Market Performance
| Asset / Index | Value ($) | Daily Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 71,900 | +3.68% |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 2,099 | +4.58% |
| Bitcoin Spot ETF | 461M | Inflow |
| Ethereum Spot ETF | 169M | Inflow |
| Nasdaq (NAS100) | 24,979 | +1.47% |
| S&P 500 (SPX) | 6,869 | +0.78% |
| Russell 2000 (RUT) | 2,613 | +0.58% |
| U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) | 99.142 | +0.11% |
| VIX Volatility Index | 21.14 | -13.71% |
| U.S. 10-Year Yield | 4.125 | +1.05% |
| Brent Crude Oil (BRENT) | 82.715 | +0.29% |
| LBMA Gold (XAU) | 5,143 | -0.33% |
| LBMA Silver (XAG) | 82.90 | -2.17% |
“Prepared at UTC 07.18 am”
Today’s Key Events
- US Judges to Hold Closed Settlement Meeting on Customs Tax Refunds
- US Non-Farm Employment Data to be Released
- US Jobless Claims
- FOMC Members Daly, Paulson, and Hammack to Speak
- Hype Token Unlock
US-Iran Tensions Escalate: Energy Markets and Global Risks Rise
- Increasing tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East are being closely monitored in global markets. Military activity and political statements in recent days have heightened concerns that the conflict could escalate into a broader regional crisis, while volatility has risen, particularly in energy markets.
- As the interim leadership committee chaired by Iranian President Pezeshkian held its latest meeting, committee members announced their strong support for the armed forces’ role in the war effort. Iranian officials emphasized that resistance against the US and Israel would continue, while discussions about a new Supreme Leader are also on the agenda within the country. According to some sources, Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, could emerge as the new leader. If this scenario materializes, Iran’s anti-US policies are expected to continue.
- It is noted that the US and Israel’s recent operations have focused particularly on weakening Iran’s air defense systems and missile capabilities. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the frequency of Iran’s ballistic missile attacks has decreased by approximately 90% since the first days of the conflict. Hegseth also said that Iran’s missile production capacity could be targeted in the next phase of operations.
- However, Iran’s low-cost “Shahed” type kamikaze drones continue to pose a significant threat to US air defense systems. Officials note that despite their low cost, these drones are highly effective, and it is not possible to intercept them all.
Strait of Hormuz Risk Worries Energy Markets
- Iran announced that it has not completely closed the Strait of Hormuz but that passage rules will be controlled by Iran in wartime conditions. Iran also stated that military and commercial vessels belonging to the US, Israel, and their allies will not be allowed to pass through the strait. This situation is considered a risk of an actual blockade.
- As the risk premium in the oil market rose rapidly due to the conflict, the US WTI crude oil price briefly exceeded $80. Analysts say that if the Strait of Hormuz is closed for a long time, there could be a serious disruption in global energy supply, which could lead to sharp increases in oil prices.
Harsh Statements from Trump
US President Donald Trump argued that the US should play a role in determining Iran’s new Supreme Leader. Trump also said that Iran wants to renegotiate with the US, but that it may be “too late.” Touching on the regime change discussions in Iran, Trump encouraged Iranian Kurdish armed groups to carry out attacks. Trump also stated that after the end of the Iran conflict, the US would turn its attention to Cuba. These statements led to comments that Washington’s global geopolitical strategy could expand.
Trump Involved in Iran Leadership Discussions
US President Donald Trump confirmed that Ali Khamenei’s son, Mohammad Javad Khamenei, is one of the possible successors to Iran’s Supreme Leader. Trump also argued that the US should play a direct role in determining Iran’s next leader. However, Trump also stated that such a possible leadership change could be unacceptable.
Trump Tariff Case Settlement Meeting
A federal judge in the US announced that a closed-door settlement meeting would be held between the parties in the case concerning the refund of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Friday.
Stablecoin Yield Debate at the Center of US Crypto Market Law
The issue of stablecoin yields has become a critical topic of debate in regulatory efforts targeting the structure of the cryptocurrency market in the US. According to crypto reporter Eleanor Terrett, the progress of the bill largely depends on Senator Thom Tillis’ stance. It was reported that the White House submitted the bill to Tillis’ office and that the meeting held between the parties in recent days was considered “a step in the right direction.” Cody Carbone, CEO of The Digital Chamber, expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached on stablecoin returns. While it was stated that the bill could pass the Senate Banking Committee along party lines even without Democratic support, Tillis’ vote is of critical importance.
Russia Plans to Integrate Crypto Trading into Banking System
The Central Bank of Russia has proposed allowing commercial banks and brokerage firms to obtain crypto trading licenses. Under the planned regulation, crypto transactions will be conducted through licensed institutions, and fund flows will be monitored using existing anti-money laundering systems. Banks’ exposure to crypto assets will be limited to 1% of their capital. The new regulations are expected to be finalized by July 1, 2026, and to clarify the uncertain legal status of cryptocurrencies in Russia.
Traditional Asset Trading Rapidly Increasing on Hyperliquid
The on-chain trading volume of traditional assets on the Hyperliquid platform has shown a remarkable increase. The daily trading volume of HIP-3 markets on the platform reached $2.2 billion, accounting for 30.1% of the total $7.34 billion volume. While there was a significant increase in contracts linked to WTI crude oil in particular, the volume of the xyz:CL trading pair rose 140% in the last 24 hours to $242 million. The open position size of the same contract exceeded $66 million.
MetaDAO Decides to Liquidate Ranger Finance
The MetaDAO community voted to liquidate Ranger Finance. Under the decision, RNGR/USDC liquidity will be removed from Futarchy AMM, all USDC reserves will be transferred to the MetaDAO team, and these reserves will be distributed to token holders based on snapshot data. The proposal also includes returning the intellectual property rights belonging to Futarchy management to Glint House PTE. LTD.
Interagency Cooperation for Digital Asset Regulation in the US
US SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated that clear rules need to be established regarding digital asset regulations and announced that they aim to cooperate with the CFTC to advance the CLARITY Act. Atkins said they would work closely with CFTC Chairman Mike Selig and that regulation could support financial technology innovation in the US.
Lummis: Urgency for Digital Asset Legislation
Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets Chair Cynthia Lummis stated in her meeting with the CFTC Chairman that they are aware of the urgency of regulations regarding the digital asset market structure. Lummis said cooperation would continue for the integration of digital assets into the 21st-century financial system.
US Grants India Temporary Exemption for Russian Oil
US Treasury Secretary Bessent announced that India has been granted a 30-day temporary exemption to purchase Russian oil waiting at sea to prevent a disruption in global oil supply. Officials stated that this step would not provide Russia with a significant economic advantage and was intended to maintain continuity of supply in the global energy market.
Comprehensive Security Program for Aave V4
Aave Labs announced a comprehensive security plan for the Aave V4 protocol. Manual audits, formal verification, fuzz testing, and open security competitions were conducted as part of the security review, which lasted approximately 345 days. The DAO allocated a $1.5 million security budget for the program. AI-powered smart contract security scans are also planned for the future.
CleanSpark Mined 568 Bitcoins in February
Bitcoin mining company CleanSpark announced that it mined 568 BTC in February. The company has mined a total of 1,141 BTC since the beginning of the year. It was also noted that 553 BTC were sold at an average price of $66,279 in February, bringing the company’s total Bitcoin holdings to 13,363 BTC.
