#Gate13周年现场直击 Sudden Surge! Bitcoin breaks through $77,000, Iran makes a major announcement: the Strait of Hormuz is fully open

The crypto world is boiling! Tonight (April 17), Bitcoin experienced a violent rally, breaking through the $77,000 mark and hitting a recent high. Meanwhile, a major news from the Middle East—Iran’s Foreign Minister Alaraji officially announced that the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open” to all commercial shipping during the ceasefire period. These two major events intertwine, stirring up the global financial and energy markets. This article will analyze the core logic behind Bitcoin’s surge based on the latest news, explore the deep impact of Iran’s announcement, and present real-time Bitcoin 24H market data to help you understand current market trends (not investment advice).

Market Highlights: Bitcoin breaks through $77,000, surges over 5% in 24H! As of press time, Bitcoin’s short-term rally remains strong, reaching a recent high. Over the past 24 hours, it shows a “volatile surge and steady climb” pattern. Details include:
Bitcoin yesterday (April 16) dipped to a low of $73,309.85, then started rebounding. This afternoon, following Iran’s official announcement, it quickly surged, reaching a high of $77,354.49. As of press time, it stabilized at $77,276.77, just one step away from the all-time high.
From market sentiment, the total 24H Bitcoin contract liquidation reached $119 million, with long positions liquidated at $71.56 million (60.28%) and short positions at $47.16 million (39.72%), reflecting intense short-term volatility and fierce battle between bulls and bears.
Additionally, major exchanges show a significant increase in 24H trading volume, with high leverage trading activity and strong bullish sentiment.

Major News: Iran’s Announcement! Strait of Hormuz Fully Open, Hidden Crypto Moves
On the afternoon of April 17 (local time), Iran’s Foreign Minister Alaraji posted on social media, officially announcing a major global energy pattern shift: due to Lebanon and Israel reaching a ceasefire agreement, during the remaining ceasefire period, the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open” to all merchant ships, with passage routes following previously announced coordination routes by Iranian ports and maritime authorities.
Subsequently, U.S. President Trump confirmed this via a tweet, marking a phased easing of the Middle East geopolitical conflict that has lasted for months, and lifting the “Sword of Damocles” hanging over the global energy market.
As the world’s most critical energy corridor, the Strait of Hormuz handles about 25% of global oil shipping, with roughly 20 million barrels passing daily. It’s called the “world’s oil valve,” and about 35%-40% of China’s oil imports also transit through this strait. Its status directly impacts global energy supply and oil prices. Previously, U.S. and Israel launched large-scale military strikes on Iran, leading Iran to control the strait, heightening fears of energy supply disruptions and causing oil prices to rebound. Now, with the opening announcement, this major uncertainty has been eliminated.
What’s more, the crypto community should note that Iran’s opening of the strait is not “free passage.” According to the Financial Times, all oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz are required to pay a transit fee of about $1 per barrel, payable in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. This is the first time a sovereign nation has officially used Bitcoin as a settlement method for strategic shipping tolls.
Iranian officials stated that the main reason for choosing Bitcoin is its decentralized nature, which can effectively bypass the U.S. dollar system and international sanctions, avoiding tracking or freezing of funds. Based on the daily transit volume of about 20 million barrels before the ceasefire, Iran’s fee mechanism could absorb roughly 280 BTC daily, accounting for about 62% of Bitcoin’s new daily supply, directly altering Bitcoin’s market supply-demand dynamics.

In-Depth Analysis: The linkage of two major events, Bitcoin’s surge’s core logic
Many wonder why Iran’s opening of the Strait of Hormuz would directly push Bitcoin’s price higher. Essentially, it’s a resonance of “geopolitical easing + sovereign demand,” further boosted by institutional capital, jointly driving Bitcoin past $77,000. The detailed breakdown is as follows:

Logic 1: Sovereign-level demand realization, Bitcoin narrative upgrade
Iran’s requirement for oil tankers to pay tolls in Bitcoin elevates Bitcoin from a “digital gold” store of value to a “sovereign trade settlement tool.”
As a sanctioned country, Iran has long been building a “cryptocurrency sanctions evasion system.” By 2025, Iran’s on-chain crypto activities have reached $7.8 billion. Incorporating Bitcoin into the Strait toll payment signals a clear message to the global market—Bitcoin now has sovereign-level payment value, and its decentralized advantage is validated on a large scale. This new narrative directly stimulates capital inflows, pushing prices upward.
Logic 2: Geopolitical tension easing, risk appetite rebounding
The opening of the Strait of Hormuz signifies a phase of easing in Middle East conflicts, removing global energy supply uncertainties. Market tension eases rapidly, and risk appetite rises significantly. Previously, geopolitical tensions drove funds into traditional safe-haven assets like gold. Now, with the situation easing, some funds shift from gold and USD to risk assets like Bitcoin, supporting its rise.
Logic 3: Institutional accumulation continues, long-term support evident
Besides the Iran event catalyst, ongoing institutional investment also provides long-term support. Recently, Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) announced a $1 billion purchase of 13,927 BTC at $71,902 each, with a total holding of 780,897 BTC.
Meanwhile, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw over $1.5 billion net inflow in the past month, with a record $471 million net inflow on April 6 alone. Continuous institutional accumulation further boosts market confidence.
Logic 4: Supply-demand pattern change, short-term upward momentum sufficient
Based on Iran’s fee mechanism, about 280 BTC could be absorbed daily, while the Bitcoin network’s new issuance is only about 450 BTC per day. This means a single geopolitical event could absorb over 60% of Bitcoin’s daily new supply. Although the number of ships passing through the strait has decreased somewhat compared to before the ceasefire, and some shipping companies remain cautious, this long-term demand expectation is already reflected in the market price, becoming a key driver for Bitcoin’s short-term surge.

