Gate.io Launches INIT Perpetual Contract Pre-trading

On April 3rd, escalating tensions in the Iran conflict have amplified global stagflation risks. KPMG Chief Economist Diane Swonk noted that if stagflation takes hold, a "deep recession" may be the only resolution. Stagflation is a concerning economic scenario marked by persistent high inflation and weak growth. “The Strait of Hormuz blockade and the resulting oil price surge have impacts far beyond a simple oil shock,” Swonk said. She argues the current situation’s effects are more severe than any prior oil crisis in history—directly driving up costs across sectors (spurring price hikes) while slashing businesses’ hiring intentions, which hits the job market. With multiple intertwined factors, stagflation risks keep rising. Swonk’s view aligns with market investors. “Odds of a Fed rate hike in the second half of the year are climbing; I expect the Fed will be forced to act, with other central banks following suit,” she explained. (Source: Jinse)

On April 3rd, data from LookOnChain monitoring indicates Circle has minted 7.5 billion USDC daily over the past four days, with a total issuance of 30 billion USDC.

Per an official announcement dated April 3, Binance Futures will liquidate and settle the following perpetual contracts, with delisting scheduled upon completion of settlement: - 17:00 UTC+8 on April 8, 2026: U-based perpetual contracts OLUSDT, HIPPOUSDT, RLSUSDT, and PUFFERUSDT - 17:00 UTC+8 on April 9, 2026: Coin-margined perpetual contracts WIFUSD and WLDUSD

April 3 — Iranian media report that the governor of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province has announced directives related to American pilots. Village heads in the counties of Lordegan, Falaad, Hamirza, Ardall, Borujen, and Farskoor have been ordered to mobilize searches for American pilots in their respective regions, along with locating and reporting information on American and Israeli spies. The governor has pledged special support and generous rewards to any team that successfully finds and captures these individuals.

April 3rd — Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, noted that PMI survey data shows the U.S. economy is under pressure from rising prices and mounting uncertainty, with the Middle East conflict further amplifying concerns over recent policy moves. The service sector contracted for the first time since January 2023, pushing the overall economy to near-stagnation with a March annualized growth rate of just 0.5%. The consumer-facing services industry was hit hardest, posting one of its largest declines since 2009 (excluding lockdown periods). Previously strong financial services and tech sectors have shown signs of weakening amid market volatility and worries about higher interest rates. The main driver of slowing growth is reduced spending from weaker purchasing power, while March’s sharp energy price hike pushed up costs and selling prices significantly. Survey data suggests businesses are increasingly likely to pass those costs to custome

April 3rd — Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that U.S. military forces deployed a Black Hawk helicopter and a C-130 Hercules transport plane on Wednesday in an attempt to rescue the pilot of a U.S. fighter jet shot down by Iran, but the mission was unsuccessful.