Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Fall Amid Fresh US-Iran Escalation: Analyst Says BTC Facing 'Final Hurdle' Before Attacking the Highs

Leading cryptocurrencies slid on Sunday after the U.S. and Iran resumed hostilities after a nearly month-long lull in fighting.Cryptocurrency24-Hour Gains +/-Price (Recorded at 9:20 p.m. EDT)Bitcoin -0.35%$77,765.29Ethereum -1.41%$2,420.87XRP -2.78%$1.35Solana -3.33%$101.66Dogecoin -3.64%$0.08190Crypto Market DropsBitcoin fell below $77,000 late Sunday before paring its losses, while trading volume surged 48% over the past 24 hours.Ethereum fell back below $2,400 following an earlier spike to $2,532. XRP and Dogecoin likewise traded lower.Nearly $400 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, predominantly in bullish long positions, according to Coinglass data.Bitcoin’s open interest slipped 0.83% over the last 24 hours. Bitcoin’s long/short ratio declined among both retail and derivatives traders, though both groups remained net long overall.“Greed” sentiment prevailed in the market, according to the Crypto Fear & Greed Index.Top Gainers (24 Hours)Cryptocurrency (Market Cap>$100 M)Gains +/-Price (Recorded at 9:20 p.m. EDT)Union (U) +787.07% $0.08148Seeker (SKR) +125.59% $0.02453Helium (HNT) +72.97% $0.7533The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.61 trillion, down 0.90% over the last 24 hours. Read Also: QUICK SPARK: $477M Flows Into Bitcoin, Ethereum ETFs as 9-Day Crypto Buying Streak Rolls On Stocks Futures Slide After Iran StrikesStock futures fell overnight on Sunday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures slipped 80 points, or 0.15%, as of 8:42 p.m. EDT. Futures tied to the S&P 500 dipped 0.26%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures fell 0.35%.Geopolitical tensions escalated after the U.S. hit Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in southern Iran, according to Reuters. Iran’s Revolutionary ​Guards said it targeted U.S. bases in Jordan in response.Bitcoin Facing Final Hurdle?Ali Martinez, a widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader, noted that whales accumulated nearly $3 billion in Bitcoin over the past week, signaling “continued interest from large investors.”$3 BILLION IN BITCOIN BOUGHT BY WHALESWhales accumulated more than 39,154 bitcoin:native over the past week, signaling continued interest by large investors. Michaël van de Poppe, another widely followed cryptocurrency commentator, highlighted Bitcoin’s liquidity sweep at $77,000 followed by gaining $78,000 as support on the hourly chart.“It’s now facing the final hurdle before it will start attacking the highs again,” Van De Poppe added. “What will the target then be? $82,700. Nothing else.”It's relatively simple for bitcoin:native.It flipped $78K after touching $77K in the liquidity sweep.It's now facing the final hurdle before this will start attacking the highs again.What will the target then be? $82.7K. Nothing else. Read Also: Weekend Round-Up: Ethereum's Potential, Bitcoin's Future and Japan's Blockchain Ambitions Photo Courtesy: vinnstock on Shutterstock.com