Ceasefire Agreement Set to Expire Soon, Iran Remains Adamant, Market Concerned about Escalation, Bitcoin Rallies Against the Trend

April 21st Trump repeatedly stated Wednesday that the ceasefire agreement is set to expire Wednesday night Washington time and is unlikely to be extended. Meanwhile, he noted Vance is traveling to Pakistan later Monday, adding the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until an agreement is signed. Iran held firm during U.S. trading hours, saying its decision not to join negotiations remains unchanged—though media reports indicate the Iranian delegation will arrive Tuesday morning, coinciding with the U.S. delegation’s arrival timing. Driven by Iran’s tough stance, per Bitget data: the S&P 500 fell 0.24% Monday, the Nasdaq dropped 0.26%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat. Crude oil edged higher, with Brent crude up 2.51% to $90.39/bbl. Bitcoin held up relatively well, possibly supported by a sharp increase in Strategy’s holdings. Per HTX data, Bitcoin briefly topped $76,000 this morning and now trades at $75,853.42, up 0.19% over 24 hours. Investors are closely watching whether the U.S.-Iran situation will escalate further. Over the next day or two, the key market focus is the timely arrival of the Iranian delegation in Islamabad and the resumption of talks.