Saudi Arabia has just delivered a silent but devastating blow to the Russian economy. And crypto investors are paying attention.

Have you ever wondered how the price of oil can become a geopolitical weapon? Or how decisions made in the Persian Gulf can change the mood of the markets and even boost (or drop) Bitcoin?

As the leader of OPEC+, Saudi Arabia has decided to increase oil production, bringing prices down to around US$$ 60 per barrel — the lowest level in four years. The official justification? To punish members like Iraq and Kazakhstan for exceeding their quotas. But is that all?

For many analysts, the real target is somewhere else: Russia, whose economy is still reeling under the weight of the war in Ukraine and more than 16,000 international sanctions. About a third of Russia’s budget depends on oil and gas exports. And with prices falling, Moscow is bleeding.

The Kremlin has already been burning through reserves from its sovereign wealth fund — which has shrunk by 25% since the start of the war — to sustain military spending and the state machine. But for how long will this be possible?

If you invest in crypto, you already get the message: global instability generates uncertainty in the traditional market — and this usually fuels the appetite for alternative assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. But be careful: volatility is also part of the package.

Are we seeing a replay of the Cold War? The Saudi tactic is very reminiscent of the 1980s, when the kingdom, with US support, helped to plunge oil prices and, in doing so, accelerated the fall of the Soviet Union. Is history about to repeat itself?

With the ruble devalued, inflation high and a shortage of imported goods, the pressure is now falling directly on the Russian people. Even though it maintains diplomatic ties with Moscow, Saudi Arabia still depends on the US for security issues. Coincidence or strategic calculation?