The Iran-U.S. talks did not take place as expected, stocks in the U.S. fell, and Bitcoin traded in a range.

Stock prices fell due to reports that Iranian officials refused to take part in the negotiations and that U.S. Vice President Vance postponed his planned visit to Pakistan. (BTC) continued to trade sideways in the 74K~77K range. For 5 straight days, Bitcoin spot ETFs have recorded net inflows. The volatility spread suggests that market sentiment may be stabilizing, shifting toward a more neutral stance.

The U.S.-Iran negotiations did not take place as expected; the U.S. will continue to blockade the Strait of Hormuz

The ceasefire agreement that was originally expected to expire on Wednesday, however, was disrupted after Iranian officials refused to take part in the talks and U.S. Vice President Vance postponed his planned trip to Pakistan, preventing the peace negotiations from proceeding smoothly.

On Tuesday, Trump said that although the United States would temporarily hold off on launching new attacks, it would still maintain the blockade of the key Strait of Hormuz. As of now, the strait is effectively paralyzed. And this is only one of many unresolved issues. Other issues include Iran’s nuclear capabilities and Israel’s military actions in Lebanon.

U.S. retail sales rose 1.7% month over month in March, beating market expectations of 1.4%, and marked the biggest increase in a year. Among them, gas-station sales grew significantly, which also shows that despite the war driving up gasoline prices, consumers are still continuing to spend across various goods.

Kevin Warsh, a pick for Fed chair, emphasized policy independence

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee held a confirmation hearing on April 21, 2026 to confirm the nomination of the Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh (Kevin Warsh) proposed by Trump.

Warsh said the Fed needs a new framework to deal with persistent inflation, but he did not provide any further details. He also said the U.S. president had not asked him to commit to making specific interest-rate decisions. He also pledged:

“The president nominated me for this position. If I am confirmed as chair of the Federal Reserve, I will act in an independent capacity.”

The market interpreted his stance as leaning toward maintaining policy independence, driving U.S. Treasury yields higher.

(The Fed chair who understands AI and Bitcoin best? New Fed chair Kevin Warsh’s policy stance—take it one step at a time)

Bitcoin trades in a range as market sentiment stabilizes

Bitcoin continues to trade sideways within the 74K~77K range, and market sentiment (fear and greed index) remains in a neutral but slightly optimistic band. The funding rate has turned positive (, indicating that bullish funding positions outnumber bearish positions ).

Bitcoin spot ETFs have recorded net inflows for 5 straight days, while Ether ETFs have recorded net inflows for 8 consecutive days.

According to a report by glassnode, although upside momentum in Bitcoin’s price has slightly weakened, the market has still shown strong buying interest, which may help cushion against a sharp decline in prices. Meanwhile, demand for downside protection in options trading has decreased, indicating that bearish sentiment may be easing. At the same time, the volatility spread suggests that market sentiment may be stabilizing, with risk appetite shifting toward a more neutral stance.

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