Bitcoin climbs above $62k as Iran tensions ease and ETF outflows

Bitcoin edged higher on Thursday, reaching $63,450 after President Donald Trump announced a tentative settlement with Iran, a move that lifted risk sentiment across markets [3]. At the same time, institutional investors kept pulling money from spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds, marking another week of outflows as investors reallocated capital ahead of the upcoming SpaceX IPO [3].

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin rose to $63,450, its highest level since a week‑earlier dip to $59,000 [3].
• Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a $213.85 million outflow on Wednesday, extending a multi‑week trend of withdrawals [3].
• Trump claimed a “great settlement” with Iran, suggesting a cease‑fire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz [3].
• Strategy (Michael Saylor’s firm) added 1,550 BTC at an average price of $65,332, bringing its total holdings to 845,256 [2].
• Broader crypto markets rallied, with Ether up 3.5% and several altcoins posting double‑digit gains [3].

Trump’s Iran announcement fuels Bitcoin rally

President Trump told reporters that a settlement with Iran was near completion, promising a signing “maybe in Europe” and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz [3]. The statement reversed earlier threats of further strikes and a naval blockade, prompting a “sigh of relief” among traders and a surge in risk assets, including Bitcoin and U.S. equities [3]. The market reaction was swift: Bitcoin jumped 3% to $63,450, while Ether climbed 3.5% to $1,678 and other altcoins such as XRP, Solana, and Cardano posted gains of 4%‑6% [3].

Continuing pressure from spot ETF outflows

Even as sentiment improved, institutional investors continued to withdraw from spot Bitcoin ETFs. Data from SoSoValue showed a $213.85 million outflow on Wednesday, up from a $77.4 million pull on Tuesday, adding to a cumulative $5 billion outflow over the past three weeks [3]. Analysts linked the withdrawals to investors freeing cash for the highly anticipated SpaceX IPO, which was set to raise $75 billion at $135 per share [3]. This trend mirrors earlier reports of a $1.72 billion weekly outflow—the largest since April 2025—highlighting sustained caution among large‑scale holders [2].

Why it matters

The juxtaposition of a political de‑escalation in the Middle East with ongoing institutional outflows underscores the dual forces shaping Bitcoin’s short‑term trajectory. While Trump’s remarks temporarily buoyed risk appetite, the persistent ETF withdrawals suggest that larger investors remain wary, likely awaiting clearer signals from the Federal Reserve and inflation data before committing more capital [1]. Upcoming Fed minutes and U.S. CPI releases will therefore be key catalysts, potentially influencing both the pace of rate cuts and the broader crypto market’s direction.