Future Price Trend Predictions
Based on current market conditions, Iran’s event impact, and market dynamics, an objective outlook on Bitcoin’s future trend is provided, focusing on “short-term sentiment, medium-term demand, long-term risks,” balancing opportunities and risks:
Short-term (1-3 days): Volatile rally, watch for pullbacks
In the short term, the positive effects of Iran’s announcement will continue to ferment. Coupled with Bitcoin’s break above $77,000 and market sentiment, it’s likely to continue oscillating upward, possibly challenging $78,000 or even $80,000. However, caution is advised: Bitcoin’s 24H gains have exceeded 5%, and the short-term rally is overextended, with significant profit-taking and liquidation of long positions. If funds start to realize profits, a short-term correction could occur, with support around $75,000. A break below could lead to further decline toward $73,000.
Medium-term (1-4 weeks): Demand-supported, outlook optimistic
In the medium term, Bitcoin’s upward logic remains supported: Iran’s Bitcoin toll mechanism will continue to absorb liquidity, changing supply-demand dynamics; institutional holdings keep increasing; ETF inflows persist; and global geopolitical easing boosts risk appetite. Bitcoin is likely to maintain high-level oscillations, consolidating above $77,000. If Iran’s toll mechanism proceeds smoothly, a further breakout of previous highs is possible.
Long-term (1-6 months): Watch for potential risks, trend divergence
Long-term, Bitcoin faces a “pros and cons” scenario: on the positive side, the realization of sovereign-level payment demand will further enhance Bitcoin’s global recognition, with ongoing institutional deepening and clear long-term growth logic; on the risk side, recent reports from Google’s Quantum AI team suggest that a 500k-qubit quantum computer could crack Bitcoin’s encryption in just 9 minutes, threatening about 6.9 million BTC—this long-term quantum threat could suppress Bitcoin’s gains. Additionally, global regulatory changes, Iran’s ceasefire stability, and USD liquidity tightening could also impact Bitcoin’s long-term trend.

Risk Warning (Must Read! Not Investment Advice)
Bitcoin is a high-risk asset. Recently, driven by Iran’s event, it surged sharply, with high volatility in the short term. Ordinary investors should be especially cautious of the following risks and avoid blindly chasing highs:
Price volatility risk: Overextended short-term gains may trigger profit-taking and sharp corrections; blindly chasing can lead to losses;
Geopolitical risk: Iran’s ceasefire agreement has uncertainties. If tensions recur or the strait closes again, Bitcoin’s price could decline;
Technical security risk: Breakthroughs in quantum computing could threaten Bitcoin’s encryption security, posing systemic long-term risks;
Regulatory risk: Different countries’ policies on cryptocurrencies vary. Tightening regulations could suppress market performance;
Leverage risk: Market leverage is highly active, with significant liquidation risks. Ordinary investors should stay away from leveraged trading.

Summary: Geopolitical catalysts ignite the market, rational outlook on avoiding blind chasing
Bitcoin’s recent break above $77,000 is fundamentally due to Iran’s announcement of the Strait of Hormuz opening, Bitcoin becoming a sovereign settlement tool, and the resonance of institutional accumulation and geopolitical easing. This event not only stirs the global energy market but also elevates Bitcoin onto the stage of sovereign-level strategic competition. Its “digital gold + sovereign payment” dual narrative is the core driver of the short-term rally. However, it’s important to recognize that Bitcoin’s rise heavily depends on external catalysts and market sentiment. After a sharp increase, the risk of a correction should not be underestimated.
For ordinary investors, avoid being blinded by short-term surges, do not chase highs blindly, and refrain from leveraged trading. If long-term optimism exists, consider small positions after a pullback to reasonable levels, while closely monitoring Iran’s situation, quantum tech developments, and regulatory changes. Rationally managing market volatility is key. After all, the crypto market has never only gone up; only by respecting risks and making rational arrangements can one safeguard assets amid fluctuations.

What do you think—can Bitcoin break through $80,000? Will Iran’s use of Bitcoin to collect tolls completely change Bitcoin’s global status? Feel free to leave your comments and share your views!