Crypto

Brent Crude Climbs Above $115 as Trump Signals Longer Iran Naval Blockade

Published

2 months ago

April 29, 2026

Press Room

Brent Crude Climbs Above 5 as Trump Signals Longer Iran Naval Blockade

Key Takeaways:

Brent crude climbed above $115 per barrel on April 29 as Trump ordered preparations for an extended Iranian naval blockade.
The IEA called the Strait of Hormuz shutdown the largest supply shock on record, with 20% of global oil flows halted.
The Federal Reserve is expected to hold rates steady today, with Chair Jerome Powell’s comments on inflation risks in focus.

Iran Blockade Fears Push Brent Crude Higher, Largest Increase Since June 2022

Brent, the international benchmark, climbed above $115 per barrel on Wednesday, the highest level since June 2022, marking an eighth straight session of gains as concerns over global supply intensified. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, the U.S. benchmark, rose above $102 per barrel as well, gaining for the third straight session, supported by mounting uncertainty around global supply as U.S.-Iran peace talks stalled and the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed.

The Strait of Hormuz normally handles roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Since late February, Iran has restricted tanker traffic through the chokepoint to near zero in response to U.S. military pressure. Ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz continue to tighten the supply outlook.

Peace negotiations collapsed in Pakistan in mid-April without agreement, and a ceasefire that had been in place since early April remains fragile. President Trump said Iran has called for the U.S. to lift its naval blockade while negotiations continue. Trump, writing on Truth Social, told Iran to “get smart soon” and sign a deal, framing the blockade as a lower-risk alternative to resumed airstrikes.

Iran’s economy is reportedly under severe strain. The country is reporting 53.7% inflation, a record-low rial, and millions of job losses linked to the conflict. The Iranian rial crashed to a record low of approximately 1.8 million (or 1.81 million) per U.S. dollar. Tehran has vowed to keep disrupting Hormuz traffic, claiming it can manage through alternative routes.

Washington is stepping up pressure with potential sanctions targeting Chinese refiners and countries paying transit fees through Hormuz. The UAE announced it will exit OPEC on May 1 to gain production flexibility, though analysts say that move does little to ease the immediate supply crunch while Hormuz remains closed.

Prices have swung sharply since the conflict began. Brent neared $120 per barrel at earlier peaks in 2026 before pulling back on ceasefire hopes. The World Bank has forecast energy prices could rise 24% overall this year under prolonged disruptions, the steepest projected increase since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Brent crude at 11:18 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas has hit $4.229, the highest since Aug. 2, 2022. Fuel costs are heavily influenced by oil prices, which account for more than half of the price at the pump. With refiners now transitioning to pricier summer-blend gasoline, further pressure at the pump is expected heading into peak driving season.

U.S. Equities and Bonds Remain Rattled

U.S. equity markets edged lower on April 29 as the oil rally compounded existing uncertainty. The S&P 500 edged down 0.20%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.27%, and the Nasdaq slipped 0.41%. Hyperscalers Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet, and Amazon, totaling around $11 trillion in market cap, were between 1% and 2% lower ahead of their earnings reports after the bell, set to update their artificial intelligence (AI) capital expenditure.

Visa was over 5% higher after posting strong results for the last quarter, while Booking dropped 4% on its earnings. Defensive stocks held ground despite fresh oil gains. European markets also softened, with the FTSE 100 off 0.73% and the pan-European Stoxx 600 down 0.4%.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield ticked up to 4.39%, reflecting inflation worries tied to rising energy costs. The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold rates steady at its meeting today. Chair Jerome Powell is likely to reiterate that policymakers remain data-dependent, with inflation risks elevated while growth remains stable. This is expected to be Powell’s final meeting before his term concludes in May.

The confluence of Big Tech earnings, a Fed decision, and an oil shock driven by geopolitics has left traders with little margin for error. Markets remain fluid. Any breakthrough in U.S.-Iran talks or an agreement to reopen the strait could quickly reverse the oil rally, as prior ceasefire announcements have shown. Until then, traders are watching energy supply data, Fed signals, and geopolitical dispatches closely.

Related Topics:donald trump Iran oil United States US War

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Crypto

Binance Research: April DeFi Exploits Triggered $13 Billion in Outflows

Published

3 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Press Room

Binance Research: April DeFi Exploits Triggered Billion in Outflows

Key Takeaways

A $13 Billion Wipeout in Days

Binance Research reported that April’s decentralized finance ( DeFi) exploits triggered around $13 billion in outflows, draining total value locked (TVL) across lending markets and decentralized exchanges. The flight pushed the onchain leverage ratio to about 38%, a reading the firm said marks a return to 2021 levels all while showcasing a massive decline in investor confidence.

Image source: X

The outflows can largely be traced back to a cluster of attacks, the largest of which struck liquid- staking protocol KelpDAO. Bitcoin.com News reported that KelpDAO had slammed Layerzero after a roughly $300 million exploit, later shifting its rsETH token to Chainlink’s cross-chain protocol, CCIP, in response.

The breach also rattled the wider ecosystem with lending protocol Aave battling a withdrawal crisis as depositors rushed for the exits. Confidence cracked further when Aave suffered a 44% monthly drop in value locked and outflows spread to neighboring protocols.

The attack’s mechanics unearthed a growing cross-chain threat with Layerzero, most recently, disclosing a remote procedure call (RPC) poisoning incident linked to the $292 million KelpDAO hack, in which attackers corrupted the data feeding the bridge’s verification network.

