Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

CME Group will begin offering 24/7 trading for crypto futures starting May 29, and will also add AVAX and SUI futures, showing that traditional finance is rapidly moving closer to the crypto market. This move not only meets market demand for round-the-clock trading, but also serves as a test of whether traditional financial assets can operate 24/7 in the future. The new futures contracts will provide more flexible options and capital efficiency, further expanding CME Group’s crypto product line.

On April 10, Abraxas Capital closed out short positions of about $160 million in WTIOIL and BRENTOIL on the Hyperliquid platform, generating roughly $10.15 million in profits. Its current main positions are a $20.5 million long position in BTC and a $30.8 million short position in gold.

Gate News message: On April 10, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority will announce today at 5:00 p.m. the list of the first stablecoin issuer licensees. Driven by expectations of regulatory positives, Conflux (CFX) surged strongly in the short term. According to market data from a certain trading platform, CFX opened today at $0.0518, and the intraday high reached $0.0557. The gain for the day was 7.5%.

Musk is pushing SpaceX to build its own semiconductor packaging plant in Texas, but due to low yields and a shortage of talent, the mass production timeline has been pushed back to 2027. Taiwan’s supply chain, however, has benefited from SpaceX’s continued orders, including companies such as Innolux and Walsin. SpaceX plans to visit Taiwan in April to further strengthen cooperation. However, the talent shortage facing Texas remains an obstacle to successful vertical integration.

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

The Office of Management and Administration at the White House sent a warning email to employees on March 23, prohibiting the use of their position to speculate in the futures market. The warning came after the announcement by Trump of a pause in attacks on Iran, and suspicious trading appeared in the market. Senior officials described the email as a timely “reminder.”

Gate News Update: On April 10, Ebrahim Azizi, the chair of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Committee, said that the Parliament has put forward a proposal to permanently ban tankers associated with the United States and Israel from transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. Under the proposal, ships associated with Israel or traveling to and from Israel would also be prohibited from passage. The ban would also apply to countries that take action against the “Resistance Front.”

Gate News, April 10, international crude oil prices rose briefly. WTI crude oil (West Texas Intermediate, one of the international crude oil benchmark prices) broke above $100 per barrel, up 2.04% during the day; Brent crude oil (North Sea Brent, one of the international crude oil benchmark prices) stood above $95 per barrel, up 1.15% during the day.

Bitcoin broke through $72,000 on April 10, mainly due to a fragile ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran that boosted market risk appetite, with funds flowing from safe-haven assets into Bitcoin. Increased institutional inflows and a rebound in Large Investors’ holdings are driving the price higher. Technical analysis shows that the main resistance lies in the $72,200 to $73,500 range. Despite a bullish outlook in the short term, there is still disagreement over forecasts for Bitcoin’s price by year-end, and the risk of a pullback also needs to be watched.

Gate News news, on April 10, the Korea KOSPI Index (Korea’s stock market benchmark index) rose 8.96% this week, posting its largest weekly gain since January 2021.

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

Jefferies’ economists report that the Middle East conflict affects all parties. The United States is the least affected, due to oil and gas price increases, Russia is the winner, and Iran may lift sanctions. The main losers are the Gulf states and Asia, which relies on Middle East oil and gas, while Europe has lost ground geopolitically.

TSMC reported revenue of NT$415.19B in March 2026, setting a new monthly high and up 45.2% year over year. Cumulative first-quarter revenue surpassed NT$1.1 trillion, up 35.1% year over year. The result was mainly driven by AI demand, showing strong growth momentum.

Evernorth is advancing a merger plan with Armada Acquisition Corp II. After the merger, it will be listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol XRPN, with XRP as its core asset. This move not only enables institutional investors to gain indirect exposure to XRP, but also is expected to reduce circulating market supply, enhance recognition of XRP’s value, and promote the integration of traditional finance with digital assets.

The Iranian government charges oil tankers a $1 per-barrel toll for passage through the Strait of Hormuz and requires payment in bitcoin to bypass U.S. sanctions. This move has caused extreme volatility in the cryptocurrency market, with bitcoin’s price surging, highlighting the importance of digital assets in geopolitics. Global shipping has been disrupted, Iran and the United States have taken differing positions in ceasefire talks, and financial markets have also roiled in response to this event.

Middle East crude oil producers are asking Asian refiners to submit their April and May loading schedules in preparation for restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Although Iran has not lifted its blockade of the waterway, the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement offers hope for reopening. Saudi Aramco has also asked customers to apply for May loading.

Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF “MSBT” has officially launched, becoming the first such product issued by a large bank. Management fees are as low as 0.14%. On its first day, it raised $34.0 million, indicating market demand for low fees and distribution through financial advisors. This move marks a full-scale entry by traditional financial institutions into the crypto asset market, shifting the competitive focus to fees, liquidity, and the ability to reach customers.

The French National Assembly has passed a rule requiring mandatory reporting of crypto assets held in self-custody wallets above 5,000 euros, applicable to multiple mainstream wallets. The DGFIP opposes this, arguing that enforcement will be difficult and that data centralization will increase user risk. Experts say the law may be hard to implement and urge users to closely monitor subsequent developments.

CME Group will begin offering 24/7 trading for crypto futures starting May 29, and will also add AVAX and SUI futures, showing that traditional finance is rapidly approaching the crypto market. This move not only meets market demand for round-the-clock trading, but also serves as a test of whether traditional financial assets can operate 24/7 in the future. The new futures contracts will provide more flexible options and capital efficiency, further expanding CME Group’s crypto product lineup.