IMF Managing Director Georgieva: US-Iran conflict may disrupt energy supply, Fed may consider rate cut by the end of the year

The United States recently launched airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. In response, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned in an interview this morning on 6/23 that this U.S. military action not only causes oil prices to surge but further disrupts the global economy. Georgieva stated that the U.S. airstrikes on Iran have further complicated the already unstable global situation. She pointed out that the biggest impact currently comes from energy prices, with potential "secondary and tertiary" effects. For example, if this turbulence drags down growth expectations of major economies, the IMF may need to downgrade global growth forecasts again. According to Bloomberg, after the Asian market opened on Monday, the global oil benchmark Brent crude price briefly surged 5.7% to $81.40 per barrel before slightly retreating, with trading volume also surging. Georgieva noted that the IMF is closely monitoring changes in risk premiums in oil and gas markets, with options trading volume currently surging and futures price curves clearly reflecting market concerns about short-term supply tightness. In the IMF's April report, she mentioned that global economic growth forecasts were already lowered due to Trump's tariff policies reshaping global trade dynamics. Regarding the U.S. economic situation, Georgieva stated that the U.S. is currently in a phase of "easing inflation pressure" and the Federal Reserve may consider rate cuts by the end of the year, depending on the overall economic conditions. In the context of continuing U.S. regulatory relaxation, cryptocurrency exchange OKX returned to the U.S. market in April this year and is reportedly evaluating an IPO in the U.S. With platform token OKB rising over 6% on the news, the exchange's strategy of turning towards traditional finance is subtly emerging, accelerating the narrowing distance between crypto and mainstream finance.

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From Massive Fines to Headquarters Establishment: OKX Returns to the United States

According to The Information, OKX is considering an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. This top five Asian exchange recently reached a settlement agreement with the US Department of Justice in February, involving a fine of up to $500 million for operating remittance business without authorization.

Just two months later, OKX immediately announced the restart of its US business and established a regional headquarters in San Jose, California, demonstrating its determination to enter the US market.

(After Fines and Relaunching, OKX Brings OKX Wallet to California, Officially Entering the US Market)

While announcing its return to the United States, OKX appointed Roshan Robert, who previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Barclays, as the US CEO to further strengthen its compliance and financial market experience. He stated: "Our long-term goal is to build a crypto super app similar to WeChat, which is not just about trading, but also an entry point to life."

Crypto Companies Enter Wall Street: IPO Becomes a New Narrative

The report suggests that OKX's IPO plan symbolizes a shift in CEX narrative: "The crypto industry is beginning to tell its growth story in the language of traditional finance." From fundraising to listing, many Web3 companies, including CEXs, are turning to mainstream capital markets for recognition.

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In fact, OKX is not the first. Recently, crypto exchanges like Kraken, Bullish, Gemini, and stablecoin issuer Circle have either secretly submitted IPO documents or successfully gone public. These actions indicate that the crypto industry is repackaging itself as a financially viable "fintech company" and seeking support from larger traditional capital.

Roshan Robert Talks About Web 3 Companies Entering the US: Not So Difficult

In an interview with The Block last month, Roshan Robert emphasized that OKX's team in the US has expanded to 500 people, spread across New York, San Francisco, and San Jose. In the future, they will develop a product line specific to the US market through a gradual and compliance-first approach:

The US market is no longer an unreachable forbidden land, but a potential market that can be entered with the right strategy.

He added: "We won't rashly launch a complete trading platform, but will first enter through 'product entry points' like wallets and Web3 tools, gradually expanding trust and user base." This strategic pace reflects the cautious approach of Web3 companies when entering highly regulated markets.

(OKX to Launch OKX Pay Wallet and Financial Card: The Long Compliance Road from Wallet to DEX Aggregator to Payment)

Shocking Valuation? Investors and Regulators Still Have Cognitive Gaps

Despite the current trend of crypto companies going public, their valuation models still surprise and worry capital market observers. Reporter Yueqi Yan pointed out that "even industry insiders are shocked by the valuation of some exchanges," indicating significant differences in value assessment among various parties.

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This "cognitive gap" also brings risks to listing performance. If traditional markets misjudge the valuation of crypto companies, it will likely cause dramatic stock price fluctuations and market sentiment volatility, similar to the current situation with Circle.

OKX's intention to go public in the US is a microcosm of the crypto industry's move towards traditional capital markets, showing that IPO is one of the means to drive the next stage of Web3 expansion, and the US market, once seen as "excluding crypto," has become a hotspot for capital.