Over the past week, Bitcoin's swings coincided with mixed altcoin performance, as DOT climbed 18.4% from a $1.36 open and NEAR gained 15.94%. In contrast, BCH fell 21.1% and PEPE dropped 11.43%, while sector metrics noted a 0.57% decline for altcoins excluding ETH.

By February 2026, tokenized gold’s market cap surpassed $6B after roughly $2B of inflows, with over 1.2 million ounces stored in regulated, audited vaults. In 2025, capitalization climbed 177% and volume jumped 1,550% to $178B, while Q4 turnover topped $126B and outpaced the five largest gold ETFs, as EU and Singapore rules enforced strict one-to-one backing and audits.

Oil futures spiked 10% after Iran's navy shut the Strait of Hormuz, raising alarm over a potential global supply disruption and sharply higher fuel costs. Analysts say U.S. gasoline, which was just under $3 per gallon days ago, could quickly move above $3.20-$3.30 on average and toward $4-$5 in some regions if the closure persists.

On March 01, 2026, President Donald Trump ordered new military strikes against Iran, prompting intense debate over whether he bypassed Congress' constitutional authority to declare war. Legal experts say the large-scale, sustained nature of the operation undermines previous justifications for unilateral executive action and could invite court challenges while reshaping U.S. policy and political dynamics.

On March 1, 2026, Iranian state media confirmed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Tehran. Iran responded with missile attacks on U.S. bases and Israel, while Strait of Hormuz restrictions and over 1,400 flight cancellations raised fears of oil supply disruption and market volatility. An interim council under Ayatollah Alireza Arafi and President Pezeshkian now manages a fraught political transition amid internet controls and renewed regional tensions.

On March 1, 2026, Bitcoin rebounded above $67,000 after dropping toward $63,000 following coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in Iran and the confirmed death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Major altcoins including Ethereum and XRP also recovered, though traders remain focused on whether escalating regional tensions and Iran's retaliatory strikes will unsettle crypto markets again.

On March 1, 2026, Iran established a three-member interim leadership council after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike. Crypto prediction platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi quickly listed markets on the timing and nature of his succession, with Polymarket's volume on the successor-timing market surpassing $500,000 and odds shifting across several March dates.

Goldman Sachs and Jefferies are recruiting analysts to cover crypto within their core equity research teams, indicating deeper integration of digital assets into mainstream coverage. The openings were highlighted on March 1 and are positioned in research units rather than on trading desks, pointing to sustained institutional demand and a move toward structured analysis.