International oil prices saw a sharp plunge in off-hours trading, and Trump ordered the U.S. military to pause strikes against Iran
In the early hours of July 26, international oil prices in off-hours trading plunged sharply. As of 9:50 a.m. Beijing time, both the WTI and Brent off-hours prices fell by more than 3%. International oil prices in off-hours trading saw a sharp plunge, and Trump ordered the U.S. military to pause strikes against Iran
Citing a report from the U.S. Axios News website on July 25, Xinhua News Agency said that on July 24, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military that day not to launch strikes against Iran, breaking a stretch in which the U.S. military had carried out airstrikes against Iran for 13 consecutive days.
The report, citing two people familiar with the matter, said that over the past two weeks, Trump had approved strike plans submitted by the military every afternoon, and those actions were typically carried out within a few hours. But on the 24th, after Trump received a similar plan, he did not approve it. Instead, he instructed the military not to carry out strikes. It is not yet clear whether this is only a one-time measure.
The report said that Trump’s move shows, on the one hand, that he is willing to create more room for diplomatic efforts. On the other hand, it also indicates that he recognizes that, unless large-scale military operations are restarted, the U.S. military’s current airstrikes are unlikely to achieve further results. A source said the U.S. military is still making plans for a possible resumption of large-scale combat operations, but Trump has not made a decision yet.
The report also said that hours before Trump ordered a pause in strikes, an Omani delegation arrived in Iran to hold talks on new arrangements for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Two sources in the region said the negotiations have made progress and that Oman and Iran may reach an agreement over the weekend.
On the afternoon of July 24, Trump told the media at the White House that the U.S. and Iran are still in talks, adding that Iran is “serious this time.” He also threatened that the U.S. could continue military strikes against Iran, saying, “If necessary, we can fully upgrade to a higher level. We are ready and can act at any time.” #夏日创作营 $XTIUSD ‌

#EsportsTradingSeason
ESPORTS IS NO LONGER JUST ENTERTAINMENT IT IS BECOMING A REAL-TIME TRADING MARKET
The 2026 Esports World Cup is rewriting more than competitive gaming history. Running from July 6 to August 23 in Paris, the tournament features a record-breaking $75 million prize pool across 25 tournaments and 24 game titles, making it the largest esports event ever organized. While millions of fans are watching elite teams compete, another transformation is happening behind the scenes. Every major match is becoming a tradable event, where probabilities change in real time and market sentiment moves just as fast as the gameplay itself.
PREDICTION MARKETS ARE TURNING MATCHES INTO TRADABLE ASSETS
Competitive gaming has become one of the fastest-growing categories for crypto prediction markets.
Major platforms recorded increased trading activity during key Esports World Cup matches as traders reacted instantly to live results and changing tournament brackets. JD Gaming's strong tournament performance pushed its implied winning probability close to 90%, while unexpected results such as Karmine Corp's upset victory over Paper RX and its later elimination by NRG highlighted why esports creates an ideal environment for prediction trading.
Unlike traditional investing, every match delivers a clear binary outcome, allowing participants to enter and exit positions before final settlement while responding to momentum, statistics, and team performance.
WHY ESPORTS AND CRYPTO NATURALLY FIT TOGETHER
Esports audiences are already digital-first communities.
They follow live statistics, understand probability, consume real-time analytics, and actively engage with online platforms throughout every tournament. Crypto prediction markets simply extend that experience by allowing users to transform match analysis into market participation.
Instead of waiting for a tournament champion, traders can react instantly to roster changes, map selections, player form, and bracket progression, creating continuous opportunities throughout the competition.
GATE CONTINUES EXPANDING ITS PREDICTION MARKET ECOSYSTEM
Gate has continued strengthening its prediction market ecosystem by expanding coverage across sports, crypto, macroeconomic events, AI developments, and esports competitions.
Recent platform improvements introduced several new capabilities including Smart Money tracking, AI-powered event analysis, Quick Trade Mode, live event synchronization, and enhanced market analytics, making event trading faster and more data-driven.
Beginning July 23, Gate also launched a dedicated Esports Prediction Market Streamer Campaign, covering major titles including League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, VALORANT, Honor of Kings, and PUBG.
The campaign encourages creators to publish match previews, team analysis, prediction content, live watch sessions, and post-match breakdowns while rewarding quality content with cash incentives and platform exposure through August 7.
FAN TOKENS SHOW THAT SELECTIVE STRENGTH MATTERS
The broader esports token sector presents a more balanced picture.
Chiliz (CHZ), the infrastructure supporting the Socios fan token ecosystem, has declined roughly 47% during the past month, testing long-term support despite major global sporting events.
At the same time, performance has varied significantly between individual fan tokens.
Following Spain's World Cup victory, the country's fan token gained approximately 54% within a single week, while many other fan tokens continued trending lower.
This divergence suggests investors are becoming increasingly selective, rewarding stronger fundamentals instead of simply chasing tournament headlines.
MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT
The Esports World Cup's extended seven-week schedule creates a continuous stream of trading opportunities rather than a single championship event.
Participants can focus on:
Individual match prediction markets.
Team qualification and elimination scenarios.
Championship winner contracts.
Fan token performance linked to tournament success.
Broader crypto sentiment surrounding major esports developments.
The steady flow of competitions helps maintain market activity throughout the event instead of concentrating liquidity around one final match.
A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR BLOCKCHAIN ADOPTION
This year's tournament also represents a significant milestone for blockchain adoption within competitive gaming.
For the first time, crypto companies have been able to participate more openly through sponsorships, prediction markets, and ecosystem partnerships alongside traditional esports organizations.
As blockchain infrastructure becomes increasingly integrated with global gaming events, esports is evolving beyond entertainment into a market where digital communities, financial participation, and real-time data converge.
The 2026 Esports World Cup demonstrates that competitive gaming is entering a new financial era.
Every match now produces not only unforgettable moments for fans but also measurable trading activity across prediction markets and digital asset ecosystems.
As esports audiences continue expanding worldwide and blockchain technology becomes more deeply integrated into the industry, the relationship between gaming and crypto is likely to strengthen even further.
The future of esports is no longer defined only by championships it is increasingly defined by markets, probabilities, and real-time participation.
#Esports
#SummerCreationCamp
@Gate_Square