Most cryptocurrencies rose during trading today, Monday, including Ethereum in light of institutions and companies strengthening their holdings of Ethereum.

BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), a company specialized in managing Ethereum treasuries, increased its holdings of the second cryptocurrency after another round of weekly purchases.

The Las Vegas-based company purchased 71,252 Ethereum last week, a slight increase from the previous week, which is its largest weekly purchase since December. With this, its total holdings have become 4.803 million ETH, strengthening its position as the largest publicly traded Ethereum treasury.

From this holding, BitMine added 191,994 ETH in staking contracts last week, bringing the total assets deposited in staking to 3.33 million ETH, which is about 69% of its entire holdings. The company said it is currently achieving an annual yield of $196 million from these assets via the Made in America Validator Network (MAVAN) which it launched recently.

According to the Chairman of BitMine, Thomas Lee, ETH has been the second best performing asset since the start of the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran during the past six weeks, recording a rise of 6.8%, outperforming the S&P 500 index and gold by 1,130 and 1,840 basis points respectively.

Lee wrote in a statement on Monday: "These are good indicators, as we expect that the leadership of ETH will strengthen investor confidence and attract liquidity from the market side, with Ethereum continuing to benefit from the double push of Wall Street's employment of tokens on the blockchain and the increasing need of proxy artificial intelligence systems for public and neutral blockchain."

BitMine also possesses a stake worth $200 million in Beast Industries, and 198 Bitcoin (BTC), and a stake worth $92 million in Eightco Holdings (ORBS), in addition to total cash liquidity amounting to $864 million.

At the same time, the company announced that its shares were approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), to stop trading on NYSE American by the end of the market on Wednesday, and begin trading on the NYSE on Thursday. The price of BitMine stock rose by 5% until the time of writing the report on Monday.

Ethereum price expectations: ETH attempts to break the trading range and retests the 50-day moving average

Ethereum recorded $84.5 million in liquidations during the last 24 hours, driven by the liquidation of short positions worth $74.8 million, according to Coinglass data.

On the daily chart, ETH is trading at $2,140. The short-term bias appears neutral with a slight upward trend, as the price maintains trading above the 20-day Exponential Moving Average at $2,085, and regained its strength after last week's decline. The 50-day Exponential Moving Average at $2,145 forms immediate resistance, which keeps the price trading within a short and medium-term range.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains at 53 above the midline, while the Stochastic indicator (Stoch) moves toward the overbought zone, indicating the rebuilding of upward momentum without the presence of a clear catalyst for an upward explosion yet.

As for the initial support levels, they appear at $2,108, supported by the 20-day moving average below. Breaking this level may open the way toward $1,911, followed by the main support at $1,741. Any deeper losses may extend to $1,520 then $1,405 as broader bearish levels.

On the upward side, immediate resistance forms at $2,389, with the necessity of a daily close above it to reactivate the upward movement toward $2,746.

Regarding trades, the price of Ethereum rose at exactly 20:23 GMT on the CoinMarketCap platform by 4.1% to $2148.4.

The American President Donald Trump may boast of his ability to negotiate to conclude a winning deal, but his recent moves in Iran appear closer to a gamble on a dice table in one of his former casinos, even if it were with dice he believed were perhaps loaded in his favor. And similar to the belief of his friend Russian President Vladimir Putin that the "special military operation" in Ukraine would be effectively settled within seven days, it seems that Trump also believed that his intervention in Iran would end approximately within the same time frame.

But unlike Putin, Trump had some reasons for his optimism—as the perfect convergence between intelligence capabilities and American military power led to the quiet ousting of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and also the case for Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela—which is what Trump believed was in his favor to do the same thing in Iran. A senior source working closely with the energy security system of the European Union told "OilPrice.com" last week: "Trump did not realize the extent of the breadth and depth of the Islamic regime in Iran compared to the regimes in Venezuela and Syria."

He added: "But looking at what the scene looks like from now on, he still has a way out."

Mission objectives in Iran

This path is linked to the four objectives of the mission in Iran that Trump clearly presented at the beginning of the conflict.

According to the order he mentioned, the objectives began with making the building of a nuclear arsenal impossible for Iran, then moving to weakening and destroying the Iranian ballistic missile stockpile and production capabilities. After that came the objective of regime change, and finally ending the funding and arming of regional proxies for Iran. These objectives gained the support of all members of his cabinet.

