US redirects 62 ships since start of Hormuz blockade as humanitarian concerns mount

The US military has redirected 62 commercial vessels and disabled four others since initiating a naval blockade on Iranian ports on April 13, 2026. This action has significantly disrupted global maritime commerce, impacting the Strait of Hormuz, which handles approximately 20% of the world's daily oil flow. The pace of vessel redirections has been rapid, escalating from 10 ships within two days to 62 in about a month. The operation, led by US Central Command, targets vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports following the collapse of diplomatic talks. Iran temporarily reopened the strait but then closed it again, characterizing the US blockade as a ceasefire breach and their closure as retaliation. The United Nations has warned of potential widespread hunger due to blocked fertilizer shipments. Iran has proposed ending the standoff in exchange for the release of frozen assets. While current reporting does not show a direct impact on cryptocurrency markets, experts suggest rising tensions could increase demand for Bitcoin and Ethereum as safe-haven assets.

(Source：Crypto Briefing)