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Bitcoin (BTC) price drops toward $70,000 as Iran war sends oil price higher

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Bitcoin under pressure as oil spikes 6%. What's next?

Bitcoin is on the cusp of falling below $70,000 for the first time since Wednesday, after climbing as high as $74,000 earlier this week.

The decline reflects a broader risk-off shift in markets as investors position ahead of key U.S. macroeconomic data and the developing war in Iran.

For now, attention is focused on the U.S. jobs report due at 13:30 UTC. The unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 4.3% while nonfarm payrolls are forecast to drop to 59,000.

Labor market data is closely watched because it can influence expectations around Federal Reserve interest-rate policy, often leading investors to reduce risk exposure ahead of the release.

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The war with Iran, nearing the end of its first week, is also contributing to market caution, pushing oil prices higher. WTI crude has climbed to around $83 per barrel, up more than 5% over the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) has strengthened above 99 and the yield on the 10-year Treasury has risen to roughly 4.16%. Equity markets are slightly weaker, with the Invesco QQQ ETF, which tracks the Nasdaq 100 index, down about 0.5% in pre-market trading.

Crypto related stocks including Strategy (MSTR), Coinbase (COIN), and MARA Holdings (MARA) are also lower in pre-market trading.

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Crypto World

Strike Receives BitLicense, Money Transmitter Approval in New York

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Strike Receives BitLicense, Money Transmitter Approval in New York

Payments company Strike received a virtual currency license and a money transmitter license (MTL) from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), allowing the company to offer its Bitcoin services to residents and businesses in New York.

Granted in February, the approvals authorize Zap Solutions, Inc., which does business as Strike, to operate under New York’s digital asset regulatory framework, the company said in a Thursday release.

New York residents can now use Strike to buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC), set recurring or price-targeted purchases and convert direct-deposited paychecks into Bitcoin. The platform also allows users to pay bills from Bitcoin balances and withdraw funds to self-custody wallets.

“Receiving our BitLicense is a defining milestone for Strike,” founder and CEO Jack Mallers said in a statement, adding that the approval allows the company to expand its Bitcoin-based financial services in a major financial market.

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Zap Solutions, Inc appears on the regulated entities list. Source: NYDFS

A BitLicense allows companies to conduct digital currency business with New York residents, but does not by itself authorize nationwide operations.

Companies looking to operate across the US must typically obtain MTLs in other states as well.

Related: MoonPay to operate in all 50 US states after NY BitLicense approval

The framework requires companies to maintain capital reserves, implement Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls and undergo regular regulatory examinations.

NY approvals remain a key step for US crypto companies

The approvals are another step in Strike’s US expansion, with New York’s stringent licensing framework often serving as a benchmark for crypto companies seeking regulated market access.

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Others holding BitLicenses in New York include MoonPay, Coinbase, eToro, Robinhood and Circle, according to NYDFS records.

New York regulators have also taken enforcement action against license holders. In 2024, Genesis Global Trading agreed to surrender its BitLicense and pay an $8 million penalty to the regulator after investigators found failures in its AML and cybersecurity programs.

In 2025, Adrienne Harris, former superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, said the state has an “outsized role to play” in the crypto ecosystem and that lawmakers frequently consult the regulator when drafting digital asset legislation.

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