Geopolitical Shock Hammers Crypto as Iran Conflict Drives Dollar Surge

Today's market briefing covers the sharp selloff in crypto and risk assets driven by escalating Middle East tensions and a surging dollar. Bitcoin fell from seventy thousand to sixty-six thousand five hundred after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, with the dollar index hitting its highest level since mid-January. We examine the oil shock implications, with crude surging thirteen percent in five days as Iran threatens Strait of Hormuz closure, and how this inflationary pressure impacts Fed policy expectations. Legal developments include a landmark Uniswap case dismissal affirming DeFi protocol protections, U.S. Senate housing bill embedding a CBDC ban through twenty thirty, and Vitalik Buterin's new proposals to combat Ethereum block builder centralization. Market technicals show Bitcoin forming a death cross pattern, while institutional flows remain surprisingly resilient with four hundred fifty-eight million in spot ETF inflows despite volatility. Plus, Core Scientific's massive bitcoin liquidation signals industry pivot toward AI infrastructure, and why Australia risks leaving twenty-three billion in digital finance gains on the table.