Zondacrypto, one of Poland's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, is facing a full-scale criminal investigation after Polish authorities alleged the platform’s involvement in fraudulent activities, money laundering, and political interference. This latest development comes after growing concerns about the exchange’s mismanagement, political connections, and its inability to access over 4,500 Bitcoin (BTC) worth millions of dollars. A growing political scandal According to a report by The Insider , Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has linked Zondacrypto to attempts to influence the country's legislative process, particularly regarding crypto regulation. The platform is accused of attempting to sway the upcoming elections by secretly funding political campaigns, using funds potentially derived from illegal operations. The investigation follows reports from the Polish National Prosecutor's Office, which stated that hundreds of individuals could be affected by the exchange’s alleged fraudulent actions. Authorities are focusing on potential victims and financial losses related to the company’s collapse. Zondacrypto’s failure to process customer withdrawals has only fueled speculation about the exchange’s solvency, with some questioning whether it can recover from the ongoing financial crisis. Zondacrypto unable to access some of its Bitcoin holdings One of the most pressing issues in the case revolves around Zondacrypto's inability to access a significant portion of its Bitcoin holdings. Despite having a reported stash of 4,500 BTC, valued at over $140 million, the exchange has claimed it is unable to move or liquidate these assets due to a single point of failure in its internal governance. Zondacrypto’s founder, Przemysław Kral, who has not been seen publicly in weeks, has been implicated in the crisis. According to sources close to the investigation, Kral has not provided any clear explanation regarding the frozen assets, and authorities are now questioning whether he fled the country with millions in misappropriated funds. Amid the ongoing crisis, Zondacrypto has failed to reassure its customers, as thousands of users have been unable to withdraw funds for several weeks. The founder framed the situation as part of a broader campaign against the company, according to an AI translation of his Polish video. https://twitter.com/przemyslaw_kral/status/2044763900541854094?s=20 He pointed to supposed political pressure, regulatory interference, and coordinated media coverage that contributed to a surge in withdrawal requests. Analysis conducted by blockchain intelligence firm Recoveris and cited by local news outlets found that bitcoin balances in hot wallets tied to Zonda have declined by 99% since mid-2024. At one point, the founder threatened legal action against Polish news outlets covering the situation. Polish authorities have taken a particular interest in Zondacrypto’s political ties, especially as the company allegedly funneled money into campaigns ahead of the national elections. PM Tusk has warned that political corruption linked to cryptocurrency platforms could undermine trust in Poland’s financial institutions and electoral process. While there is no concrete evidence yet to confirm these claims, the allegations have raised questions about the oversight of digital currencies in Poland. In the wake of the ongoing probe, Polish law enforcement has reportedly begun investigating the platform’s connections to foreign criminal organizations. The post Zondacrypto faces criminal probe as CEO vanishes, funds frozen appeared first on Invezz

2026-04-22 14:21

Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Ripple (XRP) are all in the green following improved sentiment in the broader cryptocurrency market. The rally by the leading cryptocurrencies positively affected other top altcoins, with Cosmos Hub (ATOM) becoming one of the best performers among the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap. ATOM extended its gains, trading at $1.90 on Wednesday, rallying nearly 8% so far this week. Its rally is fueled by improved derivatives metrics, with the constructive technical outlook suggesting further upside potential for ATOM in the near term. Derivatives data suggests a bullish bias ATOM is one of the best performers in the market thanks to growing retail demand. CoinGlass Open Interest (OI) for ATOM surges to $137.25 million on Wednesday, up from $125 million on April 15. The OI has been rising steadily over the past seven days. An increasing OI indicates new or additional money entering the market and new buying, which could fuel a rally in the ATOM price. Furthermore, ATOM’s funding rates show a bullish bias. ATOM’s funding rates flipped positive on Monday and rose to 0.0093% on Wednesday, indicating that the longs are paying the shorts. Usually, when rates have turned positive and risen, the Cosmos Hub price has recorded significant gains within a short period. Cosmos Hub price forecast While other leading cryptocurrencies are yet to break out of their bearish structure, the ATOM/USD 4-hour chart has already turned bullish. ATOM is trading at $1.91, above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $1.82. However, it remains well below the 100- and 200-day EMAs at $1.98 and $2.44. The altcoin is attempting to build a base after reclaiming nearby dynamic support, while the long-standing downward-sloping trendline, around $1.93, continues to define the immediate topside cap. The momentum indicators suggest that the bulls could push ATOM’s price higher in the near term. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart is near 69, indicating a strong bullish bias. The expanding Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram hints that upside momentum is improving. However, these signals only soften, rather than reverse, the prevailing medium-term bearish backdrop set by the higher EMAs. If the rally persists, the bulls would meet initial resistance at the descending trendline break area near $1.93, with the 4-hour swing high of $2.036 also a major level. A daily close above this level could expose the 38.2% retracement at $2.39 before the bulls attempt to take on the 200-day EMA at $2.44. However, if the bears regain control, immediate support is visible at the 50-day EMA of $1.82. A break below these levels would expose the next floors at $1.65 and the cycle low area near $1.60, where bearish pressure could begin to exhaust. The ongoing tension in the Middle East continues to affect the broader crypto market. However, with the extension of the ceasefire, ATOM and other major coins could rally higher in the near term. The post Will ATOM extend gains as Open Interest hits weekly high? appeared first on Invezz

