Iran Sends Threats to Big Tech Firms Amid Ceasefire Rumors
Welcome to another edition of your favorite weekly news round-up, guys
Yeah, we know it's no fun and games when Iran starts name-dropping Big Tech as if they’re reading from a Fortune 500 hit list. This is really happening guys… But the plot twist? Crypto markets didn't panic at all. Instead, Bitcoin did what Bitcoin does, climbing all the way up with everyone hoping the US-Iran ceasefire happens sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, Bybit decided to test Rwanda's patience by listing its currency without asking nicely first. And of course, as you’d expect, regulators were not amused. And in Australia, they're finally making it official. If you're running a crypto exchange down under, you'd better get licensed like everyone else. It's about time.
Here are the highlights:
- Bitcoin Hits Weekly High Over $69K on US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes as Oil Slides
- Iran threatens major US companies in the Middle East creating new risk for crypto
- Bybit Crosses a Line in Rwanda That Binance Has Walked for Years Without Consequence
- Australia passes crypto regulation requiring exchanges to obtain financial services licenses
Iran Threatens Major US Companies in the Middle East, Creating New Risk For Crypto
According to the Wall Street Journal, the IRGC warned that US companies in the region would be targeted from April 1 and named firms including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, and Boeing. Other multinationals mentioned in the reports included JPMorgan Chase, Oracle, Palantir, Cisco, HP, and Nvidia. The group said those companies would be treated as “legitimate targets” in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes on Iran. For crypto markets, the significance is not that these are digital-asset companies in the narrow sense.
Bitcoin Hits Weekly High Over $69K on US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes as Oil Slides
Bitcoin and broader financial markets climbed in early Asian and London trading Monday after reports emerged of potential ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran. The leading crypto hit a weekly high of $69,350 Monday morning, and is currently trading at $69,245, up 3.5% on the day according to CoinGecko data. Oil dropped 1.4% from Friday's close, while the Nikkei gained 0.85% and S&P 500 futures rose 0.64%. Safe-haven gold, on the other hand, hovered near breakeven.
Bybit Crosses a Line in Rwanda That Binance Has Walked for Years Without Consequence
The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) publicly warned citizens against using the Rwandan Franc (FRW) for crypto transactions, two days after global exchange Bybit listed FRW on its peer-to-peer (P2P) platform without regulatory clearance. The BNR highlighted Bybit's promotional announcement, stating that crypto-assets remain unauthorized for payments, FRW conversion, or P2P trading under current law. Rwanda has maintained a restrictive stance on private crypto since 2018, when the BNR first declared cryptocurrencies illegal for domestic use.
Australia Passes Crypto Regulation Requiring Exchanges to Obtain Financial Services Licenses
Australia has passed legislation that regulates digital asset platforms and custodians to hold an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), putting them on the same footing as regulated financial services firms. Titled “Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025,” the legislation was passed by the Senate on Wednesday, meaning it has now been passed by both houses of parliament, after previously passing the House of Representatives in February.
Other Highlights Worth Mentioning
Trump’s Hormuz Ultimatum Sends Oil Past $110, Highest Since March - Yahoo Finance
Hackers Drain $52 Million in March, Nearly Doubling February’s Crypto Loss Toll - Mexc
US Attorney's Office Recovers $600K in Crypto Fraud Scheme Targeting Ledger Wallet Owners - Decrypt
US Government Sues Illinois to Block State From Policing Federally Regulated Prediction Markets - Be in Crypto
COINIGY FACT OF THE DAY
On this day in 2020, Bitcoin traded between $7,100 to $7,300, signaling a fragile but meaningful recovery just weeks after one of the most brutal sell-offs in crypto history.
The market was still reeling from the shock of the March meltdown—often referred to as “Black Thursday” in crypto circles—when Bitcoin plunged below $4,000 amid the global panic triggered by the COVID-19 crisis. That crash wiped out billions in market value and forced a wave of liquidations across leveraged positions, exposing structural weaknesses in crypto markets at the time. By April 6, however, a shift was underway. Bitcoin’s stabilization above the $7K range suggested that the worst of the panic-driven selling had subsided.
COINIGY MEME OF THE WEEK
