Futures
Access hundreds of perpetual contracts
TradFi
Gold
One platform for global traditional assets
Options
Hot
Trade European-style vanilla options
Unified Account
Maximize your capital efficiency
Demo Trading
Introduction to Futures Trading
Learn the basics of futures trading
Futures Events
Join events to earn rewards
Demo Trading
Use virtual funds to practice risk-free trading
Launch
CandyDrop
Collect candies to earn airdrops
Launchpool
Quick staking, earn potential new tokens
HODLer Airdrop
Hold GT and get massive airdrops for free
Pre-IPOs
Unlock full access to global stock IPOs
Alpha Points
Trade on-chain assets and earn airdrops
Futures Points
Earn futures points and claim airdrop rewards
#Gate广场四月发帖挑战
Everyone, who understands? On Monday, the financial markets were a rollercoaster of joy and sorrow—some people ecstatic, others confused, with several going crazy and some in shock. It was like a global asset version of “Heaven and Hell,” and the plot was even more thrilling than a Hollywood blockbuster. After watching, you may immediately start doubting your life!
Early in the morning, crude oil futures were like a caffeinated “mad bull.” At the open, they jumped up 8%, with WTI crude directly surging to $104.9 per barrel, and Brent crude also rampaging higher. The momentum was like it was about to punch through the ceiling! Why was it so crazy? It was all because the Middle East was stirring things up again—the U.S. announced it would blockade maritime traffic in and out of Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, the “global energy artery,” was clearly about to get cut off, and the market was instantly scared out of its wits! Oil bulls were laughing so hard they couldn’t close their mouths. Last night they were still frowning, but this morning they opened champagne to celebrate straight away—account numbers climbing rapidly, and even walking with a spring in their step. Meanwhile, those shorting crude oil were crushed at the open—tears streaming nonstop, back to square one overnight. They’re probably hiding in the bathroom right now questioning life: “Who am I? Where am I? Why did I short oil?”
While crude oil’s “surge” shot straight into the clouds, the crypto market on the other side was freezing to the bone, kicking off a pattern of choppy downside. Bitcoin dumped from $73,000 all the way down, at one point dropping below $70,500. ETH, SOL, and other major coins also collectively plunged, with declines exceeding 4%. The entire internet immediately staged a “liquidation massacre”—in 24 hours, more than 140,000 people were forced to liquidate, and the total liquidation amount reached US$281 million! A few days ago, crypto friends were still shouting “Bitcoin to 100,000,” but now their faces are swollen from getting hit, their coins instantly shrinking, and their mindset completely collapsing. In the group chat, it was all cries of anguish: “My coins! How could they just disappear?” “Yesterday I was a tycoon, today I’m a negative-tycoon!” Safe-haven? In the face of absolute panic, crypto is nothing—running faster than anyone else!
Look at U.S. stock futures too—everything is green, with major tech stocks collectively going quiet. Nvidia, Amazon, and Google fell by more than 1%, and chip stocks were an even bigger disaster area. Airline and cruise stocks were even worse, hammered down to the ground by high oil prices: American Airlines and Delta fell by more than 2%, Carnival Cruise fell by more than 3%. After all, once oil prices rise, operating costs directly skyrocket and profits get swallowed—no wonder stock prices don’t fall! Only oil stocks quietly steal the show: ConocoPhillips and Western Oil rose by more than 3%, perfectly illustrating “one side is heaven, the other is hell.”
Even spot gold and silver—normally as steady as an old dog—weren’t spared and ended up crashing together. Gold opened down more than 2%, repeatedly breaking through the $4,650 and $4,660 levels. Silver was even worse, with the decline going straight to 4%. Those friends who were holding gold as a safe haven were instantly dumbfounded: “Aren’t we supposed to buy gold in chaos? Why is gold falling too?” No choice—when the market panics, whatever “safe-haven assets” you have, sell and liquidate for cash first. Liquidity is king, and gold and silver can only get caught in the crossfire and “take the collateral damage.”
In short, today’s market is “crude oil going crazy to the sky, while other assets all kneel.” One shout from the Middle East and the whole world trembles. Some get rich overnight; others go to zero overnight. This is the charm of the financial markets—and also their cruelty: one second you’re up in the clouds, and the next second you might fall into the mud.