Author: Stephanie Bedard-Chateauneuf

Global crypto investment products have witnessed an unprecedented surge in annual inflows, reaching $13.8 billion year-to-date, with an additional $646 million added last week. However, there are indications that the hype surrounding exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is beginning to moderate, according to James Butterfill, Head of Research at CoinShares.

Leading asset managers such as BlackRock, Bitwise, Fidelity, Grayscale, ProShares, and 21Shares collectively attracted $646 million in inflows globally last week, as reported by CoinShares. This follows the previous week’s net inflows of $862 million, pushing the year-to-date inflows to a historic high of $13.8 billion, surpassing the prior annual record of $10.6 billion set in 2021, within just a few months into 2024.

This surge indicates a sustained recovery for global crypto funds, following nearly $1 billion worth of outflows observed for the week ending March 22. However, Butterfill noted a moderation in appetite from ETF investors, with weekly flow levels not reaching the heights seen in early March. Additionally, trading volumes declined to $17.4 billion last week compared to $43 billion in the first week of March.

Bitcoin Continues to Dominate

Bitcoin remains the primary focus for global crypto investment products, with a net addition of $663 million last week. Conversely, short-bitcoin funds experienced their third consecutive week of outflows, totaling $9.5 million, indicating minor capitulation among bearish investors.

ETFs remain dominant, accounting for $484.5 million of last week’s net inflows.

Bitcoin is currently trading up 4% over the past week at $72,129, while the GMCI 30 index, representing the top 30 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, has seen an 8% increase during the same period, reaching 154.27.

Inflows into Other Cryptocurrencies

Investment products tied to Litecoin, Solana, and Filecoin also attracted inflows of $4.4 million, $4 million, and $1.4 million, respectively, last week. However, funds based on Ether experienced outflows for the fourth consecutive week, losing $22.5 million.

Regional Sentiment

Regionally, sentiment remains polarized, with U.S.-based funds adding $648 million last week, alongside inflows for products in Brazil, Hong Kong, and Germany. However, Switzerland and Canada recorded outflows of $27 million and $7.3 million, respectively.

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Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, has made a bold prediction regarding the cryptocurrency market, anticipating its total value to double within the current year. He attributes this forecast to significant developments, including the launch of the first U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) and the forthcoming bitcoin “halving.”

Garlinghouse expressed his optimism during an interview with CNBC, stating, “The overall market cap of the crypto industry … is easily predicted to double by the end of this year … [as it’s] impacted by all of these macro factors.” He emphasized the potential positive regulatory momentum in the United States as another factor propelling the market to new heights.

The Ripple CEO’s outlook aligns with expectations of the combined market capitalization of the cryptocurrency market surpassing $5 trillion in the current year. He attributes this projected growth to macro factors such as the debut of the first U.S. spot bitcoin ETF and the upcoming bitcoin halving.

The approval of the first U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 10 represents a significant milestone. These ETFs enable institutions and retail investors to access bitcoin exposure through trading on U.S. stock exchanges without directly owning the underlying asset.

The bitcoin halving, occurring approximately every four years, halves the total mining reward to bitcoin miners. This event, scheduled for later this month, is anticipated to further influence market dynamics.

Garlinghouse highlighted the contraction of supply and expansion of demand as fundamental drivers of market growth. He remarked, “That doesn’t take an economics major to tell you what happens when supply contracts and demand expands.”

As of April 4, the total crypto market capitalization stood at approximately $2.6 trillion. A projected doubling of this figure would imply a new total market cap exceeding $5.2 trillion.

Bitcoin, the leading digital currency, has experienced significant growth, appreciating over 140% in the past year. Despite reaching a record high above $73,000 on March 13, its value has since retraced below the $70,000 level.

Garlinghouse also highlighted the potential for positive regulatory developments in the United States, suggesting a shift towards greater clarity and accommodation for the crypto industry. He acknowledged the SEC’s recent enforcement actions, including the lawsuit against Ripple alleging illegal XRP sales, but expressed optimism for regulatory clarity moving forward.

