Bitcoin steadies near $81K amid Iran tensions and US crypto regulatory progress.

Bitcoin held steady around $81,000 after a weekend peak of $82,000 faded amid rising geopolitical tensions following President Trump's rejection of Iran's peace offer. The conflict escalation, including Israeli warnings of further military actions, weighed on market sentiment. Meanwhile, US lawmakers are advancing the Clarity Act to regulate digital assets, with a Senate Banking Committee hearing set for May 14, aiming to clarify stablecoin rules and boost crypto sector legitimacy. Equity futures dipped early Monday as investors awaited inflation data and a key US-China diplomatic meeting later this week, while alternative cryptocurrencies showed moderate gains despite uncertainty.