US-Iran MoU extends ceasefire, reopens Strait of Hormuz—Bitcoin jumps on sanctions hopes

The US and Iran signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding to extend the ceasefire by 60 days. The deal lifts the US naval blockade and reopens the Strait of Hormuz for toll-free commercial shipping, a key “risk-on” signal for markets. For crypto traders, Bitcoin initially reacted positively. Bitcoin rose about 2% to around $65,800, near two-week highs, as expectations shifted toward shipping normalization and broader sanctions relief. New details in the later report add trading-relevant catalysts and headline risk: - Talks to release up to $25B of frozen Iranian assets. - A framework for a $300B reconstruction fund that does not require direct US contributions. - Continued focus on Iran’s nuclear program, but without immediate, clear dismantlement timelines. - The US has seized nearly $1B in Iranian digital assets, suggesting Iran’s financial flows may still be connected to crypto-linked networks. Key performance conditions remain a volatility driver. Ceasefire extension depends on mutual consent, and benefits are tied to compliance. Israel and some Gulf states reportedly raised concerns about a regional power shift in Iran’s favor, keeping the $25B asset release and nuclear negotiations in focus. Bottom line: this US-Iran MoU is supportive for Bitcoin in the short term via risk de-escalation, but the compliance-based structure and asset-release/nuclear headlines can quickly change sentiment.