Garlinghouse’s bullish outlook is shared by others in the crypto space, including Marshall Beard, COO of U.S. crypto exchange Gemini, who anticipates bitcoin’s price reaching $150,000 later this year. Despite anticipated volatility, driven by factors such as new regulations and supply dynamics, the overall momentum suggests continued growth for the crypto market.

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Coinbase has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first international and largest cryptocurrency exchange to register as a Restricted Dealer with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA).

This achievement, following Coinbase’s formal launch in August 2023, underscores its commitment to establishing a strong presence in the Canadian market, which it has identified as a key market for expansion.

The journey towards registration began in March 2023 when Coinbase signed an Enhanced Pre-Registration Undertaking, demonstrating its dedication to regulatory compliance and operational excellence.

In its pursuit of registration, Coinbase worked closely with Canadian regulators to develop a policy framework aimed at setting a global benchmark for the industry. The exchange also collaborated with Canadian banks, investment advisors, and pension funds, showcasing its commitment to navigating the evolving digital asset landscape successfully.

Lucas Matheson, CEO of Coinbase Canada, highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating, “This is a significant milestone in Coinbase’s journey in Canada.” He expressed the company’s enthusiasm for accelerating the adoption of digital assets, promoting economic empowerment, and reshaping the financial system in collaboration with stakeholders across Canada.

Coinbase’s collaboration with stakeholders aims to drive digital asset adoption, promote economic empowerment, and transform the financial system. The company’s stance on the regulation of centralized crypto intermediaries aligns with Canadian public opinion.

A survey conducted by Coinbase in partnership with Angus Reid revealed that 72 percent of Canadians consider the regulation of cryptocurrency exchanges important, with 29 percent indicating that increased regulation would make them more likely to invest in cryptocurrencies. Among cryptocurrency investors, curiosity, investment diversification, and profit potential were key motivators.

Coinbase’s commitment to the Canadian market is fueled by the significant growth potential of the cryptocurrency sector in Canada. The country ranks third globally in crypto awareness, supported by a robust tech ecosystem that could lead the way in the cryptoeconomy.

Faryar Shirzad, chief policy officer at Coinbase, praised Canadian securities regulators for their commitment to providing clarity in the industry. “Regulation is critical to the success of the crypto industry and is essential for building trust,” Shirzad emphasized.

Coinbase has undertaken various initiatives to expand its presence in Canada, including its official launch in August 2023 with Interac payment rails, a visit by CEO Brian Armstrong to Toronto in November 2023, hiring nearly 200 local employees, and investing in Canada’s tech ecosystem through Coinbase Ventures.

These efforts are part of Coinbase’s broader strategy of collaborating with regulators globally, having obtained licenses in various countries. The company remains committed to fostering the growth of the crypto ecosystem in Canada, working closely with stakeholders to promote digital asset adoption, economic empowerment, and reshape the global financial system.

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As the 2024 bull run gains momentum, investors are on the lookout for cryptocurrencies with the potential for significant growth. This selection highlights four promising picks that could multiply wealth during this exciting phase of the market.

TRUE Token: Revolutionizing Crypto in iGaming for Unprecedented Gains

TRUE token (TFT) is a new GameFi project that aims to surpass the success of the once-popular Notcoin. TFT is currently available through an exclusive NFT Token Offering (NTO), offering early adopters the opportunity to significantly boost their investment. The NFTs distributed contain a portion of TRUE tokens, ranging from 100 to 500,000 TFT, at substantial discounts. The NTO ensures that your allocation is 100% guaranteed, secure, and manageable. Additionally, NFT holders gain exclusive TRUE membership and entry into a prize draw for $330,000 in extra tokens, 10 ETH, status cards, merch, and tokenized partner gifts.

TRUE, with six years of experience in game and blockchain development and significant backing of over $3.45M raised, led by SoftSwiss, is well-positioned in the iGaming sector. With more than 4M active players and 16,000 third-party games interested in its blockchain service, TRUE has remained profitable even in challenging markets, setting a strong foundation for TFT post-token generation event. As TRUE’s value is expected to benefit from the activity within the upcoming TRUE World iGaming metaverse, set to attract millions of users, now is the ideal time to secure your TFT allocation before it takes off.

