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SOL $89.35 +2.95%
TRX $0.3265 +0.02%
DOGE $0.1006 +3.02%
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BCH $455.05 +3.41%
LINK $9.69 +2.94%
HYPE $44.44 +1.52%
AAVE $117.98 +4.95%
SUI $1.01 +3.54%
XLM $0.1732 +4.85%
ZEC $333.56 -0.95%

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UAE investors are buying AI and crypto assets at low prices during the US-Iran conflict

According to Cointelegraph, during the US-Iran conflict, UAE investors chose to buy the dip in AI and digital assets rather than reducing their overall positions.eToro data shows that in the first quarter, UAE users increased their holdings in several software and AI infrastructure stocks that had significantly pulled back in price. eToro market analyst Josh Gilbert stated that the behavior of UAE investors is driven by long-term themes rather than risk aversion, with the most obvious signals appearing in the AI infrastructure and software sector—ServiceNow (+125%), Super Micro Computer (+65%), Adobe (+54%), and Oracle (+38%) all saw significant increases in holdings against a backdrop of market pressure.In terms of crypto assets, Strategy Inc. remains the eighth highest held stock by UAE investors, indicating a continued allocation to crypto-related assets. Deutsche Bank's report on April 13 indicated that this conflict is more likely to strengthen rather than weaken the region's demand for AI, cybersecurity, and sovereign digital infrastructure; however, it also cited reports that the Amazon Web Services data centers in the UAE and Bahrain have been attacked, and the planned 1GW Stargate park in Abu Dhabi is also under threat.The report also noted that sovereign wealth funds in the Gulf region manage approximately $5 trillion in assets by 2025, with Abu Dhabi-related institutions being one of the most active sources of funding in the global AI sector. Local crypto businesses in Dubai are operating normally. HashKey MENA Managing Director Ben El-Baz told Cointelegraph that business remains normal, relying on cloud trading and custody systems; Binance also confirmed that the vast majority of employees chose to stay, but the Token2049 Dubai event has been postponed to 2027.The Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) continues to advance its activity-type regulatory framework. VARA Market Assurance Director Sean McHugh stated that during times of pressure, serious market participants seek the clearest regulatory environment rather than the most lenient jurisdictions.

Bitwise: Geopolitical conflicts are enhancing Bitcoin's safe-haven attributes, with $1 million potentially becoming the benchmark price

Bitwise Asset Management points out that the recent strength of Bitcoin is not contrary to a risk-averse environment, but is directly driven by geopolitical conflicts. Since the escalation of the situation in the Middle East at the end of February, BTC has risen by about 12%, while the S&P 500 index has fallen by about 1% and gold has dropped by about 10%, showing a clear divergence in performance.Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan and research director Ryan Rasmussen state that Bitcoin is simultaneously embodying two logics: "store of value asset" and "potential international settlement currency." As the financial system becomes "weaponized" and the global payment system fractures, the appeal of non-sovereign neutral assets continues to rise. The report suggests that geopolitical fragmentation is prompting some countries to explore alternative paths to bypass the traditional financial system, such as attempting to introduce Bitcoin settlements in trade. This trend enhances BTC's potential position in the global monetary system. Based on the aforementioned changes, Bitwise indicates that the Bitcoin valuation framework is being reshaped; if it captures both store of value and transaction settlement demand, long-term price expectations may be underestimated, and $1 million could shift from a target ceiling to a "benchmark level."

"1011 Insider Whale" Agent: The U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz may not end the conflict, but rather escalate the risks

Agent Garrett Jin from "1011 Insider Whale" pointed out in an analysis that the U.S. announcement to implement a maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is one of the "most tactically wise" moves in the current conflict, but it is unlikely to achieve the goal of ending the war. This strategy has two short-term advantages: first, it directly weakens Iran's crude oil export revenue by about 1.7 million barrels per day; second, compared to occupying key facilities (such as Khark Island), the cost of a maritime blockade is lower and the risks are more controllable.However, the effectiveness of this strategy faces multiple challenges. For example, the current blockade mainly targets Iranian ports rather than completely closing the strait, and third-party transshipment routes still exist. Additionally, it undermines the U.S.'s long-term international image of maintaining "freedom of navigation," which could have far-reaching effects on global maritime order.Garrett Jin concluded that while the blockade measures may reshape the initiative in the short term, they are unlikely to force Iran to make concessions and may instead compress diplomatic space and prolong the conflict cycle. The market has accounted for the impact of the blockade itself, but has not fully priced in the potential paths for escalation that may follow.

