Trump’s China Deal: Strait of Hormuz Reopening or Bitcoin Boom?

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Is Donald Trump Bluffing About China To Reopen the Strait of Hormuz?

President Trump stated that China has committed to no longer providing weapons to Iran, linking this agreement to discussions about fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States has imposed a naval blockade around Iranian ports. Experts at Bitwise suggest this situation could lead to Bitcoin becoming more important in international finance.

Trump Declares China Partnership, Beijing Pushes Back

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Donald Trump stated he would be fully reopening the Strait and believes President Xi Jinping will warmly greet him during a future meeting.

In a social media post, Trump stated that China was pleased with his decision to fully open the Strait of Hormuz, and that they had promised to stop sending weapons to Iran.

Things are getting tense. I heard the talks between VP Vance and Iranian officials fell apart in Islamabad just a few days ago, and now the US has started blocking Iranian ports – it began around April 13th. As an investor, this definitely has me paying close attention to the market.

Forces interdicted vessels and cleared mines near one of the world’s most critical oil routes.

The Strait is a key route for global oil shipping, handling between 20% and 30% of the world’s seaborne oil. Any long-term problems there could lead to increased energy prices and disruptions to supply chains around the world. Current shipping information shows that traffic through the area is still significantly reduced.

China’s Foreign Ministry strongly disagreed with the blockade, with spokesperson Guo Jiakun calling it “a dangerous and irresponsible action.”

He said it would “aggravate confrontation” and “undermine the already fragile ceasefire.”

China has rejected accusations from the US that it has been sending weapons to Iran. Chinese officials dismissed the claims as false and emphasized that China has strong rules in place to control what it exports.

China consistently handles the export of military equipment with care and responsibility, adhering to both its own laws and international commitments. Reports suggesting China is providing military support to Iran are unfounded.

— CHINA MFA Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) April 14, 2026

No independent confirmation of a formal arms agreement has surfaced.

Bitwise Says Crisis Expands Bitcoin’s Addressable Market

Recent conflicts have sparked discussions about whether Bitcoin offers more than just a way to hold wealth. Since February 28th, when airstrikes began in the US and Israel, Bitcoin’s value has increased by 12%. In contrast, the S&P 500 declined by 1%, and gold‘s value fell by 10% during the same timeframe.

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan believes the recent success of Bitcoin is a direct result of the current global conflicts. He explained that Bitcoin’s potential as a currency is similar to a valuable, but initially inexpensive, financial contract that has increased in worth due to rising instability around the world.

Iran’s recent decision to charge ships about $1 per barrel to pass through the strait supports the idea that it’s looking for new ways to generate revenue. This toll system, paid in bitcoin, could bring in around $21 million in cryptocurrency each day. According to Hougan, this move suggests a long-term strategy that goes beyond the current situation.

Hougan suggests that if Bitcoin becomes widely used both as a long-term investment, similar to gold, and as a common way to pay for things, like the dollar, they might need to increase their price predictions.

Ryan Rasmussen, head of research at Bitwise, agreed with this view, stating that their firm’s price predictions for Bitcoin are currently too conservative. He believes that if Bitcoin successfully functions as both ‘digital gold’ and a ‘network,’ a price of $1 million per bitcoin could be a reasonable starting point.

I was chatting with Matt Hougan last Friday about something pretty interesting: Iran potentially accepting Bitcoin as payment for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. A lot of my clients have been asking me about it, and honestly, it got me thinking about the bigger picture – what does this mean for Bitcoin’s role in global trade and finance? It really makes you wonder where this is all headed.

— Ryan Rasmussen (@RasterlyRock) April 15, 2026

As of right now, Bitcoin is trading at $73,894, maintaining the gains it made during a recent recovery. This is its highest price since the beginning of February.

Whether the Strait fully reopens depends on fast-moving negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

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2026-04-15 18:37