CoinRoutes, an institutional cryptocurrency trading platform, has acquired QIS Risk, a portfolio and risk management provider for digital asset managers, the company said in a press release Tuesday. The deal value was $5 million in cash and stock, and brings together CoinRoutes’ algorithmic execution technology with QIS Risk’s suite of portfolio monitoring and risk analytics. CoinRoutes currently provides connectivity to more than 50 exchanges and over 3,000 digital assets, while QIS Risk integrates with ...

Market Overview - The current market atmosphere indicates a focus on short-term trading, with many investors seeking quick profits, which contrasts with a long-term investment perspective that emphasizes patience and broader trends [2] - The cryptocurrency market is experiencing interesting conditions, including a loosening monetary environment, advancing regulatory frameworks, potential ETF approvals, and increasing institutional participation, all of which could lead to structural changes and passive capital inflows in the long run [2] Ethereum Price Analysis - There is speculation about whether Ethereum (ETH) can reach $5,000 again, with a belief that this price point is achievable, and even $10,000 is considered a reasonable psychological target, although it is acknowledged that this is a matter of time and personal investment commitment [3][4] - The recent price action shows ETH nearing a critical support level between $3,600 and $3,800, with a hope that it does not fall below $3,600, influenced by potential catalysts in Q4, such as further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and the outcomes of altcoin ETF reviews [7][9] Trading Strategies - It is recommended to have both Plan A and Plan B for trading, where if the target of selling ETH at $5,000 is not met, a contingency plan should be in place to manage potential market downturns [4] - To mitigate trading risks, it is advised to use funds that do not impact daily life and to adopt a strategy of buying and selling in increments rather than trying to time the market perfectly [4] Technical Indicators - On a daily chart, ETH's Relative Strength Index (RSI) is approaching an oversold region, suggesting a potential for a local rebound based on historical patterns [5] - The weekly RSI appears neutral, but there are signs of bearish divergence, and the MACD momentum is weakening, indicating a possible deeper correction if the MACD line crosses downward [7][9] Institutional and ETF Focus - The overall cryptocurrency market remains influenced by Bitcoin's (BTC) performance, and attention should be paid to the inflow and outflow of funds related to existing ETFs, as well as changes in institutional holdings of ETH [7] - The analysis of institutional positions, such as BMNR's ETH holding cost around $3,800, is crucial for understanding market dynamics [7] Airdrop Participation - There is a growing interest in participating in Alpha airdrops, particularly among newcomers, with suggestions to research independently rather than relying on paid courses [11][12] - It is emphasized that not all airdrop projects are worth pursuing, and participants should focus on those with higher certainty and potential [19] DeFi Investment Strategies - For DeFi investments, it is important to create a reliable project list and to use tools like DeFiLlama for filtering potential investment opportunities based on various criteria such as TVL and APY [21][22] - Investors should prioritize projects that are audited, have a significant TVL, and possess unique features or strong community support to mitigate risks [25][26]

(Bloomberg) — Cryptocurrencies shed roughly $300 billion in value this week as a wave of leveraged bets unraveled, battering the sector’s biggest tokens and dragging market sentiment to its weakest point since early summer. Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, led the rout with its steepest weekly decline since June. The token has dropped about 12%, sliding below the $4,000 mark — a level traders had widely seen as a crucial line of support. Bitcoin, the market bellwether, wasn’t spared eithe ...

