Economists and Business Leaders Warn Against Crypto Response to Banking Sanctions
Senior economists and business leaders released a statement on Sunday warning that cryptocurrency would not shield Israel’s economy from possible banking sanctions.
Finance
Latest from the markets
Latest
Electricity Authority Proposes Up to NIS 100 Million in Initial Data-Center Guarantees
Flights Into Ben Gurion Carry More Passengers Than Return Services Ahead of Election
Israir Launches Direct Tel Aviv–Madrid Service With Three Weekly Flights
Tax Authority Reports Record 290,000 Passenger-Car Registrations in 2025
Economists and Business Leaders Warn Against Crypto Response to Banking Sanctions
Ashkelon Penthouse Resells for NIS 7.5 Million After Earlier Deal Collapsed
Netanyahu Says He Is Taking Bank of Israel’s Crypto Objections Into Account
Bank of Israel Says Crypto Cannot Bypass Sanctions
High-Tech Advocacy Group Warns Against Crypto-Based Response to Sanctions
Former Banking Supervisor Says Blockchain Cannot Bypass Sanctions
Palo Alto Networks Rises 7.22% to $380.55 at Friday’s Close
Crypto Companies Forum Offers to Work With Government on Digital-Asset Reform
Hasolidit Warns Crypto Cannot Remove Sanctions Risks for Israeli Investors
TA-35 Falls 1.01% as TA-125 Loses 0.81% at Friday Close
Dollar Holds Near NIS 3.11 in Friday Morning Trading
Maytronics Discloses FIMI Offer to Invest NIS 200 Million for 50% Stake
Israel’s Mortgage Balances Over 90 Days in Arrears Rise to NIS 4.227 Billion
Israel Electric CEO Says Power-Market Reform Has Failed to Lower Costs
Enlivex Sets 1-for-16 Reverse Share Split for October 27
Sefi Zinger Calls for Financial Regulation Review Amid Concentration Concerns
Netanyahu Cites NIS 400 Billion Gas Revenue Outlook During Leviathan Visit
Superland and Luna Park Companion Fee Waiver Stays in Place During Review
Banks Report Tougher Loan Pricing for Construction and Large Businesses
Hagag Agrees to Sell 7.5% Stake in Rani Zim Shopping Centers for NIS 75 Million
Housing Analysis Finds NIS 20,000 Average Discount in Beersheba's Neighborhood 11
Soglowek Reports Completion of NIS 120 Million Factory in Shlomi
Camtek, Tower and Nova Shares Rise at Wall Street Close
Elron Replaces Lisya Bahar Manoah as Chair, Names Dan Hoz Interim Chairman
Katz Calls for More Hotel Rooms and Lower Holiday Prices at The Yacht Launch
IBI to Close Fund Based on Dan Ariely’s Investment Model
Timelines
- Loading…
Being discussed
Loading…
Recent news
Macro picture
- GDP (2026 proj.)
- $747B
- IMF October 2026 WEO projection at current prices. The same outlook projects 4.5% real growth in 2026.
- GDP per capita
- $72.44K
- IMF October 2026 WEO projection for 2026, at current prices in US dollars.
- Bank of Israel rate
- 3.25%
- Held at 3.25% on 21 October 2026, following the September cut.
- Inflation (CPI YoY)
- 1.6%
- September 2026 CPI was 1.6% year over year, in the lower half of the 1-3% target band.
- Shekel vs USD
- 3.11
- Bank of Israel representative USD/ILS rate for 23 October 2026: NIS 3.112 per dollar.
- TA-35 YTD
- +13.56%
- Official 23 October 2026 close: 4,124.13, up 13.56% year-to-date.
The Bank of Israel's separate forecast of 21 October projects 5.6% growth in 2026, or 3.4% excluding production abroad. The GDP figures above use the IMF's October outlook.
Bank of Israel rate vs. inflation
Monthly policy rates and the latest annual CPI published that month, August 2024–October 2026. CPI refers to the preceding month; the shaded band is the 1–3% target.
- BoI policy rate
- CPI inflation
TA-125 cumulative return
Published year-end closes, rebased to 100 at the start of 2020, plus the official 23 October 2026 close.
Shekel exchange rates
Bank of Israel representative rates for 23 October 2026.
- USD₪3.11
- EUR₪3.48
- GBP₪4.16
- CHF₪3.78
- CAD₪2.22
- JPYper 100₪1.98
Notable numbers
- $32B
- $32 billion all-cash; completed 11 March 2026.
- $19.2B
- Fifth consecutive annual record; missiles, rockets and air defense led at 29%.
- 58%
- Highest share ever recorded. 18.3% of GDP in 2025.
- $237B
- End-September 2026: 34.2% of GDP.
Israel's largest banks
By market capitalization at the 23 October 2026 close.
- Bank Leumi
- ₪109B
- Q2 2026: net profit ₪2.8B, reported ROE 16.3%
- Bank Hapoalim
- ₪100B
- Q2 2026: net profit ₪2.488B, reported ROE 15%
- Mizrahi-Tefahot
- ₪60B
- Q2 2026: net profit ₪1.43B, reported ROE 16%
- Israel Discount
- ₪42B
- Q2 2026: net profit ₪1.203B, reported ROE 14%