Market News: CME Group and Silicon Data will launch computing power futures on October 5.

Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) loading volume has risen to its highest level since March, signaling the country is preparing for a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The daily LNG loading volume at Ras Laffan Port stands at around 80,000 tons, though this figure remains roughly 60% lower than the same period last year. Seven out of Qatar’s 14 LNG production lines have shown signs of resuming operations, indicating production is gradually recovering after disruptions caused by the conflict. However, a full recovery in exports still hinges on shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz. Relevant diplomatic negotiations are currently underway, but there is no guarantee an agreement will be reached.

According to official announcements, Coinbase has announced that Coinbase Business is expanding its payment services to offer businesses more flexible payment collection methods and support a wider range of customers, including AI agents. A key highlight of this update is support for AI agent payments. As AI agents increasingly autonomously purchase digital services, make purchases on behalf of users, and even execute independent transactions online, traditional payment infrastructure is struggling to meet the demands of these machine-to-machine transactions. Coinbase Business now supports accepting AI agent payments via the open machine-to-machine payment standard x402, with funds settled instantly to business accounts in USDC; businesses can choose to earn interest on these funds or withdraw them at any time. Additionally, Coinbase Business’s payment suite now fully supports USDT, enabling businesses to collect USDT through payment links, checkout pages, and invoices. Collected USDT is automatically converted to USDC and settled to the business’s Coinbase Business account. Coinbase Business has also rolled out new features including reusable payment links, flexible pricing, a unified product catalog, and buyer information collection tools. Businesses can create a single reusable payment link, set payment limits, pause or deactivate links, and configure minimum or maximum payment amounts—ideal for use cases such as donations, tips, and service-based billing. They can also input product details once in the catalog and reuse this data across different payment methods, while collecting customer information like names, email addresses, and shipping addresses. For businesses new to crypto payments, Coinbase Business offers benefits including lower fees than credit cards, no chargebacks, instant USDC settlements, and the ability to earn interest on idle USDC balances.

According to EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook report, WTI crude oil prices are projected to reach $80.88 per barrel in 2026, up from the prior forecast of $76.26 per barrel. For 2027, WTI is expected to hit $65.39 per barrel, compared to the earlier projection of $60.76 per barrel. Brent crude is forecast at $86.81 per barrel in 2026, revised up from the previous estimate of $81.91 per barrel, while the 2027 Brent price is projected at $69.39 per barrel, versus the prior forecast of $64.76 per barrel.

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Rezaei released a statement, saying: "The United States is the source of insecurity in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman. By imposing an illegal war on Iran, it has endangered the entire region. As long as the U.S. does not alter its behavior and accept Iran’s terms, the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen. The U.S. must end the war, release Iran’s frozen funds, and halt all conflicts in the region, including those in Lebanon and Gaza. It must also fulfill other conditions conveyed to the U.S. through intermediaries. If Iran and Oman strike a deal on transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz, that agreement will be addressed separately from the issue of the strait’s closure."

Iran's state-run television IRIB quoted an advisor to the Supreme Leader as saying that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until relevant conditions are met.

According to U.S. financial outlet Semafor, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger (known as Chen Liwu in Chinese) requested U.S. approval for Intel’s (INTC.O) secondary stock offering. The Trump administration opted not to take part, while U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross greenlit the company’s secondary offering proposal.