The Crypto Collapse
The crypto market is experiencing a collapse. According to Noble, this is similar to the stock market crash of 1987. It took months to recover. However, cryptocurrency moves much faster than equities did in the 1980s, so the recovery may be much quicker. In addition, this collapse will give way to a more stable currency.
Large crypto “banks” and hedge funds
The recent collapse of the cryptocurrency market has put a strain on many large crypto “banks” and hedge funds. One example is Galaxy Investments, which boasts of having $2 billion in assets under management but also lists $1 billion in cash on its balance sheet. This firm has been a leading advocate of self-regulation but is still vulnerable to crypto’s collapse.
Regulatory uncertainty is one of the biggest risks facing the crypto market. Hedge funds that are not investing in crypto are also citing lack of clarity in the regulatory framework. Almost eighty-three percent of hedge fund managers surveyed said they are concerned about a lack of regulatory clarity in the industry. Another 36% cited the global fragmentation of cryptocurrency regulation as a top concern. Twenty-five percent said they would increase their investments in the sector if regulations were more clear.
Inflation
The recent collapse in the crypto market has sent investors reeling. The Federal Reserve is in the process of trying to rein in inflation, but the latest numbers suggest the job is not done yet. The inflation data released Thursday also shattered hopes of aggressive Fed action. While the Fed may not raise interest rates as aggressively as many had hoped, the results signaled a worsening outlook for stocks and crypto.
Traders are becoming more cautious ahead of the latest data on US inflation, which is expected to show a slightly higher reading. The consumer price index rose at a slower pace than economists had forecast, but the rate was still higher than expected. This has weighed on the crypto-ecosystem, with the top blue chip, Cardano, plummeting over 15% in the past seven days.
Non-fungible token craze
As blockchain technology continues to gain popularity, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are a popular new way to invest in cryptocurrencies. But the popularity of these tokens has cooled off in recent months. The average sale price of a NFT has fallen to below $2,000, down from over $6,800 in January. Cumulative daily NFT sales have fallen from $160 million in January to just $26 million as of Thursday. And primary market NFT sales have decreased by over 150 percent since April.
One notable non-fungible token sale has taken place at the auction house Christie’s, which has a history of more than 250 years. It was a piece by digital artist Mike Winkelmann, which was sold for $69 million. Another example is the Beeple, which sold for more than $6 million on eBay.
Climate contagion
Climate change is a serious threat for financial institutions and cryptocurrencies. These digital assets have a high carbon footprint, and as a result, governments have promised a crackdown on them. This will help the global climate and ensure a stable economy. Climate-related financial risks must be taken into account in determining capitalisation requirements and risk management.
Cryptocurrency price volatility is expected to cool investor sentiment, but the overall effect will be limited. Crypto meltdowns, however, will have an adverse effect on retail investing sentiment and could further slow the adoption of digital assets. This would be a problem for the crypto market because retail investors have been pouring $114 billion into it through March, and these flows may slow.
Investors’ apathy
While bitcoin’s correlation with stock prices has declined since last month’s high, it remains heavily influenced by macro-triggers such as key economic data reports and central bank policy. But the crypto market has been struggling with unusually low volatility in recent days. On Tuesday morning, the major stock indices were making solid gains despite the news that Silvergate, a bitcoin mining company, reported weaker-than-expected earnings.
Cryptocurrency enthusiasts and skeptics alike feared a crash was imminent. The sector had become too hot, with a thriving community of fraudulent actors and credulous investors. They shared bogus expertise in YouTube videos and Telegram groups, and jokes about cryptocurrency rose in popularity. But jokes can only last so long on the internet.