News

On June 30, The New York Times reported that several informed officials and diplomats revealed that Oman has submitted a formal proposal to the United States and Western allies to jointly charge a toll on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at supporting the safety and management of the waterway. The proposal reportedly draws on operational models from the Strait of Malacca and the Singapore Strait. Regional diplomats indicated that the fees would be voluntary, but Iranian officials claimed that payment would be mandatory. Currently, the U.S. has received Oman's proposal and expressed concerns about the arrangement, stating it will continue consultations with Oman. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that the U.S. opposes any form of charges for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, including fees, tolls, or donations, arguing that the pre-war status of free navigation should be restored. The report notes that future management arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz remain a significant topic in U.S.-Iran peace negotiations. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Iran will soon initiate talks with Oman to discuss matters including the fee mechanism and route adjustments.

BlockBeats News, June 30th - According to market sources, the cryptocurrency industry has become the largest political donor in the United States corporate world. Data shows that cryptocurrency companies have spent a total of $189 million on political activities during the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, surpassing the total spending for the 2024 election cycle. The report indicates that following progress in advancing stablecoin regulatory legislation, the crypto industry is increasing its political contributions to further promote more legislation related to digital assets. At the same time, political donations from industries such as artificial intelligence, technology, and online gaming have also seen significant growth compared to previous periods.

Ark Invest founder Cathie Wood stated that current macro data has eased concerns about inflation, and the economy is entering a new cycle driven by productivity growth. U.S. productivity growth is about 3%, unit labor costs are about 0.5%, and Truflation core CPI is close to 1.3%. The current market environment is similar to that of the 1980s and 1990s, with technological innovations such as AI, robotics, autonomous driving, and multiomics driving productivity increases, and these are still in their early stages.