The European source said: "Trump can say that the American and Israeli attacks weakened Iran's ability to make a nuclear weapon in the foreseeable future, destroyed a large part of the ballistic missile stockpile, hindered its production capabilities significantly, changed the regime, and weakened the regional proxies of Iran to the degree that they became much less of a threat than they were."

But he added: "But there are reservations, and he knows that many will consider any announcement of the end of the mission here a hollow victory indeed, if not an actual defeat."

Results of military strikes

American intelligence reports until the time of writing the report (April 5, 2026) indicate that it is not possible to confirm except for the destruction of about a third of the Iranian missile arsenal only, while about two-thirds of the production facilities for missiles, drones, warships, and shipyards were subjected to destruction or severe damage.

As for what relates to the nuclear program, the Fordow fuel enrichment facility has been made non-operational, according to the American Ministry of War. Also, the above-ground enrichment facility at the Natanz site was completely destroyed, while the underground laboratories were subjected to very significant damage.

The same applies to the Isfahan nuclear technology center, which is a vital point for converting uranium into the gas necessary for the enrichment process.

However, about 400 to 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%—which the International Atomic Energy Agency lost track of last year—remains unknown in location. The agency also admits that the full scope of current Iranian activities, especially in secret sites, remains unknown.

Separately, Trump can also say that he changed the regime, but only to the extent that he removed almost the top leadership rank in Iran, including the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Mohammad Pakpour, and the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani. But the Islamic regime itself, with all its basic elements, still exists.

He can also say that he removed many of the key leaderships of the regional proxies for Iran and reduced their operational capabilities significantly.

Iranian pressure cards

The problem lies not only in the clear gaps in the claim that Trump's four objectives have been fully achieved, but what is more obvious is that Iran now possesses several high-value pressure cards against the United States and its allies that it has not used in this way before.

One of these cards hits at the core of Trump's strategy to re-impose American hegemony over the Middle East after removing the militant Islamic element in Iran from the equation.

A prominent legal source in Washington working closely with the US Treasury Department told "OilPrice.com" last week:

"Trump's goal was always to achieve that through expanding the scope of the Abraham Accords—which are agreements mediated by the United States between Israel and Arab countries—on the basis that every agreement will carry with it an American guarantee for economic and military security."

He added: "But with the same regime remaining in Iran and the continued falling of missiles and drones on these countries, it becomes impossible to achieve that."

Energy prices and the elections

The other big gap between any potential victory speech for Trump and the reality on the ground is the rise in global energy prices, with the possibility of them rising more remaining in the hand of Iran.

Trump may or may not be planning some way to run for a third term, but sources confirm that he is a man who cares deeply about his legacy as president.

And entering the important midterm elections in November with the continued rise in gasoline prices will likely mean an electoral disaster for him and for the Republican Party.

The source in Washington said: "Trump cannot spend two years as a president without influence, unable to accomplish anything, while everyone remembers after years that the failure of Iran was the most prominent thing that characterized that period, exactly as happened to President Jimmy Carter."

He added: "Therefore, if he does not do anything else before he announces victory and exits, then I am sure he will try to do something about that."

Abu Musa Island: The exit option

There is a strategy that was tested in military scenarios—and described by sources in Washington and the European Union as successful—that could transfer control over energy prices from Iran to the United States, and at the same time grant Trump the political exit he wants.

And this plan centers around Abu Musa Island.

The area of the island is barely 4.9 square miles, and it is located 40 miles east of the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, and 42 miles south of the Iranian port of Bandar Lengeh.

Its importance lies not in its size but in its location behind the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow maritime corridor through which about a third of global crude oil and approximately one-fifth of the liquefied natural gas in the world passes.

Until the year 1971, the island was managed by Britain before its withdrawal from the Gulf, and since then it has been claimed by the United Arab Emirates but it is under the control of Iran, which is a legal ambiguity that planners in Washington consider an opportunity and not a hindrance.

And among the most interesting things about the island is the long airstrip disproportionate to its size, and it is capable of accommodating several types of American bombers and fighters. From a military perspective, the island is an unsinkable advanced operations base waiting to be used.

The potential military scenario

According to the scenario circulating among senior American military planners, US Marine forces deployed in the region can control the island.

And as soon as it is secured, it can be quickly converted into a launch base for American air and naval operations behind the front line in the Strait of Hormuz.

And in coordination with the nearby Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb islands, the United States can establish a chain of positions to monitor or deter or neutralize Iranian threats to oil tankers.

And these threats may include:

Missile batteries

Drone launch sites

Swarms of fast boats

Naval mine planting operations

And the most important thing is that Trump may present this move not as an invasion of Iran but as a restoration of territories claimed by the Emirates, which allows him to say that American forces did not enter hostile territories.

