This Week in Crypto: Bitcoin Swing, Iran Deal, Cardano Risk and More

Bitcoin ended a volatile week with a sharp recovery after peace-deal signals between the US and Iran eased some of the pressure on global markets. The rebound followed several days of selling driven by hawkish Federal Reserve comments, oil shock fears, and weak risk appetite.

At the same time, crypto traders moved into selective altcoin themes. AI tokens, privacy coins, and institutional blockchain plays gained attention, while Cardano faced a governance fight over its research funding.

US-Iran Peace Deal Hopes Help Bitcoin Recover

Bitcoin recovered from a one-month low after President Donald Trump said a US-Iran peace memorandum had been largely negotiated. The comment helped calm markets after days of concern over a wider conflict in the Middle East.

BTC moved back toward $77,000 as traders returned to risk assets. AI and privacy coins also rallied, with NEAR, Worldcoin, Zcash, ONDO, Morpho, and Hyperliquid among the stronger performers.

The recovery showed how closely crypto remains tied to geopolitical risk. A final deal would still need clearer terms around sanctions, the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s nuclear program.

Bitcoin Drops After Waller Signals Fed Could Stay Hawkish

Earlier in the week, Bitcoin fell below $77,000 after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller warned that future rate hikes could not be ruled out if inflation stays high.

Markets reacted quickly. Traders began pricing in the possibility of a 25 basis point hike by October 2026, which put pressure on risk assets.

The move reflected a familiar pattern. Higher real yields and a stronger dollar tend to weigh on Bitcoin, especially when investors already face weak consumer sentiment and rising energy-price risk.