Monday morning brought a fresh escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, where a third oil supertanker was reportedly struck by a naval mine. Crypto markets traded flat near $82,500, and exchanges issued a final warning ahead of tomorrow's suspension of Blast token trading on Coinbase and Bybit.
Third tanker hit in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), via the official IRNA news agency, said an unnamed supertanker carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil struck a naval mine south of the Strait of Hormuz on what it called an "unauthorised southern route." The blast triggered an engine-room fire, and the vessel had reportedly disabled its tracking systems. The incident follows two supertankers struck by mines on Saturday. IRGC naval commander Ali Ozmaei had warned earlier this week that vessels with deactivated navigation systems would be treated as "hostile," a signal of rising freight and insurance costs on one of the world's most important oil routes.
Bitcoin steady near $82,500, gold higher
Bitcoin traded around $82,540, up about 0.7 percent, with little movement over the past 24 hours. Ethereum hovered near $2,411, up slightly on the day but down more than 5 percent on the week. The VIX volatility index jumped 21.5 percent to 19.99, gold rose 0.3 percent to about $4,193 an ounce, and oil slipped 0.8 percent but stayed above $100 a barrel. No new major crypto events emerged in this window.
Final warning: Coinbase and Bybit suspend Blast trading tomorrow
Coinbase and Bybit will suspend trading of the BLAST token tomorrow, October 20. Holders should withdraw or sell their positions before the suspension takes effect, as trading access will be cut off. The suspension is tied to the wind-down of the Blast network, whose standard interface closes on October 26.
No new China-US/UK tariff moves
No new tariff or trade measures between China, the United States, and the United Kingdom emerged in this window. Trade searches returned only background updates, including the standing note that US informal-entry procedures for international mail remain on the current path until January 2027.
Market snapshot
Bitcoin around $82,540, Ethereum near $2,411. Oil: Brent crude near $108 in early Asian trade on Monday, easing from Friday's nearly 4 percent jump to a five-month high; WTI around $100.72, down 0.7 percent. Gold near $4,193. No new China-US/UK tariff moves.
Watch: today's video briefings
Iran is building a large stockpile of missiles: US Defense Secretary — Dawn News Headlines 09 PM
