Bitwise’s Matt Hougan believes last weekend’s Iran attack revealed something bigger than a short-term market reaction, but rather cemented that crypto has quietly become the world’s always-open financial system.
When news of the strike broke on Sunday, traditional markets were closed. There were no stock exchanges open and no futures trading desks active.
But crypto markets were running as usual. Investors who wanted to react immediately turned to blockchain-based platforms, where trading never stops.
For Hougan, that moment captured a shift that has been building for years: when uncertainty hits outside market hours, crypto is where price discovery now happens.
Hougan’s comments echo an optimistic stance towards the crypto industry, something other market participants like Arthur Hayes have also recently floated.
Hougan: crypto’s 24/7 access is its real edge in crisis moments
He argues this isn’t just about volatility or speculation. It’s about access. On-chain markets operate 24/7, settle quickly and don’t rely on centralized opening bells. In times of geopolitical stress, that constant availability becomes a real advantage.
Hougan says the move toward on-chain finance is no longer theoretical or gradual, it’s inevitable. What once seemed like a niche alternative is increasingly functioning as parallel financial infrastructure.
And as global events continue to unfold in real time, he suggests more investors, including institutions, may feel compelled to plug into a system that never sleeps.
Bitcoin may benefit if prolonged iran conflict pushes fed easing
Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, has recently claimed that continued U.S. military engagement in Iran-related activities may eventually create a favourable environment for Bitcoin and other risk assets.
As Coinheadlines reported earlier, Hayes stated that “the longer we are in conflict, the higher the fiscal costs are likely to rise.”
Military confrontations typically need more government spending, which raises the nation’s financial deficit. This might potentially have an influence on monetary policy.
Hayes’ recent comments on the subject come at a time when financial markets throughout the world are experiencing poor sentiment and unpredictable trade.