Restaking of Ether, with initiatives like EigenLayer, has the potential to significantly enhance Ethereum, benefiting holders, stakers, developers, and the broader ecosystem. However, these benefits are not without their drawbacks. Engaging in restaking carries substantial risks for the individual holders involved and also poses systemic risks to the Ethereum network as a whole.
Over the weekend, geopolitical tensions sent Bitcoin and Ethereum tumbling, but the crypto market quickly rebounded, arguably thanks to Hong Kong’s new ETF approvals and the upcoming Bitcoin halving. Despite this recovery, ongoing Iran-Israel tensions could still disrupt the market.
Avalanche, despite its standing as the 10th largest cryptocurrency and a significant player among Layer 1 blockchains with smart contract capabilities, faces a grim outlook. With a nearly $40 billion fully diluted market capitalization, its onchain activity is declining, lagging behind competitors like Solana and Ethereum’s rollups. There is simply not much to celebrate for AVAX holders.
A showdown is unfolding in the crypto world, specifically between BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, and Gary Gensler, the Chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, echoing our view from last week’s Crypto Crisp, we are not anticipating significant volatility in the upcoming weeks, especially considering the recent net outflows from Bitcoin spot ETFs.
A week has passed since Proto-Danksharding was implemented on the Ethereum blockchain. This upgrade has transformed Ethereum and its rollup ecosystem, setting the stage for expansion into brand new territories. Our advice? It is not wise to go against this trend by placing bets on so-called “Ethereum killers.”
Ethereum’s transition to a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism has been a significant boon, instantly positioning it as the most productive cryptocurrency among its peers. However, this success comes with a vulnerability; if future Ethereum spot ETFs gain the ability to stake Ether, Ethereum’s fate could largely fall under the control of traditional finance. The most feasible countermeasure to this scenario lies in the full adoption of liquid staking protocols.
The crypto market is getting less speculative by the minute. There is no need to chase the next big thing by risking funds on obscure altcoins or memecoins. Instead, by aligning with institutional movements, crypto investors stand to gain significantly without taking on too much risk.
Looking ahead to the next week in the crypto market, we envision two potential scenarios. One possibility is that Bitcoin reaches a new all-time high, with Ethereum quickly on its heels. On the other end of the spectrum, the market could experience a minimum 10% decline as it sheds excess leverage. Intriguingly, it is possible that both events could unfold.
Over the past week, Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, emerged as the top performer in an otherwise subdued crypto market. During this period, Bitcoin experienced a decrease in net inflow into exchange-traded products, including Bitcoin spot ETFs, compared to the previous week. On Friday, the Uniswap Foundation suggested a new fee mechanism, potentially enhancing its token significantly.
We are incredibly optimistic about the Ethereum Layer 2 space. We are backing this conviction up with a selection of rollup tokens in our portfolio. It appears the wider market has not yet caught on to the fact that rollups could soon render almost all other Layer 1 cryptocurrencies redundant, largely thanks to leveraging Ethereum’s unmatched network effect. These tokens also stand out as some of the rare cryptocurrencies that could genuinely become yield-generating in the not-so-distant future.
We have a high level of confidence that the US will witness the launch of an Ethereum spot ETF within this year, assigning a 90% probability to this event. Our optimism is grounded in five key reasons. We have every reason to believe that an Ethereum spot ETF will be just as successful as the Bitcoin spot ETFs have already been.
It seems that a significant portion of the crypto market turned bearish following Jerome Powell’s speech yesterday. However, we remain bullish. We believe the speech did not bring about significant changes; liquidity is still expected to increase, Bitcoin is experiencing substantial ETF inflows, and the crypto market is on the verge of embracing three powerful narratives.
Everyone is looking forward to the Bitcoin halving, yet there is little focus on Ethereum’s equivalent of a triple halving. In our crypto portfolio, Ethereum takes the spotlight. We predict that Ethereum will evolve into a widely-utilized digital commodity, coupled with a decreasing supply and the ability to generate dividends – a truly unique asset, not just in crypto, but beyond.
While the approval of the Bitcoin spot ETF did not spark a significant reaction in the market for Bitcoin, Ethereum emerged as the clear winner, securing a substantial 15% gain over Bitcoin post-ETF approval. Our expectation is that Ethereum stands to reap further rewards in the coming months, while Bitcoin experiences slow bleeding.
As we step into 2024, it seems like everyone is long crypto left, right, and center. This environment does not elicit much enthusiasm from us, as it brings back memories of the exact opposite situation just a year ago. We have identified five key factors that we believe will shape 2024. Among them, three are anticipated to pose potential downsides, one holds the potential for an upside surprise, and there is a joker that seems to be completely overlooked.
The crypto industry can breathe a sigh of relief as institutions enter the crypto space, even as the industry continues to lick its wounds after last year’s contagion. The industry does not appreciate the European Union’s MiCA framework enough, if at all. Few seem to know what it is, yet it will be vital in shaping tomorrow’s crypto industry.
A bet on crypto right now is a bet on macroeconomics. For believers in a soft landing and imminent interest rate cuts, accumulating crypto could be advantageous. In this scenario, we believe Ethereum to outperform Bitcoin massively. Alternatively, those anticipating a hard landing may find it wise to stay on the sidelines for now. Delve deeper into our analysis for a comprehensive understanding of our view.
