Author: Faith Yakubu

On Wednesday, a significant crypto whale moved 12,000 ETH to Binance, as reported by Lookonchain. Despite ongoing regulatory concerns, Ether saw an 11% surge in value on the same day.

The investor, identified as a whale due to their substantial holdings acquired since 2017, transferred a sizable amount of ETH to Binance, possibly indicating an intention to liquidate the holding. The transaction, conducted by the address x50b42514389F25E1f471C8F03f6f5954df0204b0, amounted to $42.8 million at the time of transfer, constituting about 0.01% of the total circulating supply of Ethereum.

This transfer follows a similar move just a day prior when the same address shifted nearly 9,000 ETH to Binance, accompanied by the withdrawal of 30 million USDT (Tether), the largest dollar-pegged cryptocurrency.

The action prompted speculation within the crypto community, with Lookonchain suggesting the possibility of the whale selling the ETH. Such transfers to cryptocurrency exchanges often precede the selling or utilization of coins for margin trading in derivatives markets, potentially leading to increased price volatility.

Despite regulatory uncertainties, Ether’s value soared to $3,500 on Wednesday, marking an 11% increase from the previous day’s decline. The market rally persisted despite reports of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s consideration of classifying ETH as a security, a move that could impact the listing of spot ether exchange-traded funds and introduce stricter regulations for Ethereum-related projects.

However, data from Deribit’s options market indicates that traders maintain a more bearish outlook on Ether compared to Bitcoin (BTC). Options expiring in one week and one month show a premium on Ether’s put options, suggesting a prevailing sentiment of caution among traders.

A put option grants the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, to sell the underlying asset at a predetermined price on or before a specified date, indicating a bearish stance and a strategy to profit from or hedge against potential price declines.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

The cryptocurrency markets witnessed a tumultuous 24-hour period influenced by regulatory uncertainties and macroeconomic decisions.

Overnight, the crypto markets experienced significant volatility with bitcoin and ether initially declining before bouncing back to trade 15% higher than their lows on Wednesday.

The drop on Wednesday was attributed to profit-taking following last week’s rally and a wave of leveraged bets on higher prices, with some traders pointing to a technical downtrend.

Market sentiment shifted after U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s dovish FOMC speech, leading to a surge in BTC, ETH, and other major tokens, particularly layer-2 platforms and meme coins.

The inherent volatility of crypto markets was evident as bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) fluctuated, ultimately rebounding to trade 15% above their Wednesday lows.

BTC and ETH recorded gains of up to 11% in the past 24 hours, leading the rally among major tokens. Other tokens like Solana’s SOL, Cardano’s ADA, and BNB Chain’s BNB also saw gains of up to 8%, according to data from CoinGecko. The CoinDesk 20 Index, measuring the broader crypto market, was up by 7.62%.

Layer-2 platform tokens, based on Ethereum, experienced an average increase of 25% in the past day, as per CoinGecko data. Meme coins followed suit with a 16% surge.

On Wednesday, markets began to decline in early Asian trading due to profit-taking and leveraged bets, resulting in a 15% drop in overall market capitalization over the past week. Some traders speculated that bitcoin showed signs of a technical downtrend, indicating potential further losses.

Sentiment shifted later in the day after Jerome Powell’s FOMC speech, which maintained a dovish tone despite higher-than-expected inflation figures.

Singapore-based trading firm QCP Capital noted in a daily update that spot transactions were driving demand, rather than futures-led trading, suggesting genuine market demand.

Dogecoin (DOGE) saw an 18% jump following news of a Coinbase filing on March 7, indicating plans to offer DOGE, Litecoin (LTC), and Bitcoin cash (BCH) futures by April 1.

Some traders viewed this move as a potential precursor to a spot DOGE exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Coinbase, known for its stringent listing criteria and regulatory compliance, stated in the filing that DOGE had evolved beyond a mere “joke” token, highlighting its enduring popularity and strong community support.

Featured Image: Freepik @ pikisuperstar

Please See Disclaimer

Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) Global Inc. is set to bolster its trading infrastructure in response to challenges faced by users during a significant upswing in Bitcoin prices towards the end of February, according to CEO Brian Armstrong. The platform encountered issues due to an unforeseen surge in trading volumes that surpassed the company’s predictive models, even accounting for preparations for volumes up to ten times the norm following the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This surge in trading activity was primarily fueled by Bitcoin’s attainment of new all-time highs, soaring above $73,000 in the initial weeks of March. The interest in recently approved ETFs backed by Bitcoin, spearheaded by major players such as Fidelity and BlackRock Inc (NYSE:BLK), notably contributed to this heightened trading volume. These ETFs have collectively accrued over $12 billion since their green light in January. Armstrong underscored the surge in trading volume as emblematic of the wider adoption of digital assets, stressing the significance of reliable infrastructure to sustain this expansion.

Market Overview

• Coinbase experienced trading outages due to Bitcoin’s price surge at the end of February.
• Interest in Bitcoin ETFs, particularly from Fidelity and BlackRock, drove record trading volumes.
• Bitcoin soared to new all-time highs, surpassing $73,000 in early March.