2026-04-22 14:06

Global cryptocurrency exchanges are accelerating efforts to enter the US market for perpetual futures, anticipating a regulatory shift by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission that could allow trading of the high-risk derivatives product. Kraken’s parent company said on Friday it is acquiring crypto derivatives platform Bitnomial for up to $550 million. The deal would give Kraken access to Bitnomial’s perpetual futures offering. Meanwhile, Coinbase has introduced long-dated futures contracts designed to mimic perpetuals, while Robinhood has said it is exploring offering similar products in the United States. Perpetual futures, often called “perps,” are contracts without an expiration date. This allows investors to hold positions indefinitely rather than closing or rolling them over. They also enable high leverage, sometimes up to 50 times, amplifying both gains and losses. Risks tied to leverage and retail participation Reports from Reuters indicate that critics warn that these features make perpetual futures particularly risky, especially for retail investors. These traders are often drawn to leverage but may not fully understand the mechanics of such contracts. Even small adverse price movements can trigger significant losses due to the high leverage embedded in these instruments. Popularity surges amid market volatility Perpetual futures trading has surged over the past year as investors seek to profit from crypto market volatility. According to data from CryptoQuant, trading volume in perpetual futures reached $61.7 trillion in 2025, marking a 29% increase from the previous year. This growth far outpaced spot crypto trading, which rose 9% to $18.6 trillion. Much of the activity has taken place on offshore platforms such as Hyperliquid, which typically restricts US users. Regulatory uncertainty and industry push Currently, perpetual futures operate in a regulatory gray area in the United States. They are neither explicitly banned nor formally approved. Under existing rules, exchanges can self-certify new products with the CFTC, but the regulator retains the authority to intervene later. Bitnomial remains the only US platform offering perpetual futures via self-certification. Coinbase has also self-certified “perpetual-style” contracts with five-year expirations and leverage of up to 10 times. However, some firms remain cautious. “I would prefer... that we just do the work at the regulatory level and offer a proper perpetual product that is able to compete with what you have ... on other markets,” said Johann Kerbrat of Robinhood, as cited in a Reuters report Concerns over safeguards and investor protection Investor advocates are urging regulators to impose stricter safeguards. Better Markets has called for leverage caps and stronger risk disclosures. Robinhood has already implemented a knowledge test for its European users to ensure they understand the risks before trading perpetual futures, Kerbrat said. Still, some executives argue that stricter US rules could make domestic offerings less competitive compared to offshore alternatives. As regulatory clarity approaches, the US crypto derivatives market appears poised for expansion, though concerns over risk and investor protection remain central to the debate. The post Crypto firms prepare to launch US perpetual futures before rule change appeared first on Invezz

