Bitcoin surged past $77,000 on Friday, while oil prices fell sharply, after Iran confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open during the ongoing ceasefire.

The announcement triggered a swift shift in global markets, signaling improving investor sentiment as geopolitical tensions eased.

Bitcoin Rallies on Easing Tensions

Following the news, Bitcoin climbed more than 3.7% in 24 hours, extending its weekly gains to around 5%.

The rally reflects a broader return of risk appetite among investors, who had previously pulled back amid uncertainty tied to the US, Israel, and Iran conflict.

Market watchers noted that investors who exited positions during the March volatility are now re-entering as conditions stabilize.

Oil Prices Drop Sharply

At the same time, oil markets reacted in the opposite direction.

Brent crude futures fell roughly 10%, dropping to around $85 per barrel after Iran’s foreign minister confirmed that commercial shipping would not be disrupted during the ceasefire period.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy route, and any threat to its operation typically drives oil prices higher. Its reopening helped ease supply concerns almost immediately.

Ceasefire Brings Temporary Relief

Iran’s foreign minister stated that the passage would remain fully open for commercial vessels throughout the ceasefire period.

US President Donald Trump also confirmed the development, reinforcing confidence in the short-term stability of the region.

However, the ceasefire is set to expire on April 22, meaning uncertainty still lingers over what could happen next.

Markets Show Signs of Recovery

The easing of tensions has boosted broader markets as well.

According to market commentary, the S&P 500 has added roughly $7 trillion in value over the past three weeks, reflecting renewed investor confidence across asset classes.

This improving sentiment is also supporting crypto markets, which often react strongly to macroeconomic and geopolitical developments.

Talks of Broader Deal Add Optimism

Additional optimism came from reports that US officials are considering a wider agreement with Iran.

The proposal could involve releasing up to $20 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for Tehran scaling back its enriched uranium stockpile.

While discussions are ongoing, such a deal could further reduce geopolitical risks if finalized.

Uncertainty Still Remains

Despite the positive developments, risks have not fully disappeared.

The US naval presence in the region remains active, and officials have indicated that certain measures will stay in place until a broader agreement is finalized.

With the ceasefire deadline approaching, markets may continue to see volatility depending on how negotiations unfold.

Fintech firm Ramp Network has introduced a new multichain self-custodial wallet aimed at reducing one of crypto’s biggest usability challenges, the need to rely on multiple third-party services for basic transactions.

The company says the wallet allows users to buy, sell, swap, and cash out digital assets within a single app, streamlining the overall experience.

All-in-One Crypto Experience

Unlike many wallets that depend on external providers, Ramp’s new product integrates its own on-ramp, off-ramp, and cross-chain infrastructure directly into the app.

This means users can complete key actions like trading or withdrawing funds without being redirected to other platforms.

Ramp says the goal is to simplify self-custody while still allowing users to retain full control over their assets.

Multichain Support at Launch

The wallet launches with support for Ether across eight networks, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Linea, MegaETH, Optimism, Polygon zkEVM, and zkSync Era.

Ramp plans to expand support to additional networks such as Bitcoin, Solana, Binance Smart Chain, Polygon, Apechain, Avalanche, Celo, and Gnosis in future updates.

To facilitate transactions, the wallet uses USDC on the Base network as a core balance for payments and transfers.

Focus on Security and User Control

Despite offering an integrated experience, Ramp emphasized that the wallet remains fully self-custodial.

Users retain control of their private keys, with security features including passkeys and optional key export functionality.

The company said this approach aims to make non-custodial wallets easier to use without compromising ownership of funds.

Not Available in the EU Yet

The wallet will be available globally, except in the European Union.

Ramp Network is already registered as a Crypto Asset Service Provider under the EU’s MiCA framework, but additional regulatory approvals are required before launching the wallet in the region.

According to CEO Przemek Kowalczyk, those steps are expected to be completed in the coming months.

Competing in a Crowded Wallet Market

Ramp’s entry adds to a growing list of wallets offering integrated features, including MetaMask, Phantom, Best Wallet, and Exodus, which already support in-app swaps and asset purchases.

However, Ramp is positioning its product as more streamlined by reducing the number of intermediaries involved in each transaction.

Simplifying a Fragmented Experience

Kowalczyk said the company built its own infrastructure to eliminate friction points that typically occur when users switch between services.

By combining payments, trading, and cash-out features into a single system, Ramp aims to make the crypto experience more consistent and user-friendly while maintaining the core principle of self-custody.

HIVE Digital Technologies is preparing to raise $75 million as it accelerates its shift from Bitcoin mining toward AI-driven computing and data center infrastructure.

The company announced plans to issue 0% exchangeable senior notes due in 2031, with the offering targeting institutional investors and including an option to raise an additional $15 million.

Funding Focused on GPUs and Data Centers

HIVE said the proceeds will be used to expand its high-performance computing capabilities, including investments in graphics processing units and data center infrastructure.

The notes will be issued through a wholly owned subsidiary and can be converted under certain conditions, with HIVE retaining flexibility to settle conversions in cash, shares, or a mix of both.

The company also plans to enter capped call transactions to help limit potential shareholder dilution from future conversions.

Stock Drops Following Announcement

Following the news, HIVE’s Nasdaq-listed shares fell 11.5%, underperforming the broader crypto mining sector. The CoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF also declined slightly by 1.5%.

Despite the market reaction, the raise reflects HIVE’s longer-term strategy to diversify beyond traditional mining revenue.

Pivot to AI Already Underway

HIVE was among the early Bitcoin miners to pivot into high-performance computing, beginning the transition in 2022.

That strategy is starting to show results. In its most recent quarter, the company reported $93.1 million in revenue, up 219% year over year, even as Bitcoin prices remained under pressure and mining difficulty increased.

Earlier this year, HIVE also signed a $30 million deal to deploy 504 Nvidia B200 GPUs for enterprise AI cloud services, signaling deeper involvement in the AI infrastructure space.

Mining Industry Shifts Toward AI

HIVE is not alone in this transition. A growing number of publicly traded Bitcoin miners are moving into AI and high-performance computing.

Companies such as MARA Holdings, Riot Platforms, Bitdeer Technologies, TeraWulf, Hut 8, CleanSpark, and IREN are all leveraging their existing energy access and data center infrastructure to support AI workloads.

This trend reflects a broader industry shift as miners look to stabilize revenues and capitalize on rising demand for AI computing power.

AI Infrastructure Becomes Key Growth Driver

The move toward AI is gaining momentum across the sector.

CoreWeave, a former crypto mining firm, has emerged as a major player in AI cloud infrastructure after pivoting years earlier. The company recently signed a $6 billion deal with trading firm Jane Street and secured a $1 billion equity investment, highlighting the scale of demand for compute resources.

At the same time, other players like Soluna Holdings are restructuring operations to focus more heavily on AI-ready data centers.

Expansion Plans Continue

In addition to the fundraising, HIVE said it has received conditional approval to list its shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange, with trading expected to begin later this month once requirements are met.

As the company deepens its AI strategy, the planned raise signals a continued shift away from reliance on Bitcoin mining toward a broader role in powering next-generation computing infrastructure.