Trump considers resuming full-scale war with Iran, sending Bitcoin down and crypto sanctions into overdrive

President Donald Trump said he is considering resuming full-scale military operations against Iran if his demands are not met.

Bitcoin dropped over 3% in July on reports of ceasefire breakdowns and renewed strikes.

From ceasefire to ‘finish the job’

The 2026 Iran war kicked off with US-Israeli strikes in late February. An informal ceasefire and a series of understandings followed, giving markets a breather and letting Bitcoin claw back losses through the spring months.

That ceasefire collapsed by early July. Renewed violence in the Strait of Hormuz reignited hostilities. US combat fatalities and Iranian retaliations have kept the military exchanges going into mid-July.

Now Trump is talking to defense officials about targeting Iranian nuclear sites and military infrastructure. The phrase reportedly being used in those conversations is “finish the job.”

Crypto gets caught in the sanctions crossfire

In June 2026, the US Treasury sanctioned Nobitex, Iran’s largest digital asset exchange, along with three other Iranian digital asset channels. The stated reason: sanctions evasion. This effort is part of a campaign the administration has dubbed “Economic Fury.”

Bitcoin’s geopolitical mood swings

Bitcoin dropped over 3% when the ceasefire fell apart and strikes resumed in July. When de-escalation signals emerged earlier in the spring, prices rebounded meaningfully.

Polymarket hosted a $120 million market related to a potential permanent peace deal in Iran, with odds shifting based on Trump’s public comments.

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