Today on Taking Stock | Wall Street Wavers as Iran Conflict Enters 5th Week

Why It Matters

If regulators and market players adopt onchain cap table infrastructure, it could unlock wider access to private investments and streamline transfers for hugely valued private companies, reshaping fundraising and exits. Simultaneously, the shifting safe-haven behavior of gold amid the Iran conflict underscores how geopolitical risk can alter asset flows and market stability, affecting portfolio allocations and liquidity.

Summary

At DAS 2026 Fairmint CEO Joris Stillanu outlined the firm’s push to move private-company cap tables onchain, telling Fintech TV the startup has submitted a proposal to the SEC crypto task force to modernize rules and enable broader access to private equity. He argued private markets—now hosting massive valuations and secondary exits—remain stuck on spreadsheets and manual transfers, creating an infrastructure gap that onchain equity could close while offering tailored disclosure to large private holders. The broadcast also noted a holiday-shortened trading week with major indexes wavering amid the fifth week of the Iran conflict, and Goldman Sachs outperforming while small caps lag. Market strategists reported gold has sold off despite geopolitical risk as investors take profits from last year’s parabolic rally and reallocate into falling assets, with large outflows from the GLD ETF.