its highest level in over two months as traders reacted to signs of a possible breakthrough between the United States and Iran.

Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)

Total crypto market capitalization rose to about 2.61 trillion dollars, up 3.16% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin gained roughly 3% on the day and 6% over the week, while Ethereum added about 4% daily and 8% weekly, reinforcing the risk‑on shift in majors.

XRP advanced around 3% in 24 hours and 9% over seven days, and Solana posted a more moderate 0.86% daily rise and 5% weekly gain, showing the rally was broad but still led by the largest assets.

Geopolitical Shift Drives Market Reaction

US President Donald Trump said Iran had agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route that had remained disrupted for weeks. Iranian officials later confirmed the move. Trump added that both sides would cooperate to remove naval mines from the area, signaling a step toward stabilizing regional trade flows.

Trump's post on TruthSocial

He also outlined broader progress in negotiations. According to Trump, the US and Iran will work together to retrieve Iran’s enriched uranium, which will be transferred to the United States. He said a broader peace agreement involving Iran, the US, and Israel is “mostly complete,” with additional talks expected soon.

Trump further claimed that Iran had agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely and would not regain access to frozen US-held funds.

Volatility Returns Across Assets

The geopolitical update did not only impact crypto. It introduced volatility across global financial markets, as traders recalibrated risk following weeks of uncertainty tied to the Middle East conflict.

Keep reading: How High Can Bitcoin Go? eToro CEO Yoni Assia Bitcoin Price Prediction Targets $250K

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz carries implications beyond digital assets. It signals potential stability in energy supply routes, which often influences inflation expectations and broader risk appetite.

Oil prices have equally reacted to the new development. The current benchmarks show WTI crude trading at 83.23 dollars, down about 12.1% on the day, while Brent is at 90.89 dollars, lower by roughly 8.6% in the same period.

On OilPrice.com’s real‑time feed, front‑month WTI is quoted at 93.53 dollars, up 2.45% on the session, and Brent at 98.18 dollars, up 3.42%, highlighting intraday volatility around the Hormuz headlines depending on which tick you anchor to.

A sudden shift in Middle East tensions sent shockwaves through global markets, pushing Bitcoin to its highest level in over two months as traders reacted to signs of a possible breakthrough between the United States and Iran.

Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)

Total crypto market capitalization rose to about 2.61 trillion dollars, up 3.16% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin gained roughly 3% on the day and 6% over the week, while Ethereum added about 4% daily and 8% weekly, reinforcing the risk‑on shift in majors.

XRP advanced around 3% in 24 hours and 9% over seven days, and Solana posted a more moderate 0.86% daily rise and 5% weekly gain, showing the rally was broad but still led by the largest assets.

Geopolitical Shift Drives Market Reaction

US President Donald Trump said Iran had agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route that had remained disrupted for weeks. Iranian officials later confirmed the move. Trump added that both sides would cooperate to remove naval mines from the area, signaling a step toward stabilizing regional trade flows.

Trump's post on TruthSocial

He also outlined broader progress in negotiations. According to Trump, the US and Iran will work together to retrieve Iran’s enriched uranium, which will be transferred to the United States. He said a broader peace agreement involving Iran, the US, and Israel is “mostly complete,” with additional talks expected soon.

Trump further claimed that Iran had agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely and would not regain access to frozen US-held funds.

Volatility Returns Across Assets

The geopolitical update did not only impact crypto. It introduced volatility across global financial markets, as traders recalibrated risk following weeks of uncertainty tied to the Middle East conflict.

Keep reading: How High Can Bitcoin Go? eToro CEO Yoni Assia Bitcoin Price Prediction Targets $250K

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz carries implications beyond digital assets. It signals potential stability in energy supply routes, which often influences inflation expectations and broader risk appetite.

Oil prices have equally reacted to the new development. The current benchmarks show WTI crude trading at 83.23 dollars, down about 12.1% on the day, while Brent is at 90.89 dollars, lower by roughly 8.6% in the same period.

On OilPrice.com’s real‑time feed, front‑month WTI is quoted at 93.53 dollars, up 2.45% on the session, and Brent at 98.18 dollars, up 3.42%, highlighting intraday volatility around the Hormuz headlines depending on which tick you anchor to.

About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared Kirui
  • 2749 Articles
  • 53 Followers
About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared Kirui is an Editor at Finance Magnates with more than five years of experience in financial journalism. He covers online trading, fintech, payments, and crypto industries with a focus on companies, regulation and compliance, executive moves, trading technology, and market analysis. His work has been featured in other media outlets, including Benzinga, ZyCrypto, The Distributed, and The Daily Hodl. Education: Bachelor of Commerce degree (Finance option), University of Nairobi
  • 2749 Articles
  • 53 Followers

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