The United States military struck Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro early Saturday, triggering mixed reactions across cryptocurrency markets as Bitcoin initially fell before recovering above $91,000. President Donald Trump announced his administration would temporarily run the South American nation while cryptocurrency assets linked to him posted gains.
What Happened: Military Operation
The overnight operation captured Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from their residence at the Ft. Tiuna military installation outside Caracas, according to Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández. Delta Force conducted the extraction operation, and both were flown to New York to face federal narcotics and weapons charges.
Bitcoin fell to $89,571 during the early morning strike before climbing back above $91,000 by Sunday. The recovery marked a shift from the initial selloff when news of the military action first broke around 2 a.m. ET.
Trump stated at a Saturday press conference that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela until a proper transition occurs.
He also claimed Venezuela's oil reserves exceed 300 billion barrels, valued at more than $17 trillion at current market prices. The strike followed months of U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, including deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier.
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Why It Matters: Market Response
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the attacks "reckless" and warned that U.S. plans to run Venezuela should "strike fear in the hearts of all Americans." Trump acknowledged he did not inform Congress before the operation, saying it would have leaked. Democrats criticized the lack of congressional authorization for military action.
Impeachment odds on prediction platforms showed mixed movement.
Contrary to initial reports of record highs, data from Kalshi and Polymarket indicated odds declined slightly since the start of the year. Polymarket's chances for impeachment by Dec. 31, 2026, dropped 3% following the attacks.
Trump-linked cryptocurrencies surged on the news. World Liberty Financial's WLFI token jumped more than 16% to nearly $0.18. The TRUMP memecoin rose 7.5% to $5.40, returning to the top 100 altcoins by market capitalization.
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