#Bitcoin’sSafeHavenAppeal $120 Billion Flows into Cryptocurrency as Gold Falls
US President Donald Trump once again steered global markets on Monday with a warning that a ‘big wave’ of losses in the Iran crisis had not yet arrived.
However, instead of triggering a flight to classic safe havens, the markets experienced one of the sharpest cross-asset reversals in recent times: precious metals plummeted while cryptocurrencies rapidly rose.
Markets Against Safe Haven Tradition: Capital Shifts from Gold to Bitcoin
In an interview, Trump described the ongoing US military operations as ‘very strong’ and indicated that a larger phase of the operation was on the horizon.
In just 60 minutes, approximately $1.1 trillion in market value was wiped out in gold and silver. Spot gold fell 2.05%, losing almost $100 per ounce, resulting in a loss of approximately $750 billion.
The losses were even deeper in silver. In less than two hours, the price dropped by 7 percent, wiping out $370 billion, and prices approached $88 per ounce.
Simultaneously, capital rapidly shifted to digital assets. Bitcoin surged above $68,000, rising 5% in about 50 minutes and adding approximately $60 billion to its market capitalization. Ethereum, meanwhile, regained the $2,000 level, contributing $23 billion with a 5.8% increase.
The cryptocurrency market added $100 billion in the last 45 minutes, while approximately $80 million in short positions were liquidated.
This divergence is surprising many investors, as they are accustomed to gold performing well during periods of geopolitical stress.
However, while metals experienced a sharp sell-off, cryptocurrencies absorbed the headline shock and climbed rapidly.
Bitcoin Faces Geopolitical Shock: Derivatives Show Limited Leverage
Initially, it was reported that approximately $300 million worth of cryptocurrency liquidations occurred. However, derivatives market data showed a more resilient structure beneath the volatility.
The funding rate was in the sixth percentile, indicating that speculative bubble remained limited. The size of open positions decreased by only about $1 billion, meaning that most traders who were using leverage before the geopolitical escalation exited the system.
Last year, price movements were much more erratic during similar Middle East tensions. This time, Bitcoin experienced a short-lived and limited decline, but there was no sharp downward pressure.
The absence of large-scale chain liquidations may indicate that the market is already prepared for geopolitical risks.
Meanwhile, the shift in direction in metals raises questions about positioning and liquidity dynamics. Rapid position unwinding in gold and silver futures can increase volatility when high-volume trades reverse.
Losses exceeding $1 trillion in just one hour clearly demonstrate how fragile investor sentiment can be when suddenly shifting.
With Trump signaling a larger phase in military operations, volatility is not expected to decrease anytime soon. The next wave of news raises the question of whether cryptocurrencies can maintain this resilience or whether traditional safe havens will regain prominence.
$BTC $GT $XRP 
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