Bitcoin price news: BTC takes aim at $69,000 as stocks shrug off Iran strikes

CoinDesk

by Stephen Alpher

March 2, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Bitcoin prices surged above $68,000 as U.S. stocks showed minimal reaction to recent geopolitical tensions tied to Iran strikes. While stock index futures dropped over 2% at their lowest points overnight, equity markets have remained stable just one hour into Monday’s trading session. This relative calm in traditional markets contrasts with the strong rebound seen in crypto assets and related stocks. Bitcoin has gained nearly 2.3% over the past 24 hours, reaching $68,600, while ether (ETH) and other altcoins like solana (SOL) and XRP also saw modest gains. The muted reaction from U.S. equities comes despite a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and stronger-than-expected economic data. The ISM manufacturing PMI for February came in at 52.4, signaling continued sector expansion. Additionally, oil prices rose by 7%, gold increased by 2%, and the U.S. dollar index gained over 1%—all factors that typically influence financial markets. Crypto-related stocks outperformed traditional equities, with Circle (CRCL) leading the charge with a 12% gain. Other notable performers included MicroStrategy (MSTR), up 6%, and Galaxy Digital (GLXY), up 4.7%. This rally suggests that investors may have already priced in tighter U.S. monetary policy, as a March rate cut by the Federal Reserve now seems unlikely. The broader macroeconomic context highlights a divergence between traditional markets and crypto assets. While geopolitical tensions and strong economic data could normally pose risks to financial markets, crypto appears to be decoupling from this narrative. This shift underscores the growing appeal of cryptocurrencies as an alternative investment class, particularly in times of uncertainty. The

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Originally published on CoinDesk on 3/2/2026