Notes 4/23: Ether Prices and Rewards

The first batch of profit-taking from Ethereum’s native token ether’s staking program has ended. Prices for the second largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization rose, briefly pushing past the $2100 mark, after Ethereum’s Shapella upgrade. The upgrade, which enabled withdrawals of staked ether, is the final step in the blockchain’s move to a Proof of Stake… Read More Notes 4/23: Ether Prices and Rewards

Notes 4/7: Low Volatility Bitcoin Price, Tether’s Inflated Market Cap

Labor department data released this morning indicated a slowdown in hiring markets, proof that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike regime is showing results. That should have been good news for cryptocurrency prices because it multiplied the odds that the agency might hold off on another quarter percentage increase at its next meeting and soothe… Read More Notes 4/7: Low Volatility Bitcoin Price, Tether’s Inflated Market Cap

Notes 3/11: Circle’s USDC Loses Peg

USDC, the crypto world’s second biggest stablecoin, has lost its peg due to exposure to Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the bank that liquidated yesterday. The stablecoin’s peg with Tether’s USDT, another dollar-backed stablecoin, fell to as low as 0.86 at cryptocurrency exchange Kraken before recovering. As of this writing, it is still askew at $0.92.… Read More Notes 3/11: Circle’s USDC Loses Peg

Notes 3/9: Ethereum As A Security

In their crackdown on cryptocurrencies, regulators may have found their biggest target yet. The New York Attorney General’s (NYAG) office today filed a case against cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin for an unregistered offering of securities. In its filing, the agency alleged that Ethereum’s ether, the world’s second biggest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, is a security. Just… Read More Notes 3/9: Ethereum As A Security

Notes 12/14: Tether Bumps Up Bitcoin Price, Tether Shorts, and SBF Drama

After mostly vegetating in the $16,000 to $17,000 range for the last month, bitcoin price sprang to life yesterday. Yesterday’s announcement of lower-than-expected reading of inflation figures was said to have boosted the cryptocurrency’s price. The positive sentiment has carried over to today and bitcoin broke past the $18,000 barrier for the first time since… Read More Notes 12/14: Tether Bumps Up Bitcoin Price, Tether Shorts, and SBF Drama

Notes 9/8: Ethereum’s Merge and Democratization, Ethereum’s Trends

One of the benefits being touted about Ethereum’s Merge is that it will “democratize” the blockchain by making it possible for anyone to participate in its network. That claim about the event, which will transition the blockchain from an energy-intensive Proof of Work (PoW) mining to the Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, is similar… Read More Notes 9/8: Ethereum’s Merge and Democratization, Ethereum’s Trends

What Will September Bring for Bitcoin and Crypto Markets?

For Bitcoin and the larger crypto ecosystem, this summer wasn’t a particularly warm one. In fact, a series of bankruptcies and scandals by major players crashed the ecosystem and prices plummeted. Bitcoin price has fallen by roughly 13% from the start of August and the overall market cap for cryptocurrencies declined by 8.1% to $992… Read More What Will September Bring for Bitcoin and Crypto Markets?

More Crypto Funds Closed Shop Than Launched In First Quarter: Report

In yet another sign that the party might be coming to an end in crypto markets, more funds devoted exclusively to cryptocurrencies closed in the first quarter of 2022 than were launched in the same period. According to a new report from research firm Crypto Fund Research (CFR), only 11 new crypto funds were launched… Read More More Crypto Funds Closed Shop Than Launched In First Quarter: Report

Questions Swirl After Algorithmic Stablecoin Terra Loses, Regains Price Peg

Not much news takes place in mainstream markets over the weekend because they are closed. But there is always plenty of action in the 24X7 cryptocurrency markets. The latest drama occurred over the past weekend and concerned the price volatility of algorithmic stablecoin Terra or UST. The stablecoin has been a center of news coverage… Read More Questions Swirl After Algorithmic Stablecoin Terra Loses, Regains Price Peg

How Will Fed Rate Hikes Affect Bitcoin Price?

The Federal Reserve’s announcement of a 0.25% increase in interest rates (and a promise of further hikes down the road) is expected to influence future price trajectories of assets. How do the rate hikes affect Bitcoin price? Immediately after the hikes were announced, Bitcoin price jumped by 4% overnight. Ethereum’s ether, the second-biggest cryptocurrency by… Read More How Will Fed Rate Hikes Affect Bitcoin Price?

Bitcoin Ownership is Still Concentrated and 90% of Transactions On Its Blockchain Do Not Have Economic Value: Study

About 90% of transaction volume on Bitcoin’s blockchain does not have much economic value and the cryptocurrency’s ownership is concentrated among relatively few investors. These are the results of a new study published by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the London School of Economics (LSE). According to the authors, 90% of… Read More Bitcoin Ownership is Still Concentrated and 90% of Transactions On Its Blockchain Do Not Have Economic Value: Study