Markets
WTI vs Brent: What Every Crypto Investor Should Know
BitOil Research·April 15, 2026
WTI and Brent are the two oil benchmarks that move global markets. How they differ, why the spread between them matters, and what it means for crypto.
WTI (West Texas Intermediate) and Brent are the two reference prices for crude oil. WTI is sourced from US shale and pipelines into Cushing, Oklahoma. Brent reflects North Sea crude and serves as the global benchmark.
The spread between them tells a story about transport bottlenecks, US export capacity, and global demand shifts. For anyone modeling an oil-linked digital asset, understanding which benchmark to track is foundational.