Tether's associated Super PAC's first advertising expenditure went to Tether's U.S. CEO co-founded company, raising questions about conflicts of interest

According to CoinDesk, documents submitted to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by the Super Political Action Committee (Super PAC) Fellowship, which is associated with Tether, show that its first expenditure of $300,000 went to Nxum Group, a company co-founded by Tether's U.S. CEO, former Trump administration crypto advisor Bo Hines, along with his father Todd Hines and third-party partners.This expenditure was used to purchase campaign advertisements for Georgia Republican House candidate Clay Fuller, coinciding with Fuller winning a special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene as a congressman. Notably, Fellowship did not publicly announce this expenditure nor include Fuller in its public endorsement list.On April 1 of this year, Fellowship appointed Jesse Spiro, Tether's U.S. Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, as the committee chair, officially reactivating its presence in the political arena. When the committee was announced last year, it had received a total funding commitment of $100 million, but its FEC disclosure documents currently show a zero account balance, and related donations have not been made public. Tether International responded that there is no association or regulatory relationship with Fellowship PAC, while Tether U.S. declined to comment.In terms of conflicts of interest, Michael Beckel from the political reform organization Issue One stated that it is not illegal for Super PACs to pay founder-associated companies under U.S. campaign finance rules, provided that services are genuinely rendered and rates are in line with market prices. Fellowship's CFO Mitchell Nobel currently works at Cantor Fitzgerald, which manages Tether's global business assets, and its former chairman is current Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.Currently, Fellowship's expenditure scale is still vastly different from that of the leading crypto industry Super PAC Fairshake. Fairshake has invested millions in several primary elections, while the candidates currently supported by Fellowship are almost all deep-red state Republicans.

Analysis: In the 6 weeks of the US-Iran conflict, the Bitcoin market has shown divergence, with institutions continuing to buy while whales and mining companies accelerate their sell-off

According to CoinDesk, amid the ongoing geopolitical conflict between the U.S. and Iran for about six weeks, the Bitcoin market is clearly dividing into two camps: "passive buyers" represented by Strategy and spot ETFs continue to absorb chips, while whales, mining companies, and some sovereign holders are turning to reduce their holdings.The selling side is showing clear signs: whale addresses holding 1,000 to 10,000 BTC have shifted from net buying to significant net selling, with the change in holdings this year moving from approximately +200,000 coins to -188,000 coins; publicly listed mining companies are also concentrating on reducing their holdings under high cost pressure, with weekly sales exceeding 19,000 BTC. Additionally, sovereign holders like Bhutan have reduced their Bitcoin reserves by about 70% since October 2024.Analysis indicates that despite market sentiment once being in an extreme panic zone, Bitcoin prices have remained fluctuating in the range of $65,000 to $73,000, showing that the price "bottom" mainly relies on support from a few institutional buyers. The current market buyer base continues to narrow, and future trends will depend on whether institutional capital inflows can continue and break through key resistance zones.

Binance provides temporary transfers for employees in the UAE to address disruptions in operations in the region due to the Middle East conflict

According to CoinDesk, affected by the situation in the Middle East, Binance is offering its employees in the UAE the option to temporarily relocate to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok.A Binance spokesperson stated, "In light of the recent regional tensions, we are providing our employees with the option for temporary relocation as a precautionary measure prioritizing employee welfare, to offer flexibility and support during uncertain times." The spokesperson also mentioned that many employees are currently choosing to stay in the UAE, and the company's operations in the UAE remain normal.It is reported that Binance has about 1,000 employees in the UAE, accounting for 20% of its global workforce, and the company's global operations are also supported from Abu Dhabi. This relocation proposal comes after the signing of a ceasefire agreement. The regional conflict, which lasted for about six weeks, has impacted business activities in the UAE. Since the outbreak of the conflict in late February, the UAE has intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones, with another interception occurring on April 8.The conflict in the Middle East has affected several cryptocurrency and major events in the UAE: the TOKEN2049 Dubai summit has been postponed to 2027, the TON Gateway has been canceled due to safety and travel concerns, the Middle East Energy Dubai Exhibition and the Dubai International Boat Show have been postponed, and the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia F1 events, which have sponsorship exposure value for the crypto industry, are also facing cancellation.
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