The popular AI framework Virtuals Protocol will host an in-person meet-up in Hong Kong on Friday, January 17.

April 22 — The U.S. dollar weakened sharply on Tuesday as Middle East tensions eased (dimming its safe-haven appeal) and renewed bets on a Federal Reserve rate cut this year spurred global funds to pull out of dollar assets at an accelerated pace. The U.S. Dollar Index has dropped ~2.3% from its late March peak, marking its worst monthly performance since August 2023. Wall Street firms cite two key drivers for the greenback’s slide: fading safe-haven premiums and shifting policy expectations. JPMorgan has restarted its dollar-shorting strategy and turned bullish on risk-sensitive currencies like the Australian dollar. Bank of New York Mellon notes emerging market currencies have rebounded across the board, a sign of a sharp jump in global risk appetite. Rising Fed rate-cut bets have also sent funds flowing back into high-yield and carry trade positions. Previously pressured currencies — including the euro, Korean won, and South African rand — have rebounded strongly, with some

**IDF Alleges Hezbollah Violated Ceasefire, Vows to Neutralize Threats** On April 22, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement claiming Hezbollah in Lebanon violated the ceasefire agreement, adding it would take action to eliminate the threat. The military said Hezbollah launched a drone targeting its soldiers south of the Blue Line in southern Lebanon. It noted the incident breached the ceasefire and that the drone had been intercepted. The IDF also stated it would continue acting to neutralize any threat to Israeli civilians and troops. Earlier the same day, the IDF announced that during operations to dismantle armed infrastructure in multiple areas south of the Blue Line, soldiers seized weapons including rocket launchers, ammunition, drones, and firearms. These weapons, the IDF claimed, were intended for Hezbollah militants to attack Israeli forces. Additionally, the IDF mentioned that the day prior, two armed individuals who crossed the Blue Line and approach

April 22 — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she expects the Iran conflict to end, which would drive down natural gas prices. Gasoline prices could fall below pre-conflict levels with Iran. President Trump has shown his ability to lower energy costs. The claim that Iran would gain $14 billion from sanctions relief is “pure fantasy,” the U.S. Treasury Department stated. Lifting sanctions on Iran would release more than 250 million barrels of seaborne oil, the department added — without this action, prices would be higher (Kinling).

On April 22, oil futures climbed for a third straight trading session as the anticipated reopening of the Strait of Hormuz failed to materialize again. U.S. energy consulting firm Ritterbusch & Associates said in a note that former President Trump’s extension of the ceasefire removed the immediate risk of escalation, but talks could be pushed back—and U.S. lockdown measures are expected to stay in place indefinitely. Shipments via alternative routes and drawdowns from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) have partially softened the blow to oil prices from the strait’s closure, while demand destruction that disrupts prices is emerging as a growing focal point. (FX168)

April 22 — Multiple sources report U.S. President Trump has agreed to extend the U.S.-Iran ceasefire for just 3 to 5 days, not the long-term arrangement the market had anticipated. The extension is intended to provide a final window for a new round of talks. Pakistani officials say the second round of negotiations could resume within 36 to 72 hours, but Iran’s Tasnim News Agency has stated Tehran has not yet decided whether to join Friday’s talks. The core obstacle to current negotiations is Iran’s internal power struggle: the hardline faction led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is openly clashing with the civilian government on key issues, even vetoing existing negotiation outcomes. Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not issued a public statement in some time, leaving negotiations without a final decision-making authority. The U.S. assessment is that a diplomatic resolution remains possible, but military options will be back on the table if I

On April 22, French media reported that on the morning of April 20 local time, a violent targeted crypto asset robbery occurred in Pouladamezzo, France. Two masked gunmen broke into a residence, held and restrained a family of five—including two children and two elderly individuals—for hours, then coerced the victims into transferring roughly €700,000 worth of cryptocurrency. The robbery unfolded in broad daylight in a residential neighborhood. Suspects appeared well-prepared and had detailed knowledge of the victims’ crypto holdings. Police have preliminarily classified the case as a classic example of a new crime type: “offline violence + on-chain transfer,” where private keys or transfer authorization are extracted through physical threats. Notably, the victims work in the cryptocurrency industry—likely a key reason for the targeted attack. The case remains under investigation, and the suspects are still at large. This incident underscores that as crypto assets grow in p