2026-04-22 14:01

Asteroid Shiba (ASTEROID) is showing signs of stabilisation after an extreme rally that pushed the token through one of the fastest speculative runs seen in recent meme coin trading cycles. The Ethereum-based meme coin is currently trading around $0.0003965, down 1.7% in the last 24 hours, as the market shifts into a consolidation phase following a parabolic surge that briefly pushed gains beyond 780,000% within a month. Despite the pullback, price action remains well above the early breakout range, with ASTEROID holding between $0.0003254 and $0.0004409 over the past 24 hours. Trading activity has also remained elevated, with daily volume at approximately $58.8 million, indicating that participation has not faded even as momentum slows. Post-rally cooling sets in after explosive surge The latest market movement is widely being described as a post-rally cooldown rather than a structural breakdown. According to combined market commentary from multiple crypto analysis platforms, the current phase follows a dramatic spike driven by a viral narrative linked to a SpaceX-themed mascot story that gained traction on social media. That narrative-driven move triggered a rapid inflow of speculative capital, pushing ASTEROID into what analysts described as a “sentiment acceleration phase,” where price action becomes detached from traditional valuation models. During that surge, early buyers reportedly secured outsized gains, while later entrants entered at elevated levels. The current 1.7% decline is mainly attributed to profit-taking following that vertical expansion. No major negative catalysts such as exploits, listing issues, or regulatory actions have been reported. Security concerns add a layer of caution While price stabilisation is underway, several reports have highlighted structural risks tied to the token’s smart contract design. According to GoPlus security assessments referenced across multiple analyses, the contract contains owner-controlled functions that could allow modifications such as disabling sells, adjusting transaction fees, minting additional tokens, or moving assets. This type of control structure introduces what security reviewers describe as execution risk, where token mechanics can be altered without requiring a broad holder consensus. While this does not guarantee negative action, it does increase uncertainty during volatile trading periods. Alongside contract concerns, analysts also pointed to the token’s reliance on a single narrative catalyst. The space-themed storyline tied to the “Asteroid” branding provided the initial surge in attention, but there is limited evidence of a secondary growth engine capable of sustaining long-term demand. Without additional catalysts, momentum-driven assets like ASTEROID typically rely heavily on recurring bursts of social media attention. Asteroid Shiba (ASTEROID) price forecast From a technical standpoint, ASTEROID is currently in a neutral consolidation phase with clearly defined short-term levels. The first key support zone sits at $0.00030. Maintaining this level is critical, as multiple analyses, including recent technical breakdowns, indicate that a sustained hold above this threshold could preserve the current recovery structure. If bulls defend the $0.00030–$0.00043 range, the next upside target remains the recent local high near $0.00049, which represents the final resistance zone from the previous parabolic move. A successful breakout above this level would require renewed volume expansion and stronger narrative momentum. On the downside, a decisive break below $0.00030 would signal weakening demand. In that scenario, price could drift toward $0.00026, where lower liquidity pockets are expected to sit based on prior trading activity. The post Is Asteroid Shiba cooling after a 700,000% meme coin surge? appeared first on Invezz

2026-04-22 13:44

The cryptocurrency market has switched bullish once again after a bearish start to the week. Following the crypto market recovery over the past week, several Ethereum (ETH) onchain metrics are demonstrating notable changes. Bitcoin hit the $78,100 level earlier on Wednesday, while Ethereum is now approaching $2,400 once again. The rally comes after President Donald Trump announced that he would extend the Iran ceasefire indefinitely. However, he added that the US would hold off on fresh attacks while keeping its Strait of Hormuz blockade in place. Whales acquire more Ether tokens Whales are taking advantage of the bullish narrative in the market to purchase more Ether tokens. On-chain data revealed that wallets with a balance >10,000 ETH, also known as whales, accumulated nearly 700,000 ETH between Thursday and Monday. Part of that figure stems from Ethereum treasury firm BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), which acquired over 101,000 ETH last week. Smart money tracker Lookonchain revealed that there were several whale buying activities over the past week. Notably, a newly created wallet withdrew 35,000 ETH from crypto exchange Binance in the early American session on Tuesday and transferred it to digital asset custodian BitGo. However, retailers or investors holding 100-10,000 ETH largely held steady, adding minimal amounts to their holdings over the past week. This is in contrast to their behavior since early March, when they resumed distribution. The bullish sentiment is also evident in Ethereum exchange reserves, which have fallen by roughly 458,000 ETH since Thursday. The decline indicates increasing buying pressure, which could push ETH’s price higher in the near term. Institutional and traditional investors also continued to show a return of risk appetite for the top altcoin. Spot ETH exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded eight consecutive days of net inflows totaling $493.7 million. Ethereum price forecast Similar to Bitcoin, the ETH/USD 4-hour chart remains bearish and efficient. However, it has outperformed the broader crypto market in the last seven days. Ether is trading above the 20, 50, and 100-period Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), which are clustered between roughly $2,323 and $2,268. This stack of EMAs offers layered dynamic support, suggesting dips may continue to attract buyers. The momentum indicators also suggest a bullish narrative. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering at 62, above the neutral 50 mark, but still below the overbought region. The MACD lines are also within the positive territory, indicating that the bulls are currently in charge of the market. If the rally persists, initial resistance emerges at the horizontal barrier near $2,388. A daily candle close above this level could expose the next major resistance at $2,746. On the downside, the 100-period EMA at $2,267 and the prior trendline reference around $2,263 would provide immediate support for the buyers. A deeper slide would expose the broader structural supports at $2,211, $2,107, and $1,909. The post Can Ethereum hit $2,746 as whales accumulate 700K tokens this week? appeared first on Invezz

