Geopolitics

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects disruptions to Middle East supply to last through the end of 2026. Oil production cuts in April are expected to rise to 9.1 million barrels per day, the crude oil spread reaches $15, and U.S. gasoline prices in 2026 hit a record high. Global oil demand forecasts have also been revised downward.

Ripple Ties Demand to Clearer Crypto Rules Ripple said Africa’s digital asset market is entering a new phase. It linked that shift to better regulation and wider business use. The company stated that clearer rules are facilitating the transition of crypto into payments and settlement. Ripple

Due to the Middle East conflict, OPEC’s crude oil production dropped sharply in March by 7.56 million barrels per day, a decline of 25%, the largest in 40 years. Among the countries, Iraq saw the biggest drop, with daily output reduced by 2.76 million barrels. Saudi Arabia and the UAE were less affected due to the impact on replacement pipelines, but Saudi exports still fell by about 50%.

Gate News message, on April 7, according to Iranian state media The Tehran Times, Iran has shut down all diplomatic and indirect communication channels with the United States.

The Chinese government encourages banks to use blockchain technology to strengthen “bank-tax interactions,” improve the financing environment for small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, it fully bans private cryptocurrency trading and mining, treats stablecoins and tokenization as illegal activities, demonstrates clear policy boundaries, and emphasizes official oversight and financial security.

Bitcoin has fallen to around $68,000 after hitting over $70,000, coinciding with Trump's Iran deadline. U.S. stock futures also declined, while oil prices rose. Vance's comments tempered market reactions, stating military goals in Iran were met.

April 7, 2026, U.S. President Trump posted on social media that “the entire Iranian civilization will perish tonight,” calling on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz before 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

U.S. Vice President Vance issued a statement regarding Iran, saying the war is nearing an end and emphasizing that Iran must take wise action. He said military objectives have been completed, noting that multiple rounds of negotiations will be held and setting a final deadline. Vance remains confident in Iran’s response.

Gate News message: On April 7, U.S. President Trump issued an important statement on the issue of Iran. Trump said: "Tonight, the entire civilization will come to an end, and it can never be restored. I don't want something like that to happen, but it's very likely to. However, since we have already achieved a comprehensive and thorough regime change, with a more sensible, more mature new administration taking the lead, perhaps some profoundly transformative things will happen—who knows? Tonight, we will find out everything. This is an extremely important moment in the world's long and complex history."

Gate News announcement, April 7, the head of Iran’s securities exchange authority said on April 7 local time that four plans are currently being developed for the reopening of the Iranian stock market. Plan 1: maintain the existing conditions, meaning only allow fund trading, or reopen under the existing conditions but without publicly disclosing information. Plan 2: if hostilities escalate, it could lead to a pause of all trading, including funds. Plan 3: reopen after a written ceasefire agreement. Plan 4: gradually resume trading in the absence of a ceasefire agreement. Previously, trading on the Iranian stock market was suspended on March 1.

Since the Iran conflict began on February 28, bitcoin has outperformed software stocks, diverging from their previous correlation. While bitcoin rose over 5%, software equities, represented by IGV, fell more than 2%, indicating a shift in investor sentiment.

Gate News, April 7: In a report, BlackRock strategists said the impact of high energy prices is likely to show up in the U.S. March CPI data to be released on Friday. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal generally expect the U.S. March CPI year-over-year rate (not seasonally adjusted) to rise from 2.4% in February to 3.3%. BlackRock strategists noted that the Middle East war has caused supply-chain bottlenecks, which are expected to push inflation higher.

Gate News message, on April 7, the spokesperson of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Ebrahim Rezaei, said during a television interview that Iran is preparing plans and related legislation to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, and reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz would not return to its previous state.

Gate News message, April 7, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA, the global energy policy coordination organization) issued a statement saying that the severity of the current energy crisis is worse than the combined total of the 1973 oil crisis, the 1979 second oil crisis, and the 2002 Venezuela oil crisis, and that the world has never experienced an energy supply disruption of this scale.

NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie returned to The Today Show today, but her 84-year-old mother, Nancy, is still missing in Arizona, with the kidnappers demanding a $6 million Bitcoin ransom. After 65 days of her disappearance, there has been no major progress in the case. Savannah expressed guilt, saying she believes her mother’s kidnapping may be related to her high profile.

Gate News updates: Africa’s cryptocurrency market is seeing rapid growth. According to Ripple’s latest report, the total on-chain transaction value in the region grew 52% year over year, a trend closely tied to more and more countries putting clear cryptocurrency regulatory rules in place. Countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Mauritius are gradually bringing digital assets under financial supervision, giving businesses and users greater confidence and thereby boosting cryptocurrency adoption rates.

The U.S.-Iran war triggers a global economic shock, facing six major crises: food supply, the bond market, private credit, subprime loan defaults, inflation, and the aluminum industry. Analysts warn that it may threaten the stability of financial markets, determining whether a ceasefire can be reached.

The Russian central bank has launched a digital ruble to ease economic troubles, but public acceptance is low, with 51% of people unwilling to try it. The central bank plans to require businesses to provide CBDC services, aiming to improve fiscal transparency and crack down on corruption. Although the digital ruble has potential in cross-border trade, its appeal for everyday consumption still isn’t enough. Successful rollout depends on public and business acceptance.