Finance & Economy
Central Banks Under Scrutiny As Inflation Slows
Global central banks face criticism for their slow response to falling inflation, sparking debates on interest rate cuts.
Crypto Markets
Liquidity Challenges Intensify Bitcoin's Price Volatility
Bitcoin’s price volatility is heightened by ongoing liquidity issues in the cryptocurrency market, amidst fluctuating trading activities and broader financial shifts.
2 min read
In recent weeks, Bitcoin has experienced price swings exceeding 10%, underscoring a persistent liquidity shortage in cryptocurrency markets. Despite a resurgence in trading activity and anticipation surrounding a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, market depth is at its lowest this year. FalconX’s research team, utilizing a 24-hour average volume metric within 1% of Bitcoin's current price, highlights this trend.
Dubbed the "Alameda Gap" since last November by Kaiko, a blockchain data firm, this liquidity shortfall is attributed to the substantial losses borne by market makers during the FTX collapse, an event that still reverberates through the market. As Sam Bankman-Fried's fraud trial resumes, FTX's impact on market dynamics is in the spotlight.
Market Reactions And The Search For Stability
On October 16, a spurious report claiming US approval of a long-awaited Bitcoin ETF led to a rapid 10% surge in Bitcoin’s value, which was quickly corrected as BlackRock clarified that the process was still ongoing.
Similarly, on October 23, speculative trading on a potential BlackRock fund listing propelled bitcoin above $35,000, marking an 18-month high.
Juthica Mallela from Kraken, and Patrick Chu from Paradigm, shed light on the complex interplay of market positioning, spot buying, and macroeconomic factors driving these fluctuations. Despite these large trading volumes, data from Delphi Digital indicates a multi-year low in total trading volumes across exchanges, reflecting broader liquidity challenges.
Moreover, the dwindling market capitalization of stablecoins, crucial for crypto trading liquidity, echoes these challenges. The shift in the macro financial landscape, particularly rising interest rates, is diverting investments away from decentralized finance platforms. While these were once lucrative during the low-rates COVID-19 era, traders are now attracted to more secure and higher-yielding options within the TradFi realm.
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