Global Markets

James Seyffart predicts that Bitcoin spot ETFs may surpass gold ETFs in assets under management as investor demand evolves. Bitcoin is seen as a versatile investment option, while gold remains traditional. Despite recent declines, both asset classes have seen significant fund flow activity.

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could surpass gold ETFs in total assets under management (AUM) as investor demand expands beyond the traditional “digital gold” narrative, according to ETF analyst James Seyffart. “There are just more use cases of why somebody would put a Bitcoin ETF in a p

A research report from China International Capital Corporation (CICC) notes that the Iran–U.S. conflict has pushed up oil prices, increasing inflation risks, affecting expectations for Fed rate cuts, and driving selling of gold ETFs. Geopolitical developments put oil prices at a crossroads, while the gold market is focused on how an economic downturn could affect it; in the future, it may reassess expectations for rate hikes. Demand for gold investment and prices may have room to rise.

JPMorgan Chase’s analysis shows that in Q1 2026, digital-asset fund flows totaled only $11 billion, market momentum slowed, and the main sources of capital were corporate allocations and crypto venture capital; meanwhile, traditional investors’ participation declined, and the overall market exhibited the characteristics of being dominated by a few large players.

Bitcoin traded mostly flat on April 3, hovering near $67,000 despite sharp geopolitical and political developments. The cryptocurrency’s relative stability kept its market cap steady at $1.34 trillion and liquidations low at $31 million. Political Turbulence Overshadows Conflict Bitcoin traded

On April 3, under market pressure, Bitcoin Treasury Company adopted different strategies: Nakamoto Holdings sold 284 bitcoins to adjust its balance sheet, while Strategy kept 762,000 BTC untouched. New Hampshire plans to issue Bitcoin-backed municipal bonds, expected to raise $100 million. CoinShares merged with Vine Hill Capital and listed on Nasdaq.

Charles Schwab will launch a cryptocurrency trading service called “Schwab Crypto” on its investment platform on April 3, initially supporting trading in Bitcoin and Ethereum and covering most states in the United States. The service has been developed by its subsidiary. Charles Schwab has previously offered related ETF products and supported trading on the EDX Markets exchange.

Gate News message, according to the April 3 update, Bitcoin ETFs recorded a 1-day net outflow of 21 BTC (approximately $1.39 million) and a 7-day net outflow of 3,616 BTC (approximately $240.99 million). Ethereum ETFs saw a 1-day net outflow of 15,212 ETH (approximately $31.14 million) and a 7-day n

On April 3, BVIX was quoted at 49.18, with an intraday decline of 7.56%; EVIX was quoted at 69.80, with an intraday decline of 5.50%. The U.S. dollar to offshore Chinese yuan exchange rate fell by 0.05%, and the U.S. dollar to the Japanese yen fell by 0.02%. Gate supports users in trading multiple asset types within the platform, enabling the fusion of crypto and traditional financial assets.

Gate News message, on April 3, after the Non-Farm Payrolls data was released, the U.S. Dollar Index DXY (a measure of the dollar’s strength versus a basket of currencies) surged sharply in the short term, topping out at 100.1. Non-U.S. currencies generally fell; EUR/USD and GBP/USD both dropped nearly 30 points in the short term.

In February, stablecoins surpassed the US ACH network in transaction volume, reaching $7.2 trillion. This growth indicates their emerging role as a global payment infrastructure, enhancing financial accessibility without traditional banking constraints.

Blue Cat Owl Capital’s stock price has fallen to an all-time low after a surge in redemption requests for its private credit funds, totaling $5.4 billion in the first quarter. The company’s market value has shrunk by more than 40% this year. Investor confidence has declined, the industry faces pressure, and redemption restrictions may affect cash flow and earnings.

In Q1 2026, the total stablecoin supply reached $320 billion, setting a new all-time high. Total trading volume surpassed $2.8 trillion, accounting for 75% of total cryptocurrency trading volume. The supply trends of USDC and USDT diverged, and the share of automated trading rose to 76%.

This week, due to Trump’s tough remarks targeting Iran, gold prices fell, with spot gold and futures down 2% and 2.5%, respectively. Rising oil prices boosted inflation expectations, reducing gold’s appeal. In addition, the entire precious metals complex faced pressure: UBS cut its gold price outlook, so investors need to watch how the situation in the Middle East and market volatility affect prices.

The report points out that traditional financial institutions are rapidly moving into the cryptocurrency market, creating competitive pressure on exchanges. With the rollout of spot Bitcoin ETFs, investors are increasingly favoring bank and securities products, leading to decreased exchange trading volume and layoffs. If an exchange doesn’t offer unique services, it will be difficult to survive. The trend toward the integration of traditional finance and the crypto industry is also strengthening, and exchanges worldwide face challenges.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has seen a surge in daily trading volume, making it the leader in U.S. spot trading volume. Although there has been overall ETF fund outflow, IBIT’s trading activity indicates that institutional investors are paying closer attention to the crypto market, reflecting intensifying competition between traditional finance and digital assets. In the future, Bitcoin prices and economic signals will influence ETF fund flows.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) report warns that tokenized finance poses four major risks, including exacerbating market fragmentation, increasing financial stability risks, conflicts in cross-border settlement, and challenges for emerging economies. The IMF recommends implementing policies such as secure money anchoring and unified regulation to address these risks, and notes that the tokenized finance market is growing rapidly.

A lawsuit involving SpaceX shares could have a major impact on how proceeds from its upcoming IPO are distributed. The dispute stems from a collaboration between Trellis Software and ClearList Holdings; Trellis alleges that ClearList attempted to dilute its stake, while ClearList counters that Trellis failed to deliver the software. The case’s progress will affect private equity funding worth billions of dollars and has sparked attention to protections for shareholders and market rules.

In 2026, the private credit market faces liquidity pressure. Investor redemption demand is high, but actual settlement falls short of half, and multiple institutions have initiated redemption restrictions. Market tension and sentiment worsen, default rates hit a record high, and problems with asset structure are pronounced. Blockchain attempts have failed to improve liquidity, and macro pressures have struck borrowers. Overall, private credit could become a source of systemic risk.

Gate News message. April 3, according to Solid Intel, Turkey sold about 120 tons of gold within three weeks, worth up to $20 billion, to support its legal tender lira. Of that, it sold about 70 tons of gold last week.