Venturing into the world of cryptocurrency could be likened to riding a rollercoaster with unexpected dips and turns. The devastation of the crypto realm began with the infamous 2022 meltdown, largely triggered by the collapse of the well-known FTX exchange, leading to scores of investors watching in dismay as their digital fortunes vanished.
The start of 2023 witnessed a reviving crypto market with Bitcoin’s surge past the $30,000 threshold by April. Despite this, the whimsical nature of cryptocurrency was once again on display by August, with valuation of assets tumbling below $25,200. Latest findings suggest the collective valuation of all cryptocurrencies plummeted to $1.02 trillion on the 1st of September 2023, a startling 3.7% decline. While some experts view this drop as a typical bear market correction, forecasting an upswing by year’s end, others forecast a more dire outcome, projecting a pronounced crash in the crypto space for September 2023.
A revelation from The Wall Street Journal disclosed that, during 2021-22, Musk’s space endeavor, SpaceX, reduced the value of its Bitcoin assets by a staggering $373 million and liquidated an unspecified amount of Bitcoin. Falsehoods about selling off their complete Bitcoin stash emerged, yet the factual figures remained vague. The subsequent price reduction in Bitcoin by 10% can’t be solely laid at Musk’s doorstep despite contributing to the overarching sentiment of a downturn in the crypto market.
Repercussions of FTX’s Demise on Cryptocurrency Stability
CoinDesk reports sparked trepidation in a fragile market regarding Sam Bankman-Fried’s Alameda Research and FTX, questioning whether hidden financial liabilities could jeopardize the companies’ ability to honor fiscal duties. When Binance retracted its rescue proposal due to apprehensions about mishandled patron assets, bankruptcy became the only refuge for FTX. In the aftermath, suspicious “unauthorized transactions” spawned speculation that roughly $477 million may have been misappropriated.
This upheaval, following the obliteration of one of the largest crypto exchanges, precipitated a sell-off frenzy as investors scurried away from the increasingly volatile sector. The repercussions of this cataclysm continue to reverberate, although more contemporary factors are motivating the current downturn.
The Federal Reserve’s Firm Stance on Inflation and Its Crypto Market Influence
In light of unrelenting inflation, the Federal Reserve’s staunch commitment to subdue price hikes persists. Despite the already steep interest rates, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell flagged the possibility of additional rate hikes to rein in inflation to under 2%. Powell’s remarks by Reuters underscore the probable continuation of a proactive monetary policy that could contribute to sluggish economic expansion and a softer labor market.
So, what’s the connection to the descending crypto market?
A Spike in U.S. Bond Yields and Its Relationship with September’s Crypto Predicament
The Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate moves have catapulted U.S. Treasury yields to heights unfamiliar in recent history, with the 10-year yield cresting at 4.31% in August. While this heralds more secure and stable financial prospects for investors, it simultaneously casts a shadow on cryptocurrencies’ appeal in September 2023. This shift in investment preference, sparked in part by higher yields, isn’t isolated to cryptocurrencies, as the stock market and tech sectors have also braced the impact.
Current indicators point to a pivot by U.S. investors from riskier equities to the more secure harbor of money market funds, provoked by the potential of a looming recession. Decisions by the SEC further contribute to the market disruptions suffered by cryptocurrencies.
Anticipation and Anxieties Around SEC’s Delay on Bitcoin ETF Verdicts
A sense of consternation pervades investors as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) protracts its judgment on a handful of Bitcoin ETF submissions, culminating in Bitwise retracting its application. Historical trends have linked positive market movements with hopeful announcements from the SEC, and while a court directive for further review of Grayscale’s ETF bid correlated with a 5% Bitcoin price uptick in August, investors remain in limbo. The verdict deadline has been extended until late October, though speculations of continued postponements hang in the air.
In the midst of these uncertainties, die-hard cryptocurrency supporters cling to hopes of market stabilization post-SEC rulings, yet signs of an imminent resolution are far from evident.
