Bitcoin prices remained largely calm over the weekend amid heightened geopolitical tensions following the U.S. detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
According to experts, the cryptocurrency market was not affected by this development in the short term. However, that could change when traditional markets open on Monday.
Michael van de Poppe, founder of crypto investment firm MN Fund, said in his review of the X Platform that he does not expect the Venezuela operation to lead to a broader correction in Bitcoin. Van de Poppe described the operation as “planned and coordinated” and said it was largely “behind the scenes” for the market. The analyst added that he believes Bitcoin is likely to trade above $90,000 again next week.
However, not all market commentators are equally optimistic. Crypto market analyst Lennart Snyder pointed to rising geopolitical tensions and warned that Bitcoin volatility could increase next week as large companies return to the market.
An analysis published in the India-based economic newspaper Economic Times said geopolitics will again be at the center of markets in early 2026. Riya Sharma, the paper’s senior digital editor, said the military operation, which involves the US directly, is forcing investors to reassess risks, and wrote that volatility could be seen in oil, precious metals, currencies and stocks on Monday. According to Sharma, increased geopolitical risk generally leads to a shift of capital from risky assets to safe assets. This could cause a sharp reaction on Wall Street in the short term.
Bitcoin showed a gradual recovery over the weekend, surpassing the $90,000 level after the January 3 operation. The US arrest of the Maduros does not appear to have had a significant impact on prices. Maduro was then reportedly taken to Manhattan, New York, and placed in the same detention center where Sam Bankman Fried was previously held.
*This is not investment advice.
