Iraqi oil production plunges significantly due to conflict and transportation disruptions, with output from major southern fields down by about 80%

March 25 — Market institutions remain bullish on Circle’s future despite a temporary 20% price dip earlier this week. Bitwise Asset Management projects Circle could hit a $75 billion valuation by 2030, fueled by stablecoin market expansion. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan noted Citigroup forecasts the stablecoin market will reach $19 trillion by 2030. USD Coin (USDC) currently holds ~25% market share, and its growth trajectory remains unphased by policy concerns, he added. Previously, market jitters emerged over potential restrictions on USDC’s holding/usage incentive mechanisms under the U.S. proposed Clarity Act, triggering sell-offs. However, analysts at William Blair and Bernstein argue the legislation will have minimal impact on Circle’s long-term fundamentals and may even weaken competitors’ ability to attract liquidity via high yields. Meanwhile, rival Tether is ramping up compliance efforts (including "Big Four" audits) to expand its U.S. market footprint. Analysts say Circle

On March 25, Bloomberg reported that Franklin Templeton has partnered with Ondo Finance to launch a tokenized ETF—one that can be traded directly from a crypto wallet, enabling 24/7 trading and breaking the limitations of traditional brokerage accounts and market hours. The product covers asset classes including U.S. equities, fixed income, and gold. It will initially launch in Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. A U.S. rollout remains contingent on regulators providing further clarity on blockchain-based exchange-traded funds.

On March 25, Politico reported that U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated "Operation Epic Fury" is nearing completion. "Operation Epic Fury" is a meticulously planned, unprecedentedly large U.S.-Israel joint operation aimed at fully dismantling the Iranian regime’s core threats—including its nuclear ambitions, ballistic missile arsenal, naval capabilities, and ability to support terrorist proxy networks.

March 25 – According to CCTV News, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Wednesday the U.S. has again called for negotiations with Iran, without ruling out the possibility its goal is to create conditions for redeploying armed forces and adjusting military plans. Previous reports note the U.S. government proposed a 15-point conflict resolution plan to Iran via Pakistan, covering nuclear programs, missile capabilities and regional issues. The U.S. is considering pushing for a one-month ceasefire to facilitate further talks on terms. Additionally, U.S. officials including former President Donald Trump have recently stated the U.S. has engaged in dialogue with Iran and outlined key points of an agreement. However, multiple Iranian officials have denied reports of U.S.-Iran negotiations.

On March 25, commodity ETFs posted their largest-ever fund outflows amid escalating Middle East tensions, per Bloomberg Industry Research data. Roughly $11 billion has flowed out of nearly 100 ETFs focused on precious metals and diversified commodities since March—marking the largest monthly net outflow since 2005 and ending nine straight months of net inflows. Gold was a key sell-off target: the world’s largest gold ETF, SPDR Gold Shares, saw redemptions topping $7 billion, while silver ETFs recorded outflows of around $1.4 billion. Analysts note profit-taking from gold’s prior gains, combined with expectations for high interest rates and a strong dollar, has dented gold’s appeal—with the “cash is king” narrative dominating markets. Meanwhile, oil market volatility spiked as the Strait of Hormuz blockage disrupted crude shipments, pushing Brent crude to roughly $104 per barrel. Some funds shifted to energy products, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) unexpectedly drew ab

Interactive Brokers announced on March 25 that it now lets clients directly move existing crypto assets (like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, etc.) from an external wallet or platform to their linked crypto account—without first selling them. This feature lets users manage crypto alongside traditional holdings (stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds) all in one place, making cross-market allocation more efficient. For fees: Interactive Brokers offers crypto trading via Paxos or Zero Hash. Rates range from 0.12% to 0.18% of the transaction value, with a $1.75 minimum per trade. There’s no extra spread or markup, and fees are far lower than those at some crypto platforms (which can top 2%). The feature is currently available to eligible clients of Interactive Brokers LLC and Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited; support details vary by region.