According to CoinMeta, escalating tensions between the US and Iran exacerbated market anxieties, leading to sharp declines in Japanese and South Korean stock markets on Monday. The South Korean KOSPI index closed down 375.45 points, or 6.49%, at 5405.75 on Monday, March 23. The Nikkei 225 index closed down 1857.04 points, or 3.48%, at 51515.49 on Monday, March 23.