At 3 PM Eastern time March 8, 2026, President Trump stated that the Iran war was nearing an end. Asset prices gapped up.
Measured in US dollar from the start of the Iran war until present, Bitcoin performed better than the US dollar and trounced gold, the traditional "go-to" asset in times of uncertainty. NASDAQ lagged Bitcoin, and US bonds didn't do well, with the yield notably higher due to inflation concerns driven by oil prices. Foreign currencies and bonds struggled.
Bitcoin's performance was surprising. For a long time, there have been as many skeptics as fans of the original cryptocurrency. That it would prove itself in a time of great uncertainty is impressive.
As noted in the "Bitcoin's Jane Austen's Moment", this could be termed Bitcoin's "coming out party" for the asset haven society. If Bitcoin can maintain its price at around 65,000 or above, its status will be confirmed. If there is no existential crisis brewing (SBF, Jane), acceptance as an asset that can "stand the test of time" will be solidified.
Thus, this could be an inflection point for Bitcoin. Such a development could light a positive fire under tokenized bonds, tokenized equities, and tokenized credit vehicles.
Bitcoin's status is further supported by significant traditional finance developments. US chartered bank SoFi enabled Solana network deposits for 13.7 mn customers directly from their banking app. DTCC (Depository Trust Clearing Corporation) is integrating blockchain custody, Barclay's is committing serious resources to developing crypto for deposits, and there are others.
It has been easy for traditional finance companies to dismiss Bitcoin and crypto as a passing fad, one that is not worth their time or resources. But, when Bitcoin can perform in a time of uncertainty like it did in the past two weeks, more attention will be paid to this space. As attention ramps up, the crypto landscape will change. Scalable products with a global reach will dominate. Niche products and strategies, unless they can offer liquidity at scale, will be kicked to the curb.
To take advantage of this shift in crypto markets, onchain investors should look to tokenized bonds, tokenized stocks, tokenized credit facilities, tokenized futures contracts, and other real-world assets (RWAs). These are the types of products banks like SoFi, Barclays, and other institutions are going to seek out, and it is best to get there before they do.
To pursue tokenized equities, Robinhood has a very good offering. For tokenized bonds in multiple countries and currencies, no one matches Etherfuse.
This blog is for educational and informational purposes only, covering general market trends, industry developments, and asset features. Nothing herein is investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any assets. Etherfuse and its guests may hold stakes in some or all of the assets discussed.
