Bitcoin and XRP Price Prediction After Iran Launches “Hormuz Safe” — Will Crypto Rally on Rising Geopolitical Tensions?

Bitcoin and XRP prices remained under pressure as crypto markets struggled to recover from recent heavy losses across major digital assets. After the inflation data rose, investors were less optimistic about the Fed cutting interest rates this year. 

Bitcoin price fell under $79,000, Ethereum under $2,200 and XRP around $1.40. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions increased after Iran launched its new “Hormuz Safe” Bitcoin-based insurance platform connected to the Strait of Hormuz shipping route.

Crypto Market Faces Heavy Selling Pressure

The overall crypto market experienced a major correction, with significant drops in the value of major cryptocurrencies, and those losses amounted to nearly $90 billion.

The entire crypto market capitalization fell 3% and came close to the $2.6 trillion support level. Bitcoin dipped to $77,678 in the major sell-off before rebounding slightly in weekend trading periods.

The institutional selling pressure also increased across the crypto market during the previous trading sessions. Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. saw another $290 million in withdrawals, raising concerns among institutional investors. About $136 million reportedly flowed out of BlackRock’s IBIT fund in the recent trading day.

Iran Launches Bitcoin-Based Hormuz Safe Platform

The geopolitical news also had investors’ eyes, with the official launching of Iran’s “Hormuz Safe” digital insurance platform. 

The company claims that ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz can settle their insurance premiums completely using Bitcoin. Iranian officials will reportedly keep hold of the initiative’s insurance structure.

BREAKING: 🇮🇷 Iran launches “Hormuz Safe.”

Maritime insurance for ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

Payments in Bitcoin.

Ministry of Economy has been on this since April.
The play: control Strait shipping via insurance.

Estimated revenue: $10,000,000,000.

The petrodollar… pic.twitter.com/66cgkioho4

— Crypto Rover (@cryptorover) May 17, 2026

The platform was reported to be potentially able to generate over $10 billion in annual revenue for Iran in the future. 

The Strait of Hormuz contributes almost 20% of the annual worldwide oil traffic. The platform could facilitate the integration of cryptocurrencies with the global energy sector and geopolitical financial policies.

Bitcoin and XRP Price Prediction: Key Levels To Watch This Week

At the time of writing, the BTC price traded at $78,134 after failing to maintain momentum above the crucial $81,000 resistance area. 

The MACD indicators are also extremely bearish, reflecting the overall bearishness of the short-term price action of Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is currently supported at around $77,500, and this level has recently acted as a floor for the price. If the price of Bitcoin moves below this support, then analysts predict further downfalls to the $76,000 support zone again. 

The positive side is that the future Bitcoin outlook needs to break the $79,000 resistance area to restore bull market confidence. Further resistance awaits at $80,000, with the $81,000 and $82,000 levels of major importance. 

XRP price continued to trade around $1.42 after a failure to sustain recent gains near the important resistance level of $1.50. The Relative Strength Index indicators were still in negative numbers, which indicated less buying momentum in the XRP market.

Current support for XRP is near $1.40, which is keeping the price from continuing lower. However, if sellers have broken below this support, then XRP might fall towards the next support at $1.38. If the crypto market further declines, the $1.35 range may be exposed in the future.

On the other hand, XRP is seeing immediate resistance at $1.45 and more significant resistance at $1.47. If XRP breaks above these levels, they may retest the significant resistance level of $1.50 once more.