Cryptocurrency Market Review
This week, the cryptocurrency market has corrected downwards. BTC is currently trading around 43500.00 (–6.5%), ETH is at 3250.00 (–8.0%), USDT is around 1.0002 (+0.01%), BNB is at 435.00 (–4.1%). %), and USDC is around 0.9999 (+0.01%). The total market capitalization has decreased to 2.025T dollars, and the share of BTC in it has decreased to 40.98%.
The correction was associated with the expected sharp tightening of the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy, which could strengthen the US currency against alternative assets, including digital instruments. Published this week, the minutes of the last meeting of the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) said that from May, officials intend to begin reducing the balance sheet by $95B a month while allowing an increase in interest rate growth by 0.50%. It is expected that an aggressive monetary policy will continue at least until the end of this year. Bloomberg L.P. analysts noted another danger of the current situation. In their opinion, the tightening of monetary policy may put pressure on the stock market, which will pull the markets for raw materials and cryptocurrencies in the event of a collapse. Mike Novogratz, a well-known crypto enthusiast and founder of Galaxy Digital, believes that while the US Federal Reserve raises rates, BTC and altcoins may remain under pressure. Still, serious cryptocurrency growth will resume as soon as the regulator pauses in tightening monetary policy and the economic situation stabilizes.
Representatives of large financial institutions have made several comments and initiatives. On Monday, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Glen, announced that the government would develop legislation to regulate the use of stablecoins for electronic payments. These cryptocurrencies will be included in the legal space, and the Bank of England will take care of their regulation. The officials will also consider the potential of using blockchain to create British government bonds or securities. Glen noted that the authorities see great potential for digital assets, while the head of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, is of the opposite opinion. He spoke about the growing use of cryptocurrencies for criminal purposes and called on technology companies to work more actively with the regulator to eliminate the possibility of fraud and illegal activities. The head of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, once again called for closer cooperation with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which will regulate and control the platforms on which securities and any other assets are traded, in including cryptocurrencies, the status of which has not yet been fully determined.
Meanwhile, Meta Platforms Inc. discusses the possibility of launching a cryptocurrency within its metaverse. Creating an internal digital currency operating in various applications is being considered. Also, the social network will be able to reward active participants or the most popular authors with it. American cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has entered the Indian market. Representatives of the company said that the citizens of India show a serious interest in cryptocurrencies and a desire to use new products, which makes this market promising, despite the country's strict legislation. Also, this week, the Da Vinci Locker (DVL) cross-chain NFT trading platform, created based on the Cardano blockchain, was launched. Its main goal is that any owner of a unique intellectual product can turn it into an NFT token and sell it without intermediaries. DVL will use Cardano's version of OpenSea smart contracts.
Next week, quotes of most cryptocurrencies may continue to decline or consolidate.
This week, the cryptocurrency market has corrected downwards. BTC is currently trading around 43500.00 (–6.5%), ETH is at 3250.00 (–8.0%), USDT is around 1.0002 (+0.01%), BNB is at 435.00 (–4.1%). %), and USDC is around 0.9999 (+0.01%). The total market capitalization has decreased to 2.025T dollars, and the share of BTC in it has decreased to 40.98%.
The correction was associated with the expected sharp tightening of the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy, which could strengthen the US currency against alternative assets, including digital instruments. Published this week, the minutes of the last meeting of the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) said that from May, officials intend to begin reducing the balance sheet by $95B a month while allowing an increase in interest rate growth by 0.50%. It is expected that an aggressive monetary policy will continue at least until the end of this year. Bloomberg L.P. analysts noted another danger of the current situation. In their opinion, the tightening of monetary policy may put pressure on the stock market, which will pull the markets for raw materials and cryptocurrencies in the event of a collapse. Mike Novogratz, a well-known crypto enthusiast and founder of Galaxy Digital, believes that while the US Federal Reserve raises rates, BTC and altcoins may remain under pressure. Still, serious cryptocurrency growth will resume as soon as the regulator pauses in tightening monetary policy and the economic situation stabilizes.
Representatives of large financial institutions have made several comments and initiatives. On Monday, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Glen, announced that the government would develop legislation to regulate the use of stablecoins for electronic payments. These cryptocurrencies will be included in the legal space, and the Bank of England will take care of their regulation. The officials will also consider the potential of using blockchain to create British government bonds or securities. Glen noted that the authorities see great potential for digital assets, while the head of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, is of the opposite opinion. He spoke about the growing use of cryptocurrencies for criminal purposes and called on technology companies to work more actively with the regulator to eliminate the possibility of fraud and illegal activities. The head of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, once again called for closer cooperation with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which will regulate and control the platforms on which securities and any other assets are traded, in including cryptocurrencies, the status of which has not yet been fully determined.
Meanwhile, Meta Platforms Inc. discusses the possibility of launching a cryptocurrency within its metaverse. Creating an internal digital currency operating in various applications is being considered. Also, the social network will be able to reward active participants or the most popular authors with it. American cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has entered the Indian market. Representatives of the company said that the citizens of India show a serious interest in cryptocurrencies and a desire to use new products, which makes this market promising, despite the country's strict legislation. Also, this week, the Da Vinci Locker (DVL) cross-chain NFT trading platform, created based on the Cardano blockchain, was launched. Its main goal is that any owner of a unique intellectual product can turn it into an NFT token and sell it without intermediaries. DVL will use Cardano's version of OpenSea smart contracts.
Next week, quotes of most cryptocurrencies may continue to decline or consolidate.