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The Next Big Thing Amid WBTC Controversy?

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Coinbase indicated plans for a cbBTC against the backdrop of Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), which has become controversial in crypto.

While the product’s details are still unknown, Coinbase appears ready to dominate the market once again.

Coinbase Gains Market Edge On WBTC Controversy

The exchange’s announcement of a cbBTC turned heads, with pre-launch registration already live. Coinbase Layer-2 (L2) network Base hinted that it would run atop its blockchain, making it an alternative Bitcoin on Base, but this remains unclear.

It comes amid the WBTC controversy, following reports that BitGo is transitioning its Wrapped Bitcoin custody to a new multi-jurisdictional model. Wrapped Bitcoin is the brainchild of Kyber, Ren, and BitGo, and its January 2019 launch made WBTC the first token that makes Bitcoin (BTC) compatible with the Ethereum (ETH) network.

As a bridge between the two networks, WBTC provides Bitcoin users access to decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and allows Ethereum applications to gain additional liquidity. Specifically, it acts as collateral, enabling Bitcoin holders to participate in activities like lending, borrowing, margin trading, and yield farming on decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.

Read more: Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC): A Beginner’s Guide

Coinbase deploying its own version of WBTC would be a game changer in the space, especially amid ongoing concerns surrounding the wrapped Bitcoin. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino smelled foul in 2022, sharing in a post on X.

“If I were BitGo, and I believed my own story that every WBTC is backed by 1 BTC, I’d be buying every token I could right now for $0.98! A risk-free 2% return. Unless I knew it wasn’t backed, of course,” Ardoino shared at the time.

As BeInCrypto reported, Tron founder and Huobi Global advisor Justin Sun is embroiled in controversy. There are concerns that Sun will significantly influence WBTC as BitGo adopts a new multi-jurisdictional and multi-institutional custody model. Fears surrounding Sun emerge given the Tron executive’s past sour relationships with crypto projects like TUSD and Huobi’s USDT reserves.

BitGo CEO Mike Belshe anticipated the concerns around Sun ahead of the announcement and attempted to quell the matter. Nevertheless, his engagement notwithstanding, DeFi investors consider removing WBTC as collateral.

cbBTC Could Pass WBTC in Supply, VC Says

As Coinbase looks to capitalize on this confusion, venture capitalist Dan Elitzer says cbBTC is long overdue and makes his predictions. He says cbBTC could pass WBTC’s supply within six months of launch.

“cbBTC was inevitable and super strategic to Coinbase.  Frankly, I am surprised they did not ship it years ago.  Predictions: – 0 fees on mint/redeem – 0 fees to withdraw to Base – Passes WBTC in supply within 6 months of launch (unless acquisition falls through),” Elitzer says.

According to Elitzer, the massive mishandling of WBTC will create a shakeup. This comes as protocols and venues move to support alternative forms of bridged BTC. It will also benefit from more decentralized solutions like tBTC. The VC also observes that no competent DeFi user or risk manager will want to maintain exposure to WBTC under Justin Sun- affiliated management.

Indeed, DeFi platform MakerDAO is already evaluating the potential risks associated with BitGo’s new WBTC custody strategy. 

“Maker is planning to offboard WBTC due to the change in custody from BitGo. Is BitGo going to fumble its insane moat in WBTC?” DeFi dashboard builder at DefiLlama posed rhetoric in a post on X.

Elsewhere, crypto researcher Wei Dai says, “cbBTC is not the endgame.” The researcher anticipates trust-minimized bridging of BTC, citing the total value locked (TVL) on different Ethereum variants on Base.

Read more: Coinbase Review 2024: The Best Crypto Exchange for Beginners?

ETH Variants on Base As Coinbase Plans cbBTC
ETH Variants on Base As Coinbase Plans cbBTC. Source: Wei Dei

Meanwhile, crypto commentator Marty Party says permissioned bridges and permissioned derivatives like Wrapped Bitcoin on Ethereum are risky to crypto.

“They are moving the Bitcoin collateral from BitGo to Bit Global in the next 60 days. Does this mean the $9.45b of WBTC on Ethereum and Base, Aave, MakerDAO, and Compound, and therefore all those loans and corresponding collateralizations L2s will be uncollateralized during this time? Now I would not normally post this but it’s a perfect example of why I stress – Permissioned Bridges and Permissioned Derivatives like Wrapped Bitcoin on Ethereum are not Web3, and are the biggest risk to crypto,” MartyParty expressed.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Bitcoin Bull Run: Crypto Analyst Publishes Guide On How To Know The Market Top

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As the crypto market gears up for a potential bull run in 2025, analyst IonicXBT has shared his comprehensive guide on how to identify the Bitcoin market top in this cycle. The analysts’ guide is based upon the SOPR (Spent Output Profit Ratio), one of the lesser-known but highly useful metrics for analyzing Bitcoin.

IonicXBT Detailed SOPR Metric Guide

IonicXBT on X (formerly twitter) told his 125,000 followers that the SOPR metric has consistently accurately predicted the tops of previous crypto market cycles, citing instances of 2018 and 2021. The SOPR is a metric that tells us whether the average investor in the Bitcoin market is selling their coins at a profit or at a loss right now. 

When the indicator has a value greater than 1, it means that the average holder in the sector is selling their coins at some profit right now. On the other hