Bitcoin, Ethereum Retreat as Middle East Conflict Intensifies

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $63,788.52 on Friday, July 17, 2026, down 1.4% from Thursday’s opening price. The cryptocurrency slipped to $63,130.40 by 8:33 a.m. ET.

Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $1,863.16 on Friday, July 17, 2026, declining 2.8% from the previous session. Its value fell to $1,832.29 as of 8:33 a.m. ET.

Bitcoin’s brief stint above $65,000 and Ethereum’s move over $1,900 proved short-lived this week as a sixth day of U.S. airstrikes against Iran dampened appetite for risk-sensitive assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Both tokens have retreated to levels seen earlier in the week, though they remain above where they stood seven days ago.

Geopolitical tensions across the Middle East are weighing on investors broadly, with the critical Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and oil prices climbing anew.

Current price of bitcoin and ethereum

Bitcoin

The price of bitcoin this morning was down 1.4% from Thursday’s opening figure. Here’s a look at how the opening bitcoin price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

• One week ago: +0.9%

• One month ago: -2.8%

• One year ago: -46.3%

The all-time high for bitcoin was $126,198.07 on Oct. 6, 2025. The all-time low value for bitcoin was $0.04865 on July 14, 2010.

Ethereum

The price of ethereum this morning was down 2.8% compared to Thursday’s open. Here’s how the opening ethereum price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

• One week ago: +6.8%

• One month ago: +4.1%

• One year ago: -44.7%

The all-time high for ethereum was $4,953.73 on Aug. 24, 2025. The all-time low value for ethereum was $0.4209 on Oct. 21, 2015.

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