2026-04-22 13:06

The cryptocurrency market has been bullish over the past 24 hours as Bitcoin and Ether tapped key resistance levels. Bitcoin hit the $78,000 level during the early hours of Wednesday , while Ether is now approaching the $2,400 psychological point. Cardano’s ADA is not left out as it is up by 1.5% in the last 24 hours. ADA extended its gains above $0.2500 at press time on Wednesday, for the third consecutive day so far this week. Retail demand for ADA is heating up amid a buildup in the futures market positions. Technical indicators also show that the 50-day EMA at $0.2600 remains a key dynamic resistance capping short-term recovery attempts. ADA regains retail strength, eyes key resistance levels The broader cryptocurrency market is rallying following positive geopolitical news a few hours ago. President Donald Trump announced that he would extend the Iran ceasefire indefinitely. Trump blamed negotiation collapses on what he called a "seriously fractured" leadership structure in Tehran, and said the US would hold off on fresh attacks while keeping its Strait of Hormuz blockade in place. In addition to that, Cardano has also benefited from the growing retail strength over the past few days. Data obtained from Coin Glass shows that the ADA futures Open Interest (OI) is up over 6% in the last 24 hours to $464.84 million, suggesting increased retail activity amid anticipation of sharp moves. The positive funding rate of 0.0090% reveals a bullish undertone in the positional buildup as buyers are willing to hold long positions at a premium. The positive derivatives data suggest that fresh retail capital is entering the Cardano market, with traders optimistic of an ADA rally in the near term. Cardano technical forecast The ADA/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient despite Cardano extending its recovery above $0.2500 at press time on Wednesday. However, ADA is still trading below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $0.2600, ensuring a broader bearish bias. Meanwhile, the 100-day and 200-day EMAs at $0.3009 and $0.3953, respectively, serve as overhead resistances. The momentum indicators suggest that ADA could rally higher in the near term. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram is marginally above its signal lines. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers at 59, hinting at stabilizing and growing bullish momentum within a broader capped structure. If the rally persists, initial resistance would be encountered at the 50-day EMA around $0.2600, where any recovery is likely to face the first meaningful supply zone. The next major resistance is at the 100-day EMA near $0.3009 and then the more distant 200-day EMA at $0.3953, which continues to define the wider bearish backdrop. However, if the bears regain control, they could push ADA’s price below the key support levels, $0.2328 and $0.2205, which serve as the March 29 and February 6 lows, respectively. The post ADA eyes breakout as Bitcoin hits $78K and crypto rally gains pace appeared first on Invezz