Key Points

• Coinbase intends to boost investment in trading infrastructure following unforeseen spikes in trading volume.
• The company had previously prepared for a tenfold increase in trading volume, which was surpassed.
• ETFs backed by Bitcoin have been instrumental in driving increased trading activity, accumulating over $12 billion since January.

Looking Ahead

• Continued investment in Coinbase’s trading infrastructure to manage surges in trading volume.
• Monitoring the impact of Bitcoin ETFs on market dynamics and trading volumes.
• Emphasis on the importance of robust infrastructure to facilitate broader adoption of digital assets.

Conclusion

Coinbase’s encounter with unprecedented trading volumes underscores the escalating interest and adoption of digital assets, underscored by the successful introduction of Bitcoin-backed ETFs. This scenario underscores the imperative for ongoing enhancement and investment in trading infrastructure to accommodate rising demand and ensure user reliability. Moving forward, the focus will be on augmenting infrastructure capabilities to support the dynamic and swiftly evolving digital asset market, marking a significant phase in the maturation and broader acceptance of cryptocurrencies.

Featured Image: Unsplash

Please See Disclaimer

The Ethereum Foundation, the core entity behind the Ethereum ecosystem, is under scrutiny as reports surface of an ongoing investigation by an undisclosed “state authority.” This revelation comes amidst past legal inquiries, including allegations linked to the 2016 Gatecoin hack.

In a GitHub commit dated February 26, 2024, the Ethereum Foundation disclosed receipt of a voluntary inquiry from a state authority, coupled with a strict confidentiality mandate. Details regarding the nature of the inquiry and the identity of the authority remain undisclosed.

CoinDesk noted the removal of a disclosure from the Ethereum Foundation’s website, previously asserting no contact from any agency necessitating non-disclosure. Additionally, the website’s warrant canary, a signal indicating the absence of covert government subpoenas or requests, was also removed in the same GitHub commit.

The elimination of the warrant canary raises community concerns, as it traditionally serves as a subtle indicator of potential government involvement. Typically, companies employ warrant canaries on their websites to signal receipt of secret government requests.

Previous legal scrutiny faced by the Ethereum Foundation, particularly concerning its alleged involvement in the 2016 Gatecoin hack, adds context to this recent development. Accusations brought forward by on-chain forensic analyst TruthLabs targeted key figures such as Vitalik Buterin and Joseph Lubin, sparking intense community debates and prompting an independent legal investigation.

It remains unclear whether the ongoing investigation is linked to past incidents or pertains to a separate matter. Concurrently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues evaluating multiple applications for an Ether Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF). However, analysts express waning optimism regarding approval, citing limited engagement between applicants and SEC officials.

In response to the news, Ethereum ($ETH) experienced a sudden 3% decline within minutes, currently trading at $3,285 according to CoinMarketCap.

Featured Image: Freepik @ snowing

Please See Disclaimer

The journey towards institutional adoption has long been a target for cryptocurrency proponents, aiming to bring a new level of legitimacy to the asset class and potentially drive prices higher. The launch of several spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in January marked a historic milestone for the sector, paving the way for wider adoption. However, a survey conducted by the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals (DCAFP) in December indicated that crypto adoption was already on the rise before the ETFs’ launch.

The survey, conducted in partnership with Franklin Templeton Digital Assets, revealed that 59% of financial professionals, including 78 financial advisors managing client portfolios, actively recommended crypto to clients. Notably, over 7% of advisors recommended crypto to all clients, while 29% recommended it to more than half of their clients. The majority of advisors (81%) suggested allocating 1% to 5% of assets to crypto, with a smaller fraction recommending higher allocations.

In terms of client holdings, 83% of financial advisors found that 10% to 49% of their clients invested in crypto, indicating a notable level of interest among investors. Furthermore, 41% of advisors not currently recommending crypto expressed plans to do so, with a significant portion intending to allocate to crypto within the year.

Despite the retail-driven nature of the market, institutions are showing a growing appetite for crypto assets, according to Mathew McDermot, head of digital assets at Goldman Sachs. McDermot highlighted the recent surge in institutional interest, attributing it to factors like the launch of spot BTC ETFs, which triggered a “psychological shift” in investor sentiment and could pave the way for the tokenization of assets.

McDermot emphasized the importance of regulatory clarity in facilitating institutional adoption, noting that the SEC’s approval of spot BTC ETFs marked a significant moment for the market, particularly in the U.S. He pointed out the growing volumes in CME Group’s derivatives marketplace as evidence of institutional interest.

Offering Bitcoin in ETF form has made it more accessible to the masses and removed barriers associated with storing and transacting with cryptocurrencies. McDermot highlighted the enhanced investment protection provided by ETFs, making them a more user-friendly option for institutional investors.

Looking ahead, Goldman Sachs is focused on developing proofs of concept around tokenization and leveraging blockchain technology to better serve clients interested in digital assets. McDermot envisions a “tokenization continuum,” starting with more traditional financial products like Treasuries and stablecoins before expanding to more complex markets like real estate private equity.

McDermot sees promise in blockchain technology, citing its potential to de-risk the market, improve operational efficiency, and enhance liquidity management. While crypto presents intriguing opportunities, he believes the underlying technology holds significant potential for transforming financial markets.

Featured Image: IstockPhoto @ Phira Phonruewiangphing

Please See Disclaimer