A Record Month for Hacks

April stood out even in a sector accustomed to breaches as industry trackers counted more than 20 separate exploits during the month, making it one of the most-hacked stretches on record. Aave alone saw billions in deposits exit within 48 hours, and several protocols paused certain operations as trust eroded.

Even then, the sector has shown resilience, with several protocols migrating cross-chain messaging to alternative providers and tightening verification. Binance Research and other analysts have argued that DeFi is evolving, citing the speed at which liquidity has historically returned as confidence has stabilized.

The 38% leverage reading is the figure to watch next, given that a return toward 2021 levels could mean the system has deleveraged sharply (potentially reducing the risk of forced liquidations and signaling diminished risk appetite). In any case, whether deposits rebuild from here will determine if April marked a temporary shock or a longer reset for onchain finance.

Crypto

New ‘Pig Butchering’ Scam Targets Bergen County Residents, Prosecutors Say

Published

13 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Press Room

New ‘Pig Butchering’ Scam Targets Bergen County Residents, Prosecutors Say

He said the Financial Crimes Unit is hard at work tracking the fraudsters, shutting down their websites, and hoping to bring them to justice.

There are various types of “pig butchering” scams, according to the federal government. They slowly play on the investor’s emotions and hopes.

“It is a type of confidence and investment fraud in which the victim is gradually lured into making increasing monetary contributions, generally in the form of cryptocurrency,” says the Office of Inspector General’s website, “to a seemingly sound investment before the scammer disappears with the contributed monies.”

If you are a victim of a scam, Becker said, contact your local police department. More information about that is here.

RELATED: Grandma Conned Into Mailing $10K Cash To Teaneck In ‘Grandparent Scam’

Crypto

Bitcoin Tops $66K as US-Iran Deal Triggers Risk-on Rally Across Markets

Published

23 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Press Room

Bitcoin Tops K as US-Iran Deal Triggers Risk-on Rally Across Markets

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin Spikes to $66,600

Bitcoin traded over $66,600 as of Monday morning at 9 a.m. Eastern time, up approximately 3.5% over recent sessions and more than 11% off early-June lows near $59,375. Ethereum climbed to $1,774, gaining roughly 6.5% in the same stretch. XRP added 8.7% and solana ( SOL) rose 7.4%, while the total crypto market capitalization held above $2.35 trillion.

The rally tracked closely with broad risk-on sentiment fueled by weekend geopolitical developments and the continued afterglow of SpaceX’s blockbuster Nasdaq debut.

U.S.-Iran Framework: What’s Known

President Donald Trump announced Sunday via Truth Social that “The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete,” citing an immediate, toll-free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the removal of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.

U.S. and Iranian officials, along with Pakistani mediators, confirmed they have reached an agreed text for a preliminary memorandum of understanding. The framework extends a ceasefire for 60 days, opens the Strait immediately, and defers nuclear program details to follow-on talks. A formal signing is targeted for Friday, June 19, in Switzerland.

The deal remains tentative. The full text has not been publicly released, Iranian hardliners have expressed opposition, and Israel has indicated it will not be bound by terms involving Lebanon. Former U.S. officials cautioned Monday that the agreement buys time for “long and tedious” nuclear negotiations rather than resolving core disputes.

Oil Drops, Equities Jump

WTI crude fell to the $81 to $85 per barrel range, down 3% to 5% on de-escalation expectations, as the Strait of Hormuz accounts for a significant share of global oil and gas trade. Brent held in the $84 to $87 range.

Nasdaq-100 futures pointed to a gain of more than 2% at the open, with S&P 500 futures up approximately 1.3% and Dow Jones futures adding roughly 1%. The S&P 500 hit an all-time high of 7,620.90 earlier in June 2026 and has shown consistent recovery since February, volatility tied to the initial Middle East conflict.

SpaceX shares gained approximately 6% in pre-market trading on Monday, extending a strong debut after pricing at $135 on June 11 and closing its first Nasdaq session at roughly $161, a 19% gain that pushed its market cap above $2.1 trillion.

Gold Holds Elevated Ground

Gold traded at $4,347 bid and $4,349 ask as of 9 a.m., up 3.05% on the session and touching a daily high of $4,350.40. Silver gained 4.62% to $71.04 bid, while platinum added 4.72% and palladium climbed 5.21%.

Precious metals held elevated levels despite the risk-on shift, supported by ongoing central bank buying and persistent monetary uncertainty even as oil prices retreated.

FOMC Looms Wednesday

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets June 16 to 17, with a rate decision expected on Wednesday. Markets are pricing in a hold at the current target range. The meeting will include a Summary of Economic Projections, an updated dot plot, and a press conference with the new Chair, Kevin Warsh, that will set the tone for policy guidance through the summer.

Sticky inflation, with recent CPI readings around 4.2% year-over-year in some estimates, remains the primary constraint on any dovish shift. The tone from new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh will be closely watched.

What Traders Are Watching

The next 48 to 72 hours carry significant weight. Markets will monitor:

Official signing details from Switzerland on June 19
Iran Supreme Leader and hardliner responses to the MoU
Israel’s military and diplomatic posture regarding Lebanon
Early Hormuz implementation steps and oil price follow-through
Wednesday’s FOMC statement and dot plot

Crypto remains tied to macro risk appetite. A hawkish Fed surprise on Wednesday could pressure the current rally, while confirmation of the Iran deal’s initial implementation steps would likely extend it.