2026-04-22 12:53

The price of RUNE cryptocurrency surged sharply over the past 24 hours, climbing 19.1% to trade at $0.505, as an unusual spike in network activity pushed THORChain into the spotlight. The rally stands out against a broader crypto market that gained just 2.47% in the same period, with Bitcoin itself rising 2.53%. This clear outperformance points to a strong, asset-specific catalyst rather than a general market move. At the centre of the surge is a large-scale laundering operation tied to the KelpDAO exploit, which has significantly increased THORChain’s on-chain activity. KelpDAO exploit-driven activity fuels THORChain volume surge On-chain data shared by Specter shows that funds stolen from the KelpDAO exploit were rapidly moved through THORChain, with estimates suggesting between $80 million and $176 million worth of assets were processed. The exploit itself is estimated at roughly $290 million, making it one of the largest decentralised finance breaches in recent months. According to Spectre, the attacker (linked to the North Korean hacking group TraderTraitor) began moving funds just hours after the Arbitrum Council froze 30,766 ETH , valued at approximately $71 million. The remaining funds were split across three wallets holding roughly 25,000 ETH, 25,700 ETH, and another 25,000 ETH. One of these wallets quickly initiated laundering, reducing its balance to about 3,800 ETH, or around $8 million. The laundering process relied heavily on THORChain, with nearly 99% of the funds routed through the protocol and bridged into Bitcoin. The process involved more than 400 addresses and even mixed funds with proceeds from earlier incidents, including the BTC Turk and Bybit hacks. This surge in activity pushed THORChain’s daily transaction volume above $211 million on April 21, representing more than a tenfold increase over its 30-day average. Interestingly, the trading volume has continued to soar, with today's trading volume pushing above $680 million, a 1,938% increase in a single day. The spike in usage has translated directly into protocol revenue, with fees estimated at around $189,000 during the period. Utility spike meets technical breakout The sudden increase in usage has had a direct impact on RUNE’s price action. Unlike speculative rallies driven by sentiment, this move coincided with a measurable rise in network demand. At the same time, technical conditions amplified the upward move. RUNE broke above key short-term moving averages, including its 7-day and 30-day levels near $0.426 and $0.406. Daily exponential moving averages also show a bullish alignment, with the price trading above the 10, 20, 50, and 100-day EMAs. Momentum indicators confirm the strength of the move, with the MACD histogram turning positive, signaling increasing upward momentum. However, not all indicators point in the same direction. Out of 23 tracked technical indicators , 11 suggest bullish conditions, 8 point lower, and 4 remain neutral. This split highlights a market that is trending higher but showing signs of strain. Oscillators in particular are leaning bearish, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI), which currently sits at 73.03 on the daily chart, firmly in overbought territory. Interestingly, the weekly RSI tells a different story. At 33.59, it still reflects oversold conditions, suggesting that despite the recent rally, the asset remains in a broader recovery phase after a prolonged decline. THORChain (RUNE) price forecast In the near term, price action will likely depend on whether the current surge in activity can be sustained. The first key level to watch is support at $0.485. Holding above this level would maintain the current bullish structure. A drop below $0.462, however, would signal weakening momentum and open the door for a deeper pullback. The major downside level sits at $0.4125. A break below this point would invalidate the recent breakout and could lead to further losses. On the upside, resistance is clearly defined at $0.6129. A confirmed close above this level would indicate continuation and could push the price toward the next target at $0.6873. Beyond technical levels, traders should also watch the upcoming developments within the THORChain ecosystem, especially the planned integration of Monero, scheduled for May 10, which could introduce new demand for privacy-focused swaps. For now, the price remains supported by a sharp but unusual increase in network activity. But whether that support holds will depend on how the market reacts once the current flow of funds subsides. The post RUNE jumps 19% as KelpDAO exploit funds flow through THORChain appeared first on Invezz

2026-04-22 12:46

After a brief dip below $75,000 early in the week, Bitcoin price has once again moved close to its monthly high. Over the past 24 hours, the bellwether has rallied over 2% to stabilise around $77,500 on hopes that the US-Iran war situation may see a diplomatic breakthrough. No immediate escalation in the Middle East The latest relief rally was largely sparked by United States President Donald Trump extending the temporary ceasefire indefinitely as diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes. As per reports, this strategic pause is expected to give Tehran enough time to finalize a "unified proposal" essential for formal peace talks in Islamabad. Even though tensions still remain, primarily around the Strait of Hormuz, where both the US Navy and the IRGC have maintained aggressive naval blockades, the lack of fresh kinetic strikes has reassured investors. The absence of an imminent ground-level war has offered much-needed breathing room to the crypto markets. Institutional buying Bitcoin’s latest relief rally has also been supported by aggressive buying from the prominent institutional player and treasury firm MicroStrategy. On April 21, MicroStrategy revealed it purchased 34,164 BTC for approximately $2.54 billion, further cementing its status as the world’s largest publicly traded Bitcoin holder with a total treasury exceeding 800,000 tokens. Against this backdrop, spot Bitcoin ETF products in the US have also seen back-to-back inflows, which goes to show that institutional demand remains strong despite the macro turbulence. According to SoSoValue data, since April 14, there has been no net outflow from the ETFs, indicating that long-term optimism remains strong among Wall Street fund managers. Institutional backing is widely viewed as a sign of long-term maturity, providing a strong buy signal for the rest of the market to follow suit. Dollar cooling off Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index (DXY) has begun to retreat from its recent peaks, providing a favorable tailwind for risk assets. As the dollar’s safe-haven rally loses steam following the ceasefire announcement, global liquidity is rotating back into hard assets like Bitcoin. This inverse correlation is proving pivotal, as a weakening dollar historically paves the way for crypto-market expansions, especially when domestic fiscal concerns regarding US debt interest start to outweigh military spending. Bitcoin’s structural strength Even amidst the recent geopolitical shocks and supply chain fears, the Bitcoin price has managed to stay above $70,000, which is now established as a formidable psychological support area. Market analysts contend that as long as this floor remains intact, a larger move toward new local highs may be firmly in play. Subsequently, after its recent dip, Bitcoin quickly managed to reclaim the ground above $75,000, which has added another layer of technical validation for the current uptrend. The post Why did Bitcoin suddenly jump to $77,500? appeared first on Invezz