Core Insights - The altcoin season is characterized by a rotation of liquidity into specific tokens rather than a broad rally across the sector, with a focus on infrastructure, derivatives, and gaming platforms [1] - Aethir, Mantle, and Hyperliquid are highlighted as key players in this developing altcoin season, each driven by unique catalysts [1] Aethir (ATH) - Aethir is currently trading near $0.06, with a daily trading volume exceeding $110 million and a market capitalization of approximately $742 million [3] - The circulating supply of Aethir is about 12.2 billion tokens out of a maximum of 42 billion, and the price has increased by around 7% in the past day due to liquidity inflows into centralized exchanges [3][4] - The recent surge in trading activity positions Aethir as a strong candidate for short-term allocations during the altcoin season, benefiting from its role in cloud and gaming infrastructure [4] Mantle (MNT) - Mantle is trading at approximately $1.69, with a market capitalization nearing $5.5 billion and a daily turnover exceeding $500 million [5] - The circulating supply of Mantle is about 3.25 billion tokens, and the price has risen by about 5% in the last 24 hours, continuing a multi-week upward trend from the $1.40 range earlier this quarter [5][6] - The token's strength is attributed to consistent exchange support and its recognition as a Layer-2 scaling solution, making it appealing for traders seeking infrastructure exposure [6] Hyperliquid (HYPE) - Hyperliquid is trading near $43, with a daily volume ranging between $650 million and $700 million and a market capitalization of about $14.5 billion [7] - The circulating supply of Hyperliquid stands at around 336 million tokens out of a maximum of 1 billion, indicating significant trading activity and interest in derivatives [7]

Core Insights - The cryptocurrency market is experiencing significant volatility, with over $1.5 billion in long positions liquidated, leading to the most severe flash crash in a month [1] - The introduction of perpetual contracts, a type of derivative without an expiration date, is gaining traction in the regulated U.S. market, indicating a shift towards mainstream adoption [3][8] Perpetual Contracts Overview - Perpetual contracts allow traders to hold positions indefinitely, with profits and losses directly tied to the price movements of underlying assets like Bitcoin [3] - The appeal of perpetual contracts lies in their high leverage, enabling traders to control larger positions with smaller capital [4] Risk and Mechanisms - The risk associated with high leverage is significant; a 10% drop in Bitcoin's price can lead to total liquidation of the initial investment [5] - To maintain price alignment with spot prices, perpetual contracts utilize a funding rate mechanism, where long position holders pay fees to short position holders when contract prices exceed spot prices [6] Market Growth and Popularity - The popularity of perpetual contracts has surged, accounting for approximately 68% of Bitcoin's trading volume, driven by traders seeking quick returns during a bullish market [7] - Major trading platforms are rapidly integrating perpetual contracts into their offerings, indicating a competitive landscape [8] Institutional Engagement - Coinbase has launched perpetual contracts for U.S. retail customers, with plans to increase leverage limits [9] - Other firms, such as Robinhood and Gemini, are also entering the market, with Gemini offering up to 100x leverage [10] - The profitability of these products is evident, as Robinhood reported that cryptocurrency and options trading contributed nearly 80% of its trading revenue in Q2 [10]

The crypto market has experienced a notable downturn over the past week, and is trading flat on the day. However, a handful of altcoins are defying this move, with some even posting double-digit gains on the day. The biggest winner of the day is Ethereum layer-2 network Mantle, which climbed 12.1% on the day to a $5.9 billion market cap as the 37th largest cryptocurrency. The double-digit jump follows Mantle’s partnership with centralized exchange Bybit, which offers higher leverage rates and better loan ...

Core Insights - Crypto markets are stabilizing after a significant $1.7 billion liquidation of leveraged positions, with investors shifting focus back to Bitcoin as October approaches, a month historically known for strong performance in the crypto space, referred to as "Uptober" [1][6]. Market Dynamics - Following the $1.7 billion in liquidations, volatility in the market has started to decrease, with traders previously engaging in altcoin speculation, which led to a spike in the altcoin season index to 100 before dropping to 65, indicating a shift away from altcoins [2]. - Bitcoin's market dominance has increased to 57.7%, while Ethereum's share has decreased to 12% but has slightly recovered to 13% [3]. Historical Performance - October has been the best-performing month for Bitcoin since 2013, with average returns exceeding 20%, contrasting with September, known as "Redtember," which is typically Bitcoin's worst month [4][7]. Influencing Factors - Factors influencing the current market include ongoing acquisitions of Bitcoin by entities like Strategy and Metaplanet, significant inflows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and a generally bullish investor sentiment [5]. - Upcoming macroeconomic announcements, including a speech from U.S. Federal Reserve's Jerome Powell and Core PCE data on U.S. inflation, are expected to impact market sentiment [5][7]. Future Outlook - If inflation remains stable, it could lead to further rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, potentially increasing liquidity in Q4 and triggering another Bitcoin breakout, which may also initiate a long-awaited altcoin season [6].

