Iran signaled a temporary easing of tensions on Friday after confirming that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to commercial shipping for the duration of the current ceasefire, triggering immediate reactions across global markets.
“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in a post on X. The announcement was echoed by Donald Trump, who confirmed the reopening in a separate statement on Truth Social.
The development lifted sentiment in digital asset markets, with Bitcoin climbing above $76,210, marking a modest daily gain of around 1% and extending its weekly recovery to roughly 5%.
At the same time, energy markets reacted in the opposite direction. Brent crude futures dropped sharply to around $85 per barrel, reflecting a roughly 10% decline as supply concerns eased following the reopening of the key shipping route.
While the reduction in geopolitical pressure has supported risk appetite, the outlook remains fragile. The current two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran is scheduled to expire on April 22, leaving markets exposed to potential renewed escalation.
Investors remain wary that any deterioration over the coming days could quickly reverse the recent recovery in cryptocurrency markets, particularly if tensions in the region intensify again.
Sources:
https://www.axios.com/2026/04/17/iran-us-deal-20-billion-frozen-funds-uranium
https://www.tradingview.com/chart/JBpUV8Q8/?symbol=BITSTAMP%3ABTCUSD
https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-rallies-76k-iran-strait-of-hormuz-open
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116420275523158052
https://x.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2045129309354922257
https://x.com/araghchi/status/2045121573124759713