[News Brief] Apr 22, morning | U.S. Senate Banking Committee Expected to Begin Markup of Bitcoin and Digital Asset Market Structure Bill

Bitcoin Falls Below $80,000

Bitcoin has dropped below $80,000.

On the 7th (local time), Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) reported on X that Bitcoin had fallen below $80,000. With a major psychological support level now broken, market attention is focused on the possibility of increased short-term volatility.

U.S. Senate Banking Committee Expected to Begin Markup of Bitcoin and Digital Asset Market Structure Bill

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee is expected to begin the markup process for a Bitcoin and digital asset market structure bill as early as the 8th, according to Bitcoin Magazine, citing reporting by Eleanor Terrett on the 7th (local time).

According to the report, a vote on the bill could take place next week, and sentiment among lawmakers toward the legislation has so far been broadly positive.

Markup is a legislative procedure in which a standing committee reviews, revises, and then votes on the wording of a bill. If this process begins, it could mark the start of more formal discussions in Congress over digital asset market structure regulation.

U.S. Treasury Requests Compliance Explanation from Binance Over Iran-Related Transactions

The U.S. Treasury Department has sent a letter to Binance requesting an explanation of its compliance measures and stronger supervisory cooperation regarding recent reports of Iran-related cryptocurrency transactions, Odaily reported, citing The Information.

The move comes as U.S. regulators continue to monitor cross-border fund flows through cryptocurrency platforms. Previous investigations and reports have raised the possibility that Iran and related entities may have transferred funds through centralized exchanges, drawing attention from both the U.S. Treasury and the Department of Justice.

Strategy's Annual Bitcoin Purchases Could Reach $30 Billion

JPMorgan has projected that Strategy could purchase as much as $30 billion worth of Bitcoin annually if it continues accelerating its buys this year.

According to Odaily, JPMorgan analysts said that if Michael Saylor-led Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) continues acquiring Bitcoin at its current pace, its annual purchases in 2026 could reach around $30 billion. So far this year, Strategy has added 145,834 BTC, for a total purchase value of about $11 billion.

The analysts noted that the company's large-scale purchases were made in ranges below its average acquisition price of roughly $75,000. They said this reflects an opportunistic buying strategy that responds more aggressively depending on market prices and financing conditions.

JPMorgan said that if the current pace is maintained, Strategy's Bitcoin purchases this year could exceed the roughly $22 billion recorded in both 2024 and 2025. Since April, the company has stepped up the pace of buying again, and its shares are trading at about a 26% premium to net asset value (NAV), creating favorable conditions for additional fundraising through equity and debt issuance.

Strategy currently holds about 818,334 BTC, with the value of those holdings exceeding $65 billion, according to The Block.

BlackRock, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley Expand Crypto-Related Hiring

BlackRock, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley have reportedly posted dozens of new job openings related to cryptocurrency.

Watcher.Guru reported on X on the 7th (local time) that these major financial institutions are expanding headcount tied to digital asset businesses. Specific roles and hiring numbers were not disclosed.

This move is interpreted as a sign that major Wall Street firms are looking to expand digital asset businesses such as Bitcoin and Ethereum over the medium to long term. Traditional financial firms including BlackRock have already been increasing their presence in areas such as spot ETFs, tokenization, and custody.

Report Says U.S. and Iran Are Nearing a Temporary Agreement

Reports have emerged that the United States and Iran are nearing a temporary agreement.

According to Odaily, the draft under review is not a comprehensive peace accord but a one-page short-term memorandum of understanding. It reportedly does not include many of the key U.S. demands previously raised, such as halting nuclear activities, limiting the missile program, and ending support for so-called regional proxy forces.

The draft is said to follow a three-stage framework: first, formalize a cessation of hostilities; second, address the Strait of Hormuz crisis; and third, open a 30-day negotiation window for a broader agreement.

This suggests that major differences between the two sides remain, and that the agreement may serve only as an interim measure rather than a final settlement. Iran is reportedly reviewing a draft centered on postponing the most contentious issues to later talks.

The United States had previously demanded that Iran halt nuclear activity, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and restrict its missile program, but these issues were not sufficiently reflected in the current draft.

Explosions Heard Near Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas in Southern Iran

Multiple explosion sounds were heard near Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, according to Odaily, citing China Central Television (CCTV).

Local sources said some of the explosions may have been related to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy issuing warnings to ships accused of unauthorized passage in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the situation.

Senior Iranian Figure Calls U.S. 14-Point Proposal Unrealistic

A senior Iranian figure criticized the United States' 14-point negotiation proposal as unrealistic, saying talks with Washington must include tangible benefits and compensation for war damages.

According to PANews and The Wall Street Journal on the 7th, Iran's state-run Press TV reported that Mohsen Rezaei, a longtime aide to the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Iran could not accept the U.S. proposal.

Rezaei argued that the United States was trying to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and exit the war without compensating Iran for all the damage it caused, under what he described as an unrealistic plan. His remarks were directed at the 14-point proposal reportedly conveyed to Iran through U.S. negotiators.

He emphasized that negotiations between Iran and the United States must include substantive benefits rather than symbolic gestures from Washington. He also said that even if the United States withdraws from the Middle East, Iran will continue to demand its rights and war reparations.

Tensions surrounding the United States and Iran have already heightened concerns over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of military conflict in the region. His remarks are seen as another sign that negotiations between the two sides may be difficult.

Trump Demands 0% Tariffs from the EU

President Trump has demanded that the European Union reduce tariffs to 0% before the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

According to Odaily, Trump said he was willing to give European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen some time, but warned that if the EU does not comply, he would immediately impose sharply higher tariffs on the bloc.

The remarks suggest that trade tensions between the United States and the European Union could escalate again.

Major Japanese Financial Firms Push for Digital Government Bond Issuance by 2026

According to Nikkei, major Japanese banks and securities firms are working on a plan to issue Japanese government bonds as digital securities by 2026, to be managed on blockchain and traded around the clock.

The institutions plan to introduce yen-denominated stablecoins usable on blockchain in order to streamline settlement and reduce costs, while improving bond delivery speed and capital efficiency for institutional investors.

PanewsLab reported that the initiative is focused on enabling trading in government bonds outside existing market hours, and that the required infrastructure and regulatory design are being jointly developed by financial institutions.