The Price of WTI and Brent Oil Fluctuates Upwards as the Media Reports the Impending U.S. Operation in Hormuz Strait

On May 4, decentralized exchange platform Aster announced the settlement of its sixth airdrop phase, with a total of 620,608.16 $ASTER tokens distributed. Of that amount, 310,304.08 tokens have been permanently burned, while another 310,304.08 have been transferred to the Aster Treasury contract. Per the project’s plan, the 50% instant claim window opened at 12:00 UTC on May 4 and will close at 12:00 UTC on June 4. Users may claim their corresponding airdrop assets during this period. The official announcement noted that all related burn and distribution transactions are recorded on-chain, enabling public verification.

May 4 (Yonhap) — North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs pushed back against recent accusations of involvement in international hacking incidents on Thursday, calling the claims “false information driven by political motives” and a “ridiculous smear” on the country’s reputation. A ministry spokesperson accused the U.S. of hyping the so-called “North Korean cyber threat” via government agencies, media outlets, and think tanks to spread misinformation globally. The U.S. aims to weaponize cybersecurity issues to interfere in other countries’ domestic affairs and violate their sovereignty, the spokesperson said, adding Pyongyang strongly opposes the moves and will take necessary measures to safeguard its national interests. North Korea has previously been linked to several high-profile cyberattacks. On April 18, DeFi project Kelp DAO was hacked, resulting in an estimated $290 million loss. Some experts have suggested the incident may be tied to the Lazarus Group, a hacker collectiv

May 4 — Sources report the U.S. military’s Strait of Hormuz escort operation is set to launch within hours. President Trump previously unveiled “Project Freedom,” which aims to ensure safe passage for stranded vessels and restore order to Gulf shipping lanes. Still, the shipping industry is largely taking a cautious stance amid a lack of specific operational details. Multiple shipowners and ship management officials have pointed out gaps: no clear mine-sweeping support, anti-aircraft missile defense, or attack response protocols. Though the Joint Warship Information Center has confirmed an “Enhanced Security Zone” is established, specific escort procedures have not been released. Meanwhile, regional security risks are escalating. UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an oil tanker was targeted by unidentified ordnance near Fujairah; earlier incidents involved bulk carriers being harassed by small boats in Iranian waters. Figures show 37 maritime security incidents have be

On May 4, Bybit Spot officially listed Billions Network (BILL). To mark the listing, the platform simultaneously launched the 20,000,000 BILL Token Splash Trading Competition—where users can join via deposits, trading, and other methods to claim generous rewards.

May 4th — The market is now in a phase of overlapping intense macro and geopolitical events. U.S. nonfarm payrolls, Federal Reserve officials’ remarks, U.S.-Europe tariff risks, and the Strait of Hormuz situation are top focuses for global funds. The U.S. military has announced the launch of "freedom of navigation operations," deploying 15,000 personnel plus sea and air assets to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has warned any intervention could be deemed a ceasefire violation, with the conflict at risk of further escalation. In this context, BTC has continued its risk appetite recovery post-ceasefire, climbing above the $80,000 mark. On-chain settlement heatmaps show the $79,500–$81,000 range has seen high-density short squeezes, while the $77,000–$78,000 level acts as a short-term long defense zone — signaling a typical high-leverage hedging state. Notably, this week’s macro data will directly impact the U.S. dollar, U.S. bond yields, and risk asset sentiment.