Bitcoin Near 12-Month Lows as Tariffs, Iran Tensions and AI Shock Shake Markets

Bitcoin is once again under pressure, sliding sharply amid a storm of global uncertainty. The world's largest cryptocurrency fell around 4.5% in 24 hours, hovering near $63,000 and approaching its recent 12-month lows. The decline marks a steep pullback from its October peak of roughly $126,000, underscoring how quickly sentiment can shift in volatile markets.

While crypto-specific catalysts remain limited, the broader macro environment is weighing heavily on digital assets, with investors rapidly de-risking portfolios across multiple sectors.

A Broad Crypto Sell-Off

The downturn has not been limited to Bitcoin. Major altcoins including Ethereum, BNB and XRP also recorded losses, with most falling between 3% and 7%. The sell-off highlights how closely the crypto market remains tied to global liquidity and risk appetite.

Analysts say the move reflects a familiar pattern: when macro fears rise, speculative assets are often the first to be sold. Despite periodic narratives about Bitcoin acting as a hedge, it continues to trade largely as a high-risk asset during global uncertainty.

The Tariff Shock Returns

One of the most immediate triggers for the sell-off has been renewed trade tensions. The administration recently imposed new tariffs of up to 15% on a range of imports, reigniting fears of a broader global trade slowdown.

Historically, tariffs have injected volatility into markets by raising inflation risks and clouding growth outlooks. Investors worry that prolonged trade friction could dampen corporate earnings and weaken global demand, conditions that typically pressure risk assets like cryptocurrencies. The renewed trade rhetoric has already rattled equities, and digital assets appear to be moving in tandem.

Iran Tensions Add to Uncertainty

Geopolitical risk is another major factor driving the downturn. Rising tensions in the Middle East have resurfaced, with fears of possible military escalation involving Iran unsettling global markets. Although no direct conflict has materialised, even the perception of instability is often enough to trigger capital flight from speculative assets. Traditionally, geopolitical stress pushes investors toward safer havens such as gold or government bonds, leaving cryptocurrencies vulnerable to sharp corrections.

Market watchers note that geopolitical risk tends to create sudden, sentiment-driven moves, something crypto markets are particularly sensitive to.

AI Disruption Hits Tech Confidence

Adding to the unease is a wave of disruption in the technology sector triggered by rapid advances in artificial intelligence. A new AI model unveiled this week has sparked concerns about structural shifts across industries.

Shares in companies tied to legacy systems fell, with IBM dropping sharply following the announcement. The development has rattled broader tech sentiment, prompting investors to reassess valuations across innovation-driven sectors. Because crypto markets often mirror tech risk cycles, the ripple effects have spilled into digital assets, accelerating the broader sell-off.

A Perfect Storm for Risk Assets

Taken together, tariffs, geopolitical tensions and technological disruption have created a challenging environment for high-risk investments. In such conditions, investors tend to rotate into cash and defensive assets, leaving cryptocurrencies exposed to outsized volatility. The current correction illustrates how Bitcoin, despite its long-term narrative as digital gold, still behaves like a risk asset during periods of global stress. Rapid inflows during optimistic cycles are often mirrored by equally swift exits when uncertainty rises.

What Comes Next?

Despite the sharp decline, analysts caution against reading the move as a structural breakdown in crypto markets. Instead, many view it as part of a broader macro-driven cycle affecting multiple asset classes.

If geopolitical tensions ease and trade fears stabilise, risk appetite could return quickly. However, continued macro instability may keep Bitcoin under pressure in the near term.
For now, the cryptocurrency remains caught in a global crosscurrent of economic, political and technological uncertainty, a reminder that in modern markets, digital assets are far from insulated from real-world events.