Gate Crypto Flash News and Market Updates

HKEX is reforming its listing mechanism to improve IPO quality by enforcing stricter disclosure standards and allowing confidential submissions. Failure to meet standards will result in public disclosure of sponsoring institutions' names, emphasizing the importance of compliance.

Gate News message, April 18 — Iran has not agreed to hold the next round of negotiations with the United States, according to Iran's Tasnim News Agency on April 18.

More Americans now own Bitcoin than gold, highlighting a significant shift in asset preferences as Bitcoin's popularity surges. U.S. entities dominate global Bitcoin holdings, and institutional adoption is accelerating, with major firms entering the market and legislation potentially enhancing Bitcoin's legal status.

Iran's Judiciary Chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, demands that the U.S. and Israel pay war reparations for their actions against Iran, calling for accountability and prosecution of war crimes.

Iran's IRGC dismantled several organizations linked to the US, Israel, and the UK, leading to numerous arrests across East Azerbaijan, Mazandaran, and Kerman provinces for various security-related offenses.

Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Kuwait raised $7 billion in bonds through private placements amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, despite a closed public bond market. Following a recent ceasefire, bond prices have partially recovered, with expectations for increased public market issuance if stability continues.

Slovakia plans to sue the EU over its ban on Russian gas imports, claiming it violates EU treaty principles. Prime Minister Fico argues such sanctions should require unanimous consent among member states.

XRP ETFs surpassed $1.5 billion in inflows, fueled by growing institutional adoption post-Ripple's SEC settlement in 2025. Major firms launched products, and investor interest remains strong, with projections suggesting continued growth for XRP in the coming year.

Hyundai Motor Group is restructuring to focus on AI and robotics, reducing traditional operations. It plans a $34.3 billion investment in robotics by 2030 and aims to launch a robotics-as-a-service model, collaborating with Google DeepMind and NVIDIA.

Mohammad Makhber, an advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, asserted that Iran's internal unity and resistance are crucial for the nation's future and should not be compromised in foreign negotiations.

Vitalik Buterin warned on April 18 about an attack on the DNS registrar for eth.limo, urging users to avoid accessing vitalik.eth.limo and related pages. He recommended using IPFS as an alternative until the issue is resolved.

Gate News message, April 18 — Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei stated that the option of transferring Iranian enriched uranium to a foreign location has been rejected.

A wallet associated with Arthur Hayes transferred 3,000 ETH to exchanges, sparking speculation about potential selling pressure. While some interpret this as profit-taking, others suggest it may be for repositioning. The crypto community remains divided as traders monitor the situation closely.

Luffa, a Web3 social ecosystem, partnered with a digital asset trading platform to integrate AI-driven trading features, enhancing secure communication and trading in a unified interface while maintaining decentralization and risk mitigation.

Pakistan's military, led by Army Chief Munir, completed a three-day visit to Iran, discussing regional security and sustainable peace with Iranian officials. Emphasis was placed on dialogue, de-escalation, and cooperative measures for stability.

MicroStrategy has proposed changing its STRC preferred stock dividends from monthly to semi-monthly to enhance liquidity and stabilize stock prices, maintaining an 11.5% annual yield. Concerns about this structure have been raised by Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff.

Tim Draper's wallet transferred 150.84 BTC, valued at $11.62 million, to a centralized exchange after a year of holding, leading to an estimated loss of $2.57 million.

DGrid AI partners with Stable to integrate AI into blockchain payment systems, simplifying access for developers and enhancing scalability for AI-driven financial applications. This collaboration aims to advance the intersection of AI and blockchain in digital finance.

Patrick Witt announced at the Solana Policy Institute summit that the White House mediated a stablecoin dispute to advance the Clarity Act. The compromise allows banks and crypto firms to together address regulatory concerns, with future focus on crypto taxation and blockchain integration strategies among financial institutions.

The U.S. Department of Energy will loan over 26 million barrels of crude oil to nine companies, marking the third release of strategic reserves since the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict began, aimed at moderating oil prices. Delivery is set for May and June 2026.