The potential political victory

For Trump, the control over Abu Musa Island may allow him to say that the United States:

Re-imposed control over the most important energy chokepoint in the world

Ended Iran's ability to use oil prices as a weapon

Achieved a strategic victory that no previous American administration achieved

It will also grant him the political cover to announce the end of the mission and withdraw American forces before the conflict extends to the midterm election season.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite opened higher on Monday, following their largest weekly gains in four months in the previous session, as investors weigh the prospects of an end to the conflict in the Middle East.

In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell at the open by 32.5 points, or 0.07%, to reach 46,472.2 points.

The S&P 500 rose by 5 points, or 0.08%, to reach 6,587.66 points at the opening.

The Nasdaq Composite also climbed by about 60.6 points, or 0.28%, to reach 21,939.8 points at the opening bell.

Axios reported that the United States, Iran, and a group of regional mediators are discussing terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war, although the chances of reaching a partial agreement before Tuesday's deadline appear slim. However, the 45-day truce is just one of several ideas currently being considered.

Reuters also reported that Iran and the United States received a plan to end hostilities, which, if agreed upon, would lead to an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. According to a source familiar with the matter cited by the agency, this proposed framework was prepared by Pakistan and could take effect as of Monday.

Trump had warned on Sunday that the United States would strike power plants and bridges in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by Tuesday.

In a post on the Truth Social platform, he said: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day in Iran, all in one day. There will be nothing like it!”

About three weeks ago, the copper price on the COMEX exchange fell below the upward trend line that had guided its movements since the beginning of August 2025. Although long-term demand forecasts for the metal remain positive, the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are casting a shadow over short-term expectations.

"Dr. Copper"—a nickname given to the metal as an indicator of global economic health—is facing pressure due to the strength of the US dollar and escalating inflation concerns.

During this holiday-shortened week, investors will focus on indicators regarding the direction of inflation through US Consumer Price Index (CPI) data and the Federal Reserve meeting minutes.

US-Iran war pressures short-term outlook

Copper prices started the year strong, supported by optimism regarding global economic growth. At the end of January 2026, the red metal reached a historical record high, with copper contracts on the COMEX exchange hitting $6.57 per pound.

Since then, the price has declined by approximately 15%.

Despite this drop, the long-term outlook remains positive, as increasing demand from sectors such as:

Electrification

Renewable energy

AI data centers

is expected to lead to a significant deficit in the copper market during 2026.

For instance, AI data centers alone are expected to consume about 500,000 metric tons of copper this year. Meanwhile, global supply chains for the metal continue to face fragility.

However, the uncertainty resulting from the war between the United States and Iran has limited copper's gains.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz—one of the most important maritime energy corridors—pushed oil prices to triple-digit levels, causing a shock in energy markets and raising investor fears of a potential economic recession and slowing global growth.

Inflation and the dollar create additional pressure

Increasing inflation concerns have also reduced expectations for interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and other major central banks.

This hawkish monetary policy trend has bolstered the strength of the US dollar, which places pressure on dollar-denominated copper.

During the coming week, investors will await new inflation indicators, focusing on:

Federal Reserve meeting minutes on Wednesday

S Consumer Price Index (CPI) data on Friday

During the last Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in mid-March, the US central bank kept interest rates unchanged.

In his remarks, the Federal Reserve Chair pointed to the uncertainty resulting from the conflict in the Middle East and its long-term effects on the US economy, explaining that amid an energy shock, inflation may remain elevated at 2.4% for a longer period.

Rising inflation could further support the dollar, making copper more expensive for buyers using other currencies and weakening short-term demand expectations.

Copper price technical analysis

The copper price recorded its second consecutive week of gains, although losses in March ended a seven-month winning streak.

However, the strength of the dollar and uncertainty from the US-Iran war are limiting the red metal's upside.

Copper also lacked the momentum necessary to maintain trading above the previous support area at $5.70 per pound.

The price is currently trading:

Below the 25-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA)

Below the 50-day EMA

Additionally, the price remains below the upward trend line that has guided price action since mid-2025.

Short-term outlook

The copper price is likely to remain under pressure during the coming week as the Middle East conflict continues to impact demand forecasts.

The price may face resistance near the 50-day moving average at the $5.69 level.

If it manages to rise above this level, it may face additional resistance near the convergence point of technical indicators at $5.75.

Conversely, if the price falls below the current support area at $5.50, it could move toward the $5.46 level.