Energy markets just got more complex. Washington's latest move has stranded 17.5 million barrels of Venezuelan crude on tankers stuck at port—roughly $900 million worth of oil that can't move. Coast Guard interdictions are actively preventing shipments from leaving.

Here's the kicker: while most players are locked out, there's a notable exemption in place. This kind of selective enforcement creates uncertainty across commodity markets.

Why this matters? Crude volatility directly impacts macroeconomic conditions—inflation expectations, central bank policy, and ultimately, how capital flows into risk assets like crypto. When energy becomes a geopolitical bargaining chip rather than a freely traded commodity, you get supply shocks. Those ripple through traditional markets first, but eventually hit digital assets when investors reassess their risk positioning.

The oil tanker situation is a textbook example of how political decisions reshape market structure. Worth watching closely.