Bitcoin has emerged as the top-performing asset in the wake of escalating conflicts between the United States and Iran, demonstrating a remarkable 12.1% increase since airstrikes initiated by the U.S. and Israel on February 28. During this same period, oil prices experienced a rise of 10.4%, while gold saw a decline of 3% and silver plummeted by 10.2%. This trend underscores Bitcoin”s growing status as a go-to asset in times of geopolitical uncertainty.
Following the authorization of Operation Epic Fury at 1:15 a.m. New York time on February 28, Bitcoin surged from $65,492 to $73,231, showcasing its resilience and appeal compared to traditional safe-haven assets. The S&P 500 recorded a minor fluctuation with a change of just -0.1%, and Nvidia managed a modest recovery of 2.8%, which still fell short of matching Bitcoin”s performance.
Historically regarded as a safe haven during wartime, gold could not sustain an initial peak and ended the period with a 3% decline. Silver, on the other hand, fully erased its brief rally, leading to significant losses. Factors such as the strengthening of the U.S. dollar and shifting investor sentiment towards inflation concerns contributed to this reversal in precious metals.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has significantly impacted oil prices, driving a 10.4% increase. The closure of this vital shipping route, through which about one-fifth of the global oil supply is transported, has caused tanker traffic to plummet by approximately 81%. This drastic change followed insurers” withdrawal of war risk coverage, leading to soaring freight rates. Brent crude oil reached an initial peak of $82 per barrel, with analysts cautioning that prices could escalate to $100 if the blockade persists. In response, OPEC+ announced an additional output of 206,000 barrels per day to mitigate the effects, although the impact appeared limited.
Beyond the immediate crisis, Bitcoin“s role in the financial ecosystem is being further explored. A recent study encompassing 9,072 experiments across 36 advanced AI models revealed that agents selected Bitcoin as the optimal monetary asset 48% of the time. In scenarios focused specifically on store-of-value, this figure rose to 79%. One of the leading AI models, Claude Opus 4.5 from Anthropic, opted for Bitcoin in an impressive 91% of cases, highlighting its perceived value.
It”s important to note that while Bitcoin has shown a strong performance in the short term, its year-to-date figures tell a different story, with a decline of 16% compared to gold”s 18% rise over the same timeframe. This complex landscape reflects the ongoing evolution of Bitcoin”s status as both a crisis asset and a subject of speculative trading in the broader market.
