Iran-Israel-USA War: Impact on gaming, industry events, crypto
The conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States of America is, arguably, beyond the point of no return. After months of tension, on June 13, 2025, the world faced the concrete threat of a large-scale war. That day, Israel launched “Rising Lion”, a series of airstrikes on strategic Iranian targets, justified by Tel Aviv as a pre-emptive response to an alleged Iranian plan to accelerate its nuclear programme. Iran, predictably, reacted with firmness, and the spiral of retaliations quickly escalated into an international crisis.
But it was during the night between June 21 and 22 that the situation deteriorated, perhaps, irreversibly. The United States, led by Donald Trump, directly entered the conflict with “Operation Midnight Hammer.” A barrage of Tomahawk missiles and bunker-buster bombs dropped from stealth B-2 bombers struck Iran’s nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, causing significant damage to the country’s nuclear infrastructure and igniting a new, dangerous phase of the conflict.
Global markets under shock
The economic consequences were immediate. Energy markets were the first to react. According to , the price of Brent crude oil rose by 1.53%, reaching $78.19 per barrel, while WTI recorded a 1.48% increase, settling at $74.93. These figures clearly reflect growing fears of a potential disruption to traffic through the c, the strategic bottleneck through which nearly 25% of the world’s oil supply passes.
Gold prices have also risen sharply, as is tradition during times of crisis, while the US dollar has strengthened, signaling a widespread shift towards so-called safe-haven assets.
Even the cryptocurrency market was not immune to the shock. Bitcoin, after a sharp decline that saw it approach $98,200, has partially recovered, currently trading around $101,400. The market remains marked by high volatility, a direct reflection of the geopolitical uncertainty and speculation that have always characterized digital assets in times of international crisis.
iGaming and technology: An exposed industry
While the conflict is making traditional investors nervous, the tension is just as palpable across the iGaming and digital technology sectors. Rising energy costs, directly linked to instability in the Middle East, translate into an immediate increase in expenses for data centres, servers, and cloud services – the backbone of online gaming infrastructure. Larger, well-capitalised platforms may be able to absorb the blow, but smaller or less financially robust operators face an increasingly challenging environment.
But this is not just a matter of operating costs. The expected expansion of sanctions against Iran, already announced by Washington and Brussels, will also have direct consequences for international online gaming operators. Compliance requirements regarding Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures will be significantly tightened, resulting in increased operational costs and a higher risk of onboarding delays and complications with international transactions.
The cyber threat behind the conflict
Modern warfare is no longer fought exclusively on the battlefield. Cybersecurity experts agree that Iran, known for its offensive cyber capabilities, may escalate cyberattacks targeting Western entities, with a particular focus on the financial and digital sectors. iGaming platforms, by their very nature global and digital, are prime targets for such operations.
The probability of ransomware attacks, intrusion attempts, and digital sabotage is rising daily. For industry operators, investing in cybersecurity has become an urgent necessity. Those who fail to reinforce their systems adequately will inevitably find themselves exposed, not only to financial damage but also to severe reputational fallout.
International events under pressure
Another growing area of concern is the international events sector. The United States, historically a hub for summits, conferences, and global exhibitions in fintech, iGaming, and cryptocurrency, is now facing a tangible risk to domestic security. Analysts and intelligence services have not ruled out the possibility of terrorist attacks on American soil as retaliation for the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
The impact on the global event calendar is already evident. Event organisers are revising logistics strategies and security protocols. Investors and operators are evaluating participation in high-profile gatherings with increasing caution, mindful of the risks and uncertainties. Higher costs, more expensive insurance policies, tighter security measures, and an inevitable drop in physical attendance are likely to define the coming months.
The Mediterranean and the Middle East, traditionally strategic hubs for international tech and gaming events, are not immune either. The threat of a closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the deteriorating security situation across the region may discourage travel, investment, and business initiatives, jeopardising the execution of conferences and large-scale exhibitions.
Cryptocurrency: opportunity or risk?
The Middle Eastern crisis amplifies the historical ambiguity of the cryptocurrency sector. On the one hand, Bitcoin and other digital assets continue to be viewed as diversification and protection tools during times of economic instability. On the other hand, their use by state actors or parastatal groups involved in conflicts fuels regulatory concerns.
Iran, already under suspicion for years for using cryptocurrencies to bypass economic sanctions, is now under even greater scrutiny. The high-profile theft of $90 million from Iranian crypto platform Nobitex, on 18th June 25, has once again highlighted the structural vulnerabilities of the crypto ecosystem in the context of cyber warfare.
The attack on Nobitex, however, was not a simple theft for financial gain. It was claimed by the hacker group Predatory Sparrow, already known for coordinated cyber operations within the Israeli-Iranian conflict. The approximately 90 million dollars in stolen cryptocurrencies were never moved through traditional markets but were instead “burned” in unrecoverable wallets, accompanied by political messages targeting Iran’s leadership. This act confirms that cryptocurrencies are now fully embedded in the dynamics of hybrid warfare – not only as economic assets but also as tools of sabotage and propaganda. The Nobitex incident exposes the vulnerabilities of a still-maturing sector, one that is not only subject to market speculation but also increasingly caught in the crossfire of escalating geopolitical conflicts.
At an international level, pressure is mounting for stricter, more uniform regulation of the sector. Operators must prepare for a future in which authorities will closely monitor transactions, capital flows, and all activities linked to digital assets.
An uncertain future that requires clear-headed action
The conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States is much more than a regional crisis. It is a geopolitical earthquake that is shaking the foundations of global markets, security, and the digital economy. The iGaming industry, the cryptocurrency sector, and international event organisers find themselves navigating dangerously turbulent waters, where resilience, preparedness, and adaptability will be the deciding factors between consolidation and collapse.
This is no longer a time for wait-and-see approaches. In this scenario, those who can invest in security, compliance, technology, and crisis management strategies will be the ones to transform challenges into opportunities. The future remains uncertain, but how global companies and industry operators respond to this crisis will shape the gaming, tech, and crypto industries for years to come.
This article was originally written in Italian on 23 June 2025.
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