Bitcoin held just above $67,000 on Saturday afternoon, April 4, 2026, as President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding the country reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face what he called overwhelming U.S. military consequences. The digital asset briefly fell below $68,000 following the news but quickly recovered, showing relative resilience amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
Operation Epic Fury Intensifies
Trump posted the ultimatum on Truth Social on April 4, setting a deadline for Iran to reach a deal or fully clear the strait without threats. “All hell will reign down,” Trump wrote, in language matching prior warnings that the administration said Iran had ignored. The order comes six weeks into Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli military campaign launched Feb. 28, 2026. U.S. forces claim to have struck more than 9,000 targets across Iran, including command centers, air defenses, ballistic missile sites, and naval assets. Iranian naval forces are largely neutralized, and missile production has been severely degraded, according to U.S. officials.
Iran closed or disrupted the Strait of Hormuz in response, a chokepoint that carries roughly 20% of global oil shipments. Brent and WTI crude have climbed above $100 to $110 a barrel on the disruption, pushing inflation concerns across global markets.
On Friday, Iranian forces allegedly shot down a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle over southern Iran. U.S. special operations teams rescued the pilot using helicopters. The weapons systems officer remains missing. Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing in remote, hostile terrain. Early Saturday, a projectile struck near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, the fourth reported incident at the site. One security staff member was killed by projectile fragments. A building sustained a shockwave and fragment damage. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the incident after Iran filed a notification. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stated that no radiation increase had been detected but warned that attacks on or near nuclear facilities risk damaging safety equipment and must not occur.
Bitcoin's Volatile Yet Resilient Performance
Bitcoin extended modest losses following the ultimatum, briefly falling below $68,000 before trading around $67,000 by early afternoon Saturday. The digital asset dropped toward a 2026 low near $65,834 following an earlier Trump address, but recovered and has held above the $66,000 range across several sessions in recent times. Since Operation Epic Fury began, bitcoin has traded in a volatile range of $65,000 to $71,000, often dipping on strike news and rebounding on ceasefire signals. Analysts describe the performance as relative resilience, noting that institutional flows and technical support near $65,000 to $66,000 have held as oil climbed and equities pulled back.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) backed Trump’s position Saturday, stating that a “massive military operation awaits Iran” if the regime refuses to reopen the strait and pursue peace talks. Pakistan has moved into an active mediator role, drawing on ties with both Washington and Tehran. Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir has coordinated with China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt on peace initiatives. Iran has denied some of the reported progress, and mutual rejections have stalled talks.
The 48-hour window, the ongoing search for the missing F-15E crew member, and the Bushehr incident are the immediate flashpoints. If no deal materializes, markets expect heightened volatility heading into next week. Bitcoin's ability to hold above $66,000 despite mounting geopolitical risks suggests strong underlying demand, but further escalation could test support levels.