Key Takeaways

• Bitcoin rises modestly: The world’s largest crypto gained 0.9% to $63,337.8 — up about 4% on the week after last week’s 17% crash.
• Trading near annual lows: Despite the weekly bounce, Bitcoin remains close to its lowest levels of the year.
• Trump’s peace deal claim: The president said the U.S. had reached a deal with Iran for an immediate Hormuz reopening — potentially to be signed this weekend.
• Iran strikes subdued tone: Tehran acknowledged progress but flagged remaining points of contention; no final decision made.
• Drone strikes continue: Iran launched drone attacks on Hormuz ships early Friday, keeping military tensions alive.
• Crypto lags broader rally: Wall Street and Asian markets surged on Trump’s comments; crypto only inched higher.
• Trump’s track record: The president has repeatedly claimed an Iran deal was imminent only for no agreement to materialize.
• ETF outflows slow but continue: Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $401.7 million in outflows as of Thursday — dramatically less than last week’s $1.72 billion but extending the four-week streak.
• AI rotation persists: Institutional investors continue favoring AI equities over crypto.
• SpaceX IPO siphons capital: The $75 billion offering pulled retail and institutional flows away from cryptocurrencies.
• Altcoins mostly flat: Ether fell 0.1% to $1,653.22; XRP rose 1.4%; Solana, Cardano, and BNB gained between 0.1% and 2.4%.
• Memecoins edge up: Dogecoin added 0.6%; $TRUMP gained 2.3%.

Bitcoin rose on Friday and was set for mild weekly gains amid some optimism over a potential peace deal between the United States and Iran.

But overall gains were limited, with the crypto trading close to its annual lows amid sustained institutional selling in spot exchange-traded funds.

A broader pivot into artificial intelligence shares, as well as a bumper initial public offering from SpaceX, also weighed on crypto markets.

Bitcoin rose 0.9% to $63,337.8 by 02:02 ET (06:02 GMT). The world’s largest crypto was trading up about 4% this week after tumbling some 17% last week.

Trump Touts Iran Peace Deal; Tehran Says No Final Decision Made

Crypto markets lagged a broader rally in risk-driven assets, with Wall Street and Asian markets rising sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States had reached a peace deal with Iran that could be signed as soon as this weekend.

Trump claimed that the deal entailed an end to the war with Iran and an immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran, however, struck a more subdued tone. Local media reports carrying comments from the foreign ministry acknowledged that while there had been some progress toward a deal, points of contention still remained. Tehran was also yet to decide on agreeing to a deal.

Still, markets rallied on Trump’s comments while oil prices tumbled — helping curb some concerns over energy-driven inflation and high interest rates stemming from the Iran war.

But Trump has repeatedly claimed in the past that an Iran deal was close, only for no real agreement to materialize. Military tensions also remained in the Middle East, with Iran seen launching drone strikes on ships in Hormuz early Friday.

Bitcoin ETFs See Fourth Straight Week of Outflows

Spot Bitcoin ETFs were headed for a fourth straight week of outflows, data from SoSoValue showed on Friday — although the severity was seen tapering off significantly this week.

Spot ETFs saw outflows of $401.7 million as of Thursday, compared to a $1.72 billion outflow the prior week.

Institutional investors were seen largely abandoning spot ETFs in favor of more fundamentally sound plays — chiefly artificial intelligence stocks.

Positioning for a bumper initial public offering from SpaceX — which raised $75 billion on Thursday — was also seen driving both retail and institutional flows out of crypto.

Crypto Price Today: Altcoins Clock Limited Gains

Broader crypto prices largely dithered on Friday, clocking meager gains amid some bargain buying in the sector.

Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, fell 0.1% to $1,653.22, while XRP rose 1.4% to $1.1296.

Solana, Cardano, and BNB rose between 0.1% and 2.4%.

Among memecoins, Dogecoin rose 0.6%, while $TRUMP added 2.3%.