Iran-US-Israel Conflict Shapes Crypto’s Biggest 2026 Stress Test

The 2026 Iran-US-Israel conflict has thrust cryptocurrencies into the center of crisis response, with Iran turning to Bitcoin as a wartime payment method. Following the launch of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, Iranian crypto outflows surged by 700% within minutes, leading to an initial 23.8% drop in Bitcoin. However, Bitcoin quickly rebounded, surpassing $70,000 by mid-March, while the conflict also impacted the physical crypto economy.