NEAR Protocol: Performance and Outlook

NEAR Protocol has experienced fluctuations recently, with a current price range between $6.73 and $7.98. While it dipped by almost 8% in the past week, it has risen by over 50% in the last month and more than 500% over the past six months. The price movements of NEAR appear mixed, with periods of rapid growth followed by smaller changes.

The near resistance at $8.67 could pose a challenge, but with sufficient momentum, NEAR could aim for the higher resistance at $9.91. Conversely, if it experiences a decline, it may find support at $6.18 or even lower at $4.93. The mixed outlook suggests that NEAR’s price may experience both upward and downward movements in the near future.

Avalanche: Trends and Price Prediction

Avalanche (AVAX) has witnessed significant price swings over the last six months, surging by 341.12%. While it climbed 9.08% last month, it dropped by 13.05% last week. Currently trading between $51.34 and $58.12, AVAX appears to be in a corrective phase, with the RSI indicating a neutral stance, suggesting that the price may not move sharply in either direction soon.

Looking ahead, there is potential for growth if AVAX surpasses the near resistance at $62.13, with further gains possible if it breaks the higher resistance at $68.91. However, if buying pressure subsides, the price could fall to the nearest support at $48.57 or even the lower support at $41.79. The high Stochastic value at 84.48 indicates a possible consolidation phase. AVAX’s recent price movements suggest that it may continue to experience fluctuations in the short term.

Solana: Price Range and Prediction

Solana’s price has been fluctuating recently, ranging between $187.30 and $210.62. While it saw a slight dip of 0.46% in the past week, it has surged by 39.08% over the last month and an impressive 691.63% over the past six months. Currently, the price movements appear corrective, with the Relative Strength Index indicating a balance between buyers and sellers.

Looking ahead, SOL has the potential for growth, with the nearest resistance level at $218.61. If it breaks through, the next target could be $241.93. On the downside, SOL is likely to find support near $171.97 and then at $148.65. The mixed signals from Stochastic (42.10) and MACD (-0.89) suggest a cautious approach.

Conclusion

While NEAR, AVAX, and SOL show potential for upside, they may not match the short-term potential of other options. The standout choice is the TRUE token (TFT), which is poised for significant growth in the iGaming metaverse. TFT’s innovative NFT Token Offering provides unique investment opportunities, and its solid foundation sets it up for success in the upcoming bull run.

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Bitcoin plunged by $5,000 within a span of 24 hours as interest rates surged, marking a turbulent start to April for cryptocurrencies and related stocks, especially mining stocks.

The flagship cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, experienced a more than 6% decline on Tuesday, dropping to $65,150.00, resulting in a two-day loss of around 7%, according to Coin Metrics. This decline followed a trading price of approximately $70,000 on Monday morning. The drop was attributed to data indicating growth in the manufacturing sector for the first time since September 2022, coupled with cooling investor bets on June rate cuts. Bitcoin is currently down about 11% from its all-time high reached on March 14.

Ether also faced a decline, losing 6% to trade at $3,240.27.

Concurrently, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield reached its highest level of the year, while the U.S. dollar, which typically has an inverse relationship with bitcoin, hit its highest level in nearly five months.

The decline in Bitcoin’s price was possibly exacerbated by a large bitcoin holder, or “whale,” who transferred more than 4,000 bitcoin to the Bitfinex exchange late Monday night. Data from CryptoQuant indicates a spike in the exchange’s reserves, which typically signifies increased selling activity, aligning with the sudden drop in bitcoin’s price late Monday night.

Stocks associated with bitcoin’s performance also experienced declines. Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase dropped 4%, while software provider MicroStrategy, which largely trades as a proxy for the price of bitcoin, lost nearly 7%. The largest mining stocks, Marathon Digital and Riot Platforms, experienced losses of 7% and 6%, respectively. CleanSpark, one of the best-performing miners this year, slid 6%.

The month of April could prove to be tumultuous for cryptocurrencies and related stocks, particularly mining stocks, as investors are eyeing the bitcoin halving event, which is set to slash the reward, and therefore revenue, of bitcoin miners in the second half of the month. While this event could negatively impact miners’ performance, historically it has set bitcoin up for rallies of 300% or more in the following months.

Despite the recent downturn, Bitcoin is still up 53% for the year 2024.

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