2026-04-22 08:57

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said he expects a “great deal” with Iran even as he resists extending a ceasefire, while Bitcoin traded lower amid geopolitical uncertainty. Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh reaffirmed the Federal Reserve’s independence during his Senate hearing, and crude oil prices remained volatile as markets weighed supply risks and potential peace talks. Trump signals confidence on Iran deal President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he believes the US is “going to end up with a great deal” with Iran to end the war, even as he indicated he is unlikely to extend a ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday. “I think they have no choice,” Trump said during an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” He added, “We’ve taken out their navy, we’ve taken out their air force, we’ve taken out their leaders.” Trump acknowledged that leadership changes in Iran could complicate negotiations but suggested they may also bring more pragmatic counterparts to the table. Asked whether he would extend the ceasefire, Trump said, “Well, I don’t want to do that.” Separately, US forces escalated pressure by boarding a sanctioned oil tanker, the M/T Tifani, as part of a broader effort to disrupt Iran’s shipping network. The Pentagon said it would continue enforcement actions against vessels supporting Tehran. Negotiations are expected to resume in Pakistan, though uncertainty remains over Iran’s participation as tensions persist. Bitcoin dips as geopolitical uncertainty weighs Bitcoin and broader crypto markets pulled back Tuesday as geopolitical risks and macro uncertainty weighed on sentiment. The world’s largest cryptocurrency slipped from near $77,000 to around $75,000 during the US session, reflecting cautious trading ahead of key developments. Crypto-related equities also declined, with Coinbase falling more than 7% and Robinhood dropping 5.3%. Analysts pointed to a combination of factors, including stalled Iran peace talks and macro policy uncertainty, as drivers of the pullback. Despite the decline, sentiment has improved modestly. The Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index rose to 33, its highest level since mid-January, though it still signals “fear” among investors. Warsh stresses Fed independence at Senate hearing Kevin Warsh reiterated his commitment to central bank independence during testimony before the Senate Banking Committee. “I never said to the President where I think rates should be… and I wouldn’t have even thought about doing so,” Warsh said. He added: “The President never asked me to predetermine, commit, fix, decide on any interest rate decision in any of our discussions, nor would I ever agree to do so.” Warsh also emphasized he would act independently if confirmed as Federal Reserve chair, pushing back against concerns about political influence. At the same time, he suggested the Fed may need a new framework to address persistent inflation but avoided giving specific guidance on near-term rate decisions. Markets reacted to broader macro signals, with Treasury yields rising as traders scaled back expectations for rate cuts amid higher oil prices and strong economic data. Crude oil volatile as markets await clarity Oil prices remained volatile on Tuesday as investors weighed geopolitical risks against hopes for a diplomatic resolution. Brent crude traded around $100.8 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate hovered near $92.05, both gaining around 5% on the day. Despite Trump’s firm stance on the ceasefire, expectations that talks could eventually reopen the Strait of Hormuz helped limit gains. Shipping through the critical waterway remains restricted, raising concerns about global supply disruptions. The Strait accounts for roughly one-fifth of global oil flows. Additional risks include a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Tuapse port and lower Russian output, which could tighten supply further. The post Evening digest: Trump eyes Iran deal, Warsh pledges Fed independence appeared first on Invezz

2026-04-21 23:12