US warplanes struck and disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers in the Gulf of Oman on May 8, marking the second such operation in three days and sending shockwaves through both energy and crypto markets. Oil prices briefly surged above $100 per barrel while Bitcoin dropped below $80,000, triggering approximately $300 million in crypto futures liquidations as traders scrambled to reprice risk.

The vessels, identified as the Sea Star III and the Sevda, were targeted with precision munitions aimed at their smokestacks to prevent them from entering Iranian waters. The strikes followed a similar operation against a tanker called the M/T Hasna on May 6, establishing a clear pattern of escalating military enforcement against…