Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

Franklin Templeton, as stated by Mike Reed at the LONGITUDE conference, is embracing a crypto-native approach to blockchain, highlighting the rapid evolution of the industry despite its traditional roots.

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, CHCUSD100 (China A50 100x) has surged by 0.5% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market

Bitcoin continues to rise, reaching $74,630. Tether uses its profits to buy 951 bitcoins. Virginia passes an unclaimed property law, requiring idle cryptocurrency to be transferred to the state government. U.S. stocks are driven by tech stocks, and the S&P 500 index hits a new high. Crypto market dynamics show that investors are paying attention to geopolitical conditions and U.S. monetary policy.

According to The Block’s report, Hyperliquid’s HIP-3 market open interest reached a peak of $2.38 billion in April, but has recently fallen to $2.1 billion. TradeXYZ dominates the market, accounting for more than 90% of the share. The top ten by trading volume on Hyperliquid are mainly driven by tokenized stocks and commodity futures, offering 24/7 trading services that traditional exchanges cannot provide.

CoreWeave has secured a $6 billion deal with Jane Street for AI cloud services, which includes a $1 billion investment in CoreWeave stock. The transition to AI cloud infrastructure has positioned CoreWeave as a leader in the sector.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has launched an investigation into crude oil futures trading before the Trump administration’s policy changes toward Iran, involving the CME Group and ICE trading platforms. The investigation focuses on trading data from March 23 and April 7, when investors built up large positions in the hours before the ceasefire. The CFTC chair emphasized that it will pursue any illegal activity and faces lawmakers calling for further investigation into officials’ alleged insider trading.

Bitcoin’s price as of April 16 is approaching $74,700. The Bullish Sentiment Index (BSI) has risen to 40 points, indicating a rebound in market sentiment. The United States and Iran are evaluating options to extend the current ceasefire agreement, and they are also discussing navigation issues in the Strait of Hormuz, as diplomatic negotiations continue.

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, COTTON (Cotton) has surged by 2% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market activity.

BlackRock withdrew 3,446 BTC, worth about $255.2 million, from a major CEX, signaling ongoing institutional accumulation in the Bitcoin market.

Cantor Fitzgerald donated $10 million to Fellowship PAC in January to support pro-cryptocurrency candidates, as revealed in recent Federal Election Commission filings. Jesse Spiro, from Tether, chairs the committee.

The CFTC is investigating unusual oil trades linked to President Trump's announcements on Truth Social, raising concerns of potential insider trading or market manipulation. Details on the trades and involved entities remain undisclosed.

Tether confirmed its participation in a $134 million funding round for Stablecoin Development Corporation, aiming to provide investors exposure to the stablecoin market through key holdings in SKY and USDS. SDEV now holds around 2.15 billion SKY tokens.

On April 16, South Korea's KOSPI index increased by 1.05%, opening at 6,155.28, while Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose by 0.57%, reaching 58,466.61 at the open.

Benefiting from positive news about the U.S.-Iran peace agreement, the stock market surged sharply, with the Nasdaq index and the S&P 500 index reaching record highs. Bitcoin remained steady at 74K, market sentiment improved, and the Fear & Greed Index rose to 55. Investor FOMO toward the stock market intensified, and the total market capitalization in the crypto market increased overall, indicating genuine buy-side interest.

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, HOOD (Robinhood) has surged by 2% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market activity.

Against the backdrop of the gradual expansion of global crypto and financial regulation, Circle co-founder Jeremy Allaire was named to Time’s 2026 list of the 100 most influential people, symbolizing the growing importance of stablecoins. Circle has evolved from a digital payments company into a stablecoin platform centered on USDC, and plans to become part of global financial infrastructure. This shift makes its business model more akin to a digital money market fund, foreshadowing the potential profitability and growth of stablecoins in the future.

Shrinkflation, driven by rising inflation due to the Middle East conflict, is affecting Brazilian consumers as companies reduce product quantities while keeping prices unchanged. Despite Lula's efforts to alleviate financial burdens, public discontent is growing, complicating his reelection prospects.

The United States and Iran reached a “principled agreement” to extend the ceasefire on April 15, bringing hope for the ceasefire deal that expires on April 21, with Pakistan actively mediating. Despite this, three major core disputes—Iran’s nuclear program, navigation rights in the Strait of Hormuz, and war reparations—still need to be resolved. The ceasefire news boosted the financial markets back to strength, pushed oil prices down, and led investors’ risk appetite to rebound. If a formal agreement cannot be signed before the deadline, the situation in the Middle East may flare up again.

On April 14, 2026, the State Bank of Pakistan lifted its crypto-assets banking ban that has been in place since 2018, officially kicking off the Virtual Assets Act 2026. Banks may open accounts for licensed virtual asset service providers, but must establish a segregation-of-funds mechanism to ensure that customers’ funds are not affected. This policy change responds to domestic demand and demonstrates Pakistan’s growing role on the international stage.