Peace Talks Stall Again. Bitcoin Holds Above $107,000 CAD.
Geopolitical uncertainty returned to the forefront this week after President Trump cancelled a planned diplomatic trip to Pakistan, where U.S. envoys were set to meet with Iranian negotiators. Tehran has reiterated it will not enter talks while the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains in place, and the conflict is now entering its ninth week with no clear resolution in sight.
Despite the renewed tension, Bitcoin held above $107,000 CAD, a sign of the structural resilience that institutional demand has introduced to the market. Ethereum also held its ground, trading near $3,240 CAD as investors maintained positions heading into a critical week for monetary policy.
The U.S. Federal Reserve meets on April 28 and 29 in what may be Jerome Powell’s final session as chair before Kevin Warsh is expected to take over. Markets are watching closely for any signals on the rate outlook, with oil-driven inflation keeping rate cut expectations subdued.
Whether the next catalyst comes from diplomacy or monetary policy, RapidEX keeps you ready to act with fast funding, competitive pricing, and real human support across 100+ Canadian locations.
Market Intelligence & Action
Weekly Snapshot (Apr 20–Apr 27, 2026)
Bitcoin and Ethereum held their ground this week as markets braced for the Fed meeting and the latest breakdown in U.S.-Iran peace negotiations. Gold and silver pulled back from recent highs as a stronger U.S. dollar and renewed ceasefire skepticism weighed on precious metals. Crypto showed relative resilience compared to the prior two weeks, with Bitcoin continuing to hold the $100,000 CAD level.
| Asset | Week Open (CAD) | Current Level (CAD) | 7-Day Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC | $103,000 | $107,000 | +3.9% |
| Ethereum (ETH) | $3,200 | $3,240 | +1.3% |
| Litecoin (LTC) | $78 | $77 | -1.3% |
| USD Coin (USDC) | $1.38 | $1.37 | 0.0% |
| Gold (XAU/oz) | $6,680 | $6,364 | -4.7% |
| Silver (XAG.oz) | $110 | $105 | -4.5% |
This Week’s Updates
1. Macro: Fed Meeting and Failed Diplomacy Keep Markets on Edge
The Federal Reserve meets April 28 and 29 in what markets are watching as a pivotal session, potentially the last chaired by Jerome Powell before Kevin Warsh steps in. With oil-driven inflation running hot and the Strait of Hormuz still effectively closed entering week nine of the conflict, the Fed is widely expected to hold rates steady and signal continued caution. Trump’s cancellation of senior envoy travel to Pakistan, where talks with Iran were planned, delivered another diplomatic setback and pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel, adding further inflationary pressure heading into the decision.
Pro Tip: Fed meetings often create short-term volatility in crypto markets. Investors who understand this pattern are less likely to be shaken out of positions by noise and better placed to benefit from any post-decision clarity.
2. Industry News: Bitcoin Holds Strong as Dominance Climbs to 60%
Bitcoin climbed further this week, holding above $107,000 CAD as its market dominance reached 60%, the highest level seen in recent months. This is a meaningful signal: when Bitcoin dominance rises, it typically reflects investors concentrating capital in the most trusted digital asset during periods of uncertainty rather than spreading across altcoins. Ethereum held steady near $3,240 CAD, while Litecoin faced additional headwinds after suffering a network-level denial-of-service attack that required an emergency blockchain reorg to stabilize, a reminder that not all crypto projects carry the same level of infrastructure maturity.
Market Insight: Bitcoin’s ability to hold above $100,000 CAD through weeks of geopolitical disruption, failed diplomacy, and rate uncertainty is a meaningful test of the new institutional floor in the market. The asset is behaving differently than in previous macro stress cycles.
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The RapidEX Knowledge Centre
How Bitcoin and Ethereum Are Different and Why It Matters
Bitcoin and Ethereum are the two largest cryptocurrencies by market cap, and both are widely held by investors around the world. But they were built for different purposes, and understanding that difference is important when deciding how each fits into a portfolio.
Bitcoin: Digital Gold. Bitcoin was designed as a decentralized, fixed-supply currency. With a hard cap of 21 million coins, it is primarily used as a store of value and an inflation hedge. Its simplicity is a feature, not a limitation. Bitcoin does one thing and does it reliably, which is why institutional investors and governments have treated it as the foundational digital asset.
Ethereum: Digital Infrastructure. Ethereum was built as a programmable blockchain platform. Developers use it to build decentralized applications, smart contracts, and financial tools. ETH is the fuel that powers activity on the network. Where Bitcoin is digital money, Ethereum is closer to a global computing platform that happens to have its own currency.
Supply and Risk Profile. Bitcoin’s supply is fixed and predictable. Ethereum’s supply is variable, managed through a combination of issuance and token burning based on network activity. Bitcoin tends to behave more like a macro asset and tracks institutional sentiment closely. Ethereum is more sensitive to developer activity and the broader growth of decentralized applications, making its price more tied to adoption cycles.
The RapidEX View: Many investors hold both for different reasons. Bitcoin for long-term value preservation, and Ethereum for exposure to the growing ecosystem of decentralized technology. RapidEX supports both assets, giving you the flexibility to build the position that fits your strategy.
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