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Bitcoin Drops to C$97K on Hormuz Blockade
Bitcoin shed 2.7% on Sunday and into Monday, falling from a three-week high above C$100,000 to a low of C$97,100 after President Trump ordered a US Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on April 12. The sell-off began when Vice President JD Vance announced that ceasefire extension talks in Pakistan had failed, then deepened when Trump posted on Truth Social that US forces would begin blockading the strait effective immediately. Bitcoin is holding near C$97,300 on April 13 as traders assess the duration and severity of the standoff.
What This Means for Crypto Casino Players
The decline from C$100,000 to C$97,100 represents approximately C$2,900 in lost purchasing power per Bitcoin over 24 hours. Players who deposited BTC near the weekend high are seeing roughly 2.7% less value in their casino accounts. The C$97,000 area has become the immediate support level; a hold above that mark suggests the initial shock has been absorbed, while a drop below C$95,900 would point to further selling pressure. Those looking to compare current deposit options can review available platforms on our best Bitcoin casino guide for Canadian players.
The timing is notable. Bitcoin had held above C$99,000 even after the hotter-than-expected April 11 CPI reading — a sign the market was beginning to treat BTC as an inflation hedge. The Hormuz blockade overrode that narrative within 48 hours, demonstrating that geopolitical escalation still dominates short-term price action. Players who prefer predictable deposit values over price exposure may want to consider a stablecoin transfer until the geopolitical picture clarifies.
Blockade, Oil, and a Familiar Pattern
The Strait of Hormuz standoff is the latest geopolitical shock in a conflict that has sent Bitcoin through repeated sharp swings since March 2026. The ceasefire established around April 8 had lifted Bitcoin from the Liberation Day tariff low of C$91,800 to above C$100,000 in five days — a recovery of roughly 9%. That advance reversed almost overnight when Pakistan peace talks ended without a deal and Trump announced the blockade.
Oil futures jumped around 7%, with some benchmarks reaching C$144 per barrel — an already elevated level that compounds the inflation picture following the 3.3% March US CPI reading. The Strait controls roughly one-third of globally traded seaborne oil, so a prolonged standoff raises the prospect of persistent energy-driven inflation that would suppress Federal Reserve rate-cut expectations and weigh on risk assets.
Ethereum fell below C$3,000 alongside Bitcoin, and total crypto market capitalization dropped nearly 2% to under C$3.4 trillion.
What to Watch
Analysts who had cited C$120,000 as a potential near-term target contingent on ceasefire continuation will now reassess. The first key floor is C$95,900 — the C$70,000 equivalent — below which selling pressure could accelerate. The NHL playoffs are getting underway this month, a period that typically lifts crypto sports betting activity in Canada; a stable or recovering BTC price over the coming days would align well with that seasonal uptick in engagement. Any resumption of diplomatic talks would likely see Bitcoin retest the C$100,000 level quickly. Players can compare current Bitcoin casino options on our best crypto casino page for Canadian players.