[Bitcoin Now] Slight Decline Amid Geopolitical Tensions... Investor Sentiment Shifts from 'Neutral' to 'Fear'

Image source=Reuters·Yonhap News

The price of Bitcoin, the leading virtual asset, has slightly declined due to escalating geopolitical tensions.

According to CoinMarketCap, a global virtual asset market tracking site, as of 12:36 PM on the 15th, the price of Bitcoin was recorded at $26,903 (approximately 36.45 million KRW), down 0.14% from the previous day. Until a week ago, Bitcoin was trading in the $27,900 range, but it has fallen more than 4% during this period.

Investment sentiment toward risk assets has worsened as Israel announced plans to launch a ground offensive against the Palestinian armed group Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's warning that the evacuation deadline for Gaza Strip residents was until the previous day and that a ground offensive would begin has gained traction.

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, the U.S. stock market also closed lower on the 13th (local time). The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 39.15 points (0.12%) to 33,670.29, the S&P 500 index fell 21.83 points (0.50%) to 4,327.78, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq index closed down 166.99 points (1.23%) at 13,407.23.

Investor sentiment in virtual assets has deteriorated to the 'fear' stage. According to data from Alternative, a virtual asset data provider, the Fear & Greed Index, which measures investor sentiment, dropped 2 points from 47 (neutral) the previous day to 45 (fear). It also fell 5 points compared to 50 (neutral) a week ago. Alternative's Fear & Greed Index ranges from 0, indicating extreme fear and pessimism about investing, to 100, indicating optimism.