Geopolitics

An American court ruled to forfeit more than $600,000 in USDT, stemming from a physical letter phishing scam targeting Ledger users. After receiving the disguised letter, the victims leaked their seed phrases, and their funds were stolen. The scammers tried to conceal the funds through multiple transfers and conversion methods, but the transparency of the blockchain helped the police track the path of the fund movements. They then successfully recovered the funds through a civil forfeiture proceeding.

The Arizona House Rules Committee unanimously passed the SB1649 bill, establishing a Digital Assets Strategic Reserve Fund that puts digital assets such as XRP under the management of the Department of the Treasury, and allows revenue to be generated through methods such as staking. If the bill passes, it will become the first U.S. state to officially recognize XRP as a fiscal reserve asset. XRP is currently trading at $1.28 and faces challenges from technical support and resistance.

Bitcoin (BTC) gives back this week’s gains, temporarily trading at around $66,780 on April 3. Bitcoin miner MARA cut 15% of its workforce, shifting its strategy toward energy and digital infrastructure. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic says North Korean hackers may exploit a vulnerability in the Drift Protocol to profit $286 million.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as Acting Attorney General, and dissolved the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, issuing a memorandum to halt regulatory enforcement against the crypto industry. When Blanche signed this memorandum, he still held crypto assets, which allegedly violated ethical standards and sparked legal disputes; whether transferring his assets into his family’s name can eliminate the conflict of interest remains controversial.

Goolsbee said that with the economy impacted by the shock from oil prices and inflation not yet having eased, rising oil prices could further worsen inflation expectations, bringing greater difficulties and slowing hiring. Companies are facing uncertainty.

Trump, in a speech on April 2, warned Iran, causing market risk sentiment to contract sharply; Bitcoin fell by about 4%, hitting a low of $65,789. Rising oil prices and a strengthening dollar index intensified macro pressure, further impacting the market. From a technical perspective, Bitcoin may face a key support level at $64,000.

Gate News update, April 3, according to The Atlantic, a source said that FBI Director Patel, Army Secretary Driskoll, and Labor Secretary Chavez-Dremer may leave the Trump administration.

Trump expressed disappointment to Commerce Secretary Lutnick and Labor Secretary Dremer, considering a cabinet reshuffle, especially targeting members who have underperformed. If Lutnick is fired, it could signal a shift in Trump’s economic policies. The White House said the two secretaries performed well and received the president’s support.

Due to the blockade of the Hormuz Strait, the spot price of Brent crude oil has surged past $140, reaching a new high since 2008 and triggering global inflation pressures. Tight spot supplies have led to fierce competition among refiners, causing oil prices to continue rising, which could further impact the overall economy and central banks' monetary policies.

A recent report from Bitcoin Think Tank recommends that Taiwan allocate 1–5% of its foreign exchange reserves to Bitcoin to address geopolitical and economic risks. Although the Central Bank of Taiwan previously refused to do so due to high volatility and regulatory risk, the report argues that Bitcoin could increase the flexibility and resilience of Taiwan’s reserves, giving Taiwan more options when facing uncertainty.

Several crypto assets declined on Friday after Donald Trump’s speech triggered panic across global markets. Defying expectations for restraint, Trump outlined plans for potential military action against Iran over

On April 2, the spot price of Brent crude oil broke through $140 per barrel, reaching the highest level since 2008, mainly due to a shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz that disrupted global oil supply. This supply crisis put refineries under immense pressure, driving a sharp rise in crude oil prices over a short period of time.

Gate News message: On April 2, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran is at the point where it should reach an agreement to avoid it being too late.

_U.S. DAO adoption expands as Alabama grants legal status and liability protections to decentralized nonprofit entities._ The US state of Alabama has signed a new bill that introduces a structure for decentralized nonprofit groups operating with smart contracts. Lawmakers aim to give clarity to

Iranian crude oil saw a premium over Brent for the first time after the United States eased sanctions, with the premium coming in at about $1 per barrel. By controlling the Strait of Hormuz and constraining global supply, Iran increased the value of its crude oil and improved its position in the market.

Gate News update: On April 2, according to Gate data, both U.S. and Brent crude oil (WTI crude oil, Brent crude oil) saw a sharp drop in the short term. WTI crude oil (U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures) fell by nearly $5, to $108.93 per barrel. The report says Iran is drafting a Strait of Hormuz transit agreement with Oman.

Gate News update. On April 2, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency (IRNA), Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi said that Iran is drafting a Strait of Hormuz transit agreement with Oman.

Gate News message, April 2, according to CCTV News, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Garibabadi, said that Iran is studying charging transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, an important oil transportation route connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. He said that the current fee schedule is still under study and no specific amount has been determined yet.

Crypto markets are stuck in a holding pattern as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East cloud an otherwise improving macro backdrop, according to crypto asset manager Grayscale. "The war in Iran overshadowed virtually all other market developments in March," the Grayscale research team said in a

BTC OG insider mega-whale agent Garrett Jin analyzes President Trump’s speech, saying it suggests a commitment to a hot war, and that the escalation of the Middle East conflict is already set in stone. He notes that the market hasn’t priced this in, that the near-term rebound is driven by positioning, and that the absence of any solution to the war will continue to weigh on oil supply and raise risks for importing countries. A 6% jump in oil prices reflects the reality of the conflict escalating.