bitcoin and Asian stocks fell on Friday after new US airstrikes against Iran increased geopolitical uncertainty. Additionally, President Donald Trump’s accusations that China rigged the 2020 election hurt risk sentiment, sending the Australian dollar lower.
BTC, the leading cryptocurrency by market value, fell to $63,600, extending Thursday’s nearly 1.4% drop from $65,000, according to data from CoinDesk. At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency was trading just below its 50-day simple moving average, the widely followed indicator of short-term momentum.
Asian stock markets weakened, with Japan’s Nikkei trading almost 3% lower, its lowest level in more than a month. Australia’s ASX 200 fell 0.5% along with a 0.8% drop in Nasdaq-linked futures. Wall Street’s technology index fell more than 1.6% on Thursday.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency quoted the governorate of Hormozgan province as saying that US airstrikes have hit five bridges in the southern province of Hormozgan. A missile attack also hit Iran’s Chabahar maritime control tower. Surprisingly, WTI oil futures held steady at around $79 per barrel, ignoring the geopolitical tension of the new wave of US attacks on Iran.
