Geopolitics

Bitcoin rose to $68,169.65, gaining nearly 2%, alongside U.S. stocks as Iran’s President hinted at potential conflict resolution. This sparked optimism, easing fears of disruptions in oil supply and negative impacts on global markets.

The number of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz has been increasing slowly, reaching 7 vessels per week, even as Iran continues to blockade most commercially operated ships that have not received permission. This shift suggests that non-hostile Asian country fleets are still passing through the strait, and that Iran’s blockade strategy is gradually evolving into an economic warfare tool.

Gate News update: On March 31, according to Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that, in retaliation for attacks against Iran, it will designate U.S. companies in the region as targets for strikes starting April 1.

Bitcoin's price surged to $68,000 amid easing geopolitical tensions and improved investor sentiment. However, weak ETF inflows and extreme market fear signal a cautious outlook, indicating potential challenges to a sustained recovery.

Gate News reports that on March 31, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin, recently issued a statement regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, warning the world to be prepared for potential escalation. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Approximately one-third of the world's seaborne oil shipments pass through this channel. The geopolitical tensions in this region have long had a significant impact on global energy markets and financial markets.

Google Quantum AI warns that 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography could be compromised in minutes with under 500,000 qubits, urging the crypto industry to swiftly adopt post-quantum cryptography to enhance security.

Changpeng Zhao posted on X that upgrading cryptocurrencies to quantum-resistant algorithms can address the impact of quantum computing and that there is no need to panic. However, implementing this in a decentralized environment is difficult and could lead to disputes and forks. If Satoshi’s Bitcoin has not been moved, related addresses should be locked or destroyed to prevent hackers. Cryptocurrencies will continue to exist in the quantum age.

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Cynthia Lummis introduced a new “American Mining Act,” aimed at promoting domestic Bitcoin mining, reducing reliance on Chinese equipment, and incorporating a Bitcoin strategic reserve into the legal framework. The bill establishes a mine certification system, encourages local equipment manufacturing, and emphasizes the role of encrypted mining infrastructure. As competition in science and technology between the U.S. and China intensifies, mining has become a new focus, and the U.S. is accelerating regulation of relevant Chinese companies.

Wintermute says the easing window for the situation is coming to an end. The cap on risk assets is lower than before, making it difficult for Bitcoin to stay above $700,000. If diplomatic progress goes smoothly and oil prices pull back, Bitcoin could rebound to $70,000–$74,000; if conditions deteriorate, it could fall to $60,000, or even to $50,000–$55,000. The extent of market volatility may exceed current pricing.

Gate News message, March 31: After Elon Musk on the X platform reposted discussions related to Google’s quantum security white paper, he commented: “On the bright side, if you forget your wallet password, maybe in the future you can still get it back.” This remark sparked interest in the crypto community, and advances in quantum computing technology may bring new changes to the field of cryptography.

Gate News message. On March 31, U.S. President Trump made remarks on the Iran issue, saying that countries can go to the Strait to seize oil for themselves and learn how to fight on their own. The remarks touch on heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East region and concerns about global oil supply security.

The quantum computing power required to break the encryption that secures blockchains continues to decline, at least in theory, raising the question of whether the industry can migrate to quantum-resistant platforms before they become vulnerable at an affordable cost. A new paper by Caltech and qu

The "Mined in America Act" aims to strengthen domestic Bitcoin mining and establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, reducing reliance on foreign hardware and supporting U.S. infrastructure leadership amid geopolitical concerns.

Data shows that more than 40% of altcoin trading prices have moved close to their historical lows. The market has remained weak as geopolitical tensions and liquidity dilution weigh on it. Globally, about 47 million crypto tokens have been issued, with Solana, Base, and BNB Chain accounting for a larger share.

Gate News, March 31, amid continued escalation in concerns over supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz (a globally critical oil transit corridor), the cracking spread for Asian naphtha (a light refined petroleum product) widened against Brent crude oil (the benchmark international crude oil price), reaching a record high of $466.85 per ton. The cracking spread refers to the price difference between petrochemical products and crude oil.

Google’s quantum AI team research indicates that the quantum computing power needed to break Bitcoin is far lower than expected, possibly less than 500,000 qubits. Research simulations show that hackers can intercept ongoing Bitcoin transactions within 9 minutes, and that about one-third of Bitcoin is stored in wallets that have already been exposed, increasing the risk of quantum attacks. While Bitcoin’s Taproot upgrade strengthens privacy, it also exposes public keys, increasing asset risk.

Due to the impact of the Middle East situation, the gold market has been extremely volatile, with this month’s expected decline reaching 14.6%. Even though Trump has signaled a more conciliatory stance, geopolitical conflicts have pushed up oil and gas prices, putting pressure on gold’s performance. Analysts believe that the outlook remains optimistic in the long and medium term, but in the short term, gold prices may face pullback pressure.

Analyst Darkfost pointed out that more than 40% of altcoin prices are approaching historical lows, reflecting market pressure and structural issues. Despite the downturn, identifying resilient projects may deliver long-term returns. Investors should focus on fundamentals and market resilience, uncovering opportunities at lower levels to prepare for the coming phase of divergence in market conditions.