Market Performance
| Asset / Index | Value ($) | Daily Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 70,070 | -5.31% |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 2,162 | -6.85% |
| Bitcoin Spot ETF | -129M | — |
| Ethereum Spot ETF | -55M | — |
| Nasdaq (NAS100) | 24,308 | -2.54% |
| S&P 500 (SPX) | 6,624 | -1.37% |
| Russell 2000 (RUT) | 2,466 | -3.03% |
| U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) | 100.201 | +0.51% |
| VIX Volatility Index | 25.96 | +19.69% |
| U.S. 10-Year Yield | 4.285 | +2.63% |
| Brent Crude Oil (BRENT) | 110.185 | +10.41% |
| LBMA Gold (XAU) | 4,710 | -5.59% |
| LBMA Silver (XAG) | 70.78 | -10.63% |
“Prepared at UTC 08.38 am”
Asian Markets Fall as BOJ Holds Rates and Inflation Uncertainty Grows
Asian stock markets declined on Thursday, led by losses in Japan after the Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged and signaled rising uncertainty around inflation due to higher oil prices and escalating conflict in the Middle East. Regional equities also weakened following overnight losses on Wall Street driven by hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve, while U.S. futures remained largely flat during the Asian session.
Oil Surges as Middle East Escalation Fuels Supply Fears
Oil prices jumped sharply on Thursday, with West Texas Intermediate crude briefly surpassing $100 per barrel amid attacks on key energy infrastructure linked to the escalating U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. Reports that the United States is considering deploying thousands of troops to the Middle East further supported prices, raising concerns about a potential ground operation. Brent crude rose 4.3% to $111.97 per barrel, while WTI gained 0.9% to $97.18, briefly touching $100.02.
Bitcoin OGs Sell $117M Worth of BTC After Hawkish Fed Signals
Long-term bitcoin holders sold over 1,650 BTC worth approximately $117 million following a hawkish Federal Reserve outlook. The Fed signaled only one rate cut for the year, dampening sentiment toward risk assets. Expectations of higher rates for longer continue to pressure crypto markets alongside other risk-sensitive assets.
Flow Traders Launches 24/7 OTC Liquidity for Tokenized Assets
ETP market maker Flow Traders launched a 24/7 over-the-counter liquidity service for tokenized assets, enabling institutional investors to manage exposure to digital stocks, gold, and money market funds even when traditional markets are closed. The service aims to address liquidity gaps and investor frustration during weekends or after-hours when major global events occur.
Polymarket Acquires Brahma to Scale Infrastructure
Polymarket acquired financial infrastructure firm Brahma, integrating its team along with real-time execution and settlement technology into the prediction market platform. The move is intended to strengthen Polymarket’s infrastructure and support its rapid growth. Brahma, which has processed over $1 billion in trading volume, will sunset its existing products within 30 days and has advised users to migrate their funds and positions.
Tempo Launches Mainnet to Power Stablecoin Payments and AI Transactions
Stripe and Paradigm-backed payment-focused blockchain Tempo launched its mainnet, moving its stablecoin payment system out of testing and into live operation. The network is designed to handle high volumes of low-cost stablecoin transactions and includes a Machine Payments Protocol that enables software and AI agents to autonomously pay for services. The launch comes amid broader efforts by major payment companies such as Mastercard and Stripe to integrate stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure into global financial systems.
