There’s no denying it: as we look toward 2026, geopolitical tensions are rising, and conflict seems increasingly likely. From the Middle East to Ukraine, the signs are everywhere.
Recently, there was a report about the collaboration between the United States and Israel targeting Iran, which escalated the situation further. Both parties are now warning each other against further escalation, which makes you wonder how it will all unfold.
In light of these concerns, we thought it might be interesting to speculate on three cryptocurrencies that could be particularly relevant in such turbulent times.
Bitcoin
People often want to see Bitcoin as a safe haven, but is it really? Over the past year, it hasn’t consistently acted like one. That said, it still holds the crown as the largest cryptocurrency, making up about 56% of the market cap.
It’s definitely something to keep an eye on. Historically, when conflicts arise, major cryptocurrencies often take a hit initially but bounce back once things settle down. For instance, last year, after an attack on Iran, Bitcoin’s prices reacted dramatically. We’ve seen this pattern before, and it seems to be repeating itself.
However, Bitcoin’s volatility is noteworthy. It can swing far more than traditional assets, and some experts think we’re looking at a tough period ahead for it. If, however, tensions in the Middle East begin to ease, market uncertainty might also decrease, potentially driving prices up again. But it’s tricky; ongoing conflicts with countries like Russia and China may add to the unpredictability, which the U.S. aims to avoid by stepping back from prolonged engagements.
As of now, Bitcoin is trading around $67,000. That’s actually a 2% drop for the week, but it has seen a 5% rise over the last 24 hours. Still, it’s down about 47% from its all-time high hit just a few months ago. So, despite the downward trend, resolving these conflicts could ignite a recovery phase.
Tokenized Gold
Gold really took the spotlight in 2025, especially being viewed as a safe asset amidst uncertainty. Though there was a notable dip in early February 2026, its overall performance has been strong, with prices soaring over 100% in the last year, now trading above $5,200 per ounce.
Yet, acquiring physical gold can be complicated due to high spreads and logistical issues. Many investors are turning to digital gold tokens as a result.
Two leaders in this tokenized gold market are Paxos’ PAX Gold (PAXG) and Tether’s Tether Gold (XAUT), both with significant market caps. These tokens are easily traded on popular exchanges, allowing for quick transactions. Still, investors must trust that the issuers have adequate physical gold to back those tokens.
Despite concerns, interest in these digital alternatives continues to grow as their market capitalization has noticeably increased over the past year.
Privacy Coins
In 2025, privacy coins like Zcash (ZEC) and Monero (XMR) saw increased demand, especially during times of conflict. With rising sanctions and heightened government scrutiny on financial transactions, these assets become more appealing.
XMR, despite losing around 55% of its market cap at one point, has rebounded by more than 56% in the past year. ZEC’s performance is even more remarkable, skyrocketing by over 500% in the same timeframe.
