The war in the Middle East expanded dramatically this week as Iranian-backed Houthi forces entered the conflict, opening a new front beyond the U.S.-Israel-Iran theater. Additional U.S. troops arrived in the region, raising fears of a ground operation.
Bitcoin briefly dipped to $65,112, its lowest point since the February crash, before recovering to $67,402 as Asian markets opened. Ethereum, Solana, and XRP also saw gains, though the weekly performance remains mixed.
Brent crude rose 2.5% to $115 a barrel, while aluminum prices surged due to direct attacks on production sites. The broader inflationary impact suggests the Federal Reserve's rate cut timeline may be delayed.
Stablecoins continue evolving into core financial infrastructure, especially in North America. Regulated issuers like USDC and RLUSD are gaining traction as institutional adoption increases.
Glassnode data shows Hyperliquid’s validators in Tokyo give traders a 200-millisecond latency edge over U.S. and European participants.
The market’s reaction highlights growing uncertainty amid expanding geopolitical risks and shifting financial landscapes.