Core Insights - The future of finance may transition from traditional Wall Street systems to blockchain networks, emphasizing the potential of tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) [1][2][3] - Tokenization is seen as a transformative use case for blockchain, enhancing liquidity, transparency, and enabling 24/7 trading for assets like real estate and equities [2][4] Tokenization and Market Dynamics - The tokenization of money market funds is highlighted as a significant opportunity, with stablecoins acting as a bridge to this new system [4] - The demand for round-the-clock trading is underscored by the performance of Bitcoin during geopolitical events, suggesting that traditional markets could benefit from similar on-chain trading capabilities [6][7] Derivatives and Trading Strategies - The rise of zero-day-to-expiry (zero-DTE) options in the U.S. is noted, with these options now making up over half of daily S&P 500 options trading [8] - There is a potential for the appetite for zero-DTE options to extend into the crypto market, with existing platforms like Deribit already offering such products [9][10] Coinbase and Market Position - Coinbase has solidified its position in the crypto market by acquiring Deribit, the leading crypto derivatives platform, enhancing its global derivatives offerings [11]

Core Insights - The cryptocurrency market experienced a significant downturn, with $1.62 billion in bullish bets lost in 24 hours, leading to Bitcoin dropping 2.3% to below $113,000 and Ethereum falling nearly 7% to just under $4,200, resulting in a total market capitalization decline of almost 4% to about $3.9 trillion [1][2]. Market Dynamics - The decline in crypto prices is attributed to the unwinding of leverage following the Federal Reserve's rate decision, compounded by historically lower trading volumes over the weekend, which exacerbated the market decline [2]. - Despite the downturn in cryptocurrencies, the S&P 500 saw a slight increase of 0.15% on the same day, indicating a divergence between stock and crypto market performance [2]. Market Sentiment - A tone of bearish exhaustion is emerging in the crypto markets, highlighted by Bitcoin's drop below its 50-day moving average of approximately $115,000, signaling potential fatigue among traders [3]. - Bitcoin's recent price movements follow a month of low volatility, even as the stock market reached record highs amid anticipated rate cuts from the Federal Reserve [4]. Price Trends - Following the Fed's rate cut, Bitcoin initially surged to nearly $118,000 but subsequently fell over the weekend, indicating volatility and uncertainty in the crypto market [5]. - The stagnation in Bitcoin's price is also linked to the rise of Bitcoin digital asset treasury companies, which may create skepticism about the sustainability of market optimism regarding their purchasing power [6].

Core Viewpoint - Ramil Palafox, CEO of Praetorian Group International (PGI), pled guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded over 90,000 investors, resulting in significant financial losses [1][4]. Group 1: Company Operations - PGI claimed to conduct Bitcoin trading and promised daily returns of 0.5%-3%, which were unsustainable given the firm's modest operations [2]. - The firm misled investors through a fraudulent website that falsely indicated their investments were growing during 2020-21 [3]. Group 2: Financial Impact - More than $201 million was invested in PGI from December 2019 to October 2021, with investors losing at least $62.6 million due to the scam [4]. - Palafox misappropriated funds for personal luxury expenditures, including approximately $3 million on luxury vehicles and over $6 million on homes [6]. Group 3: Legal Consequences - Palafox faces a potential sentence of up to 40 years in prison and is required to pay restitution of $62.6 million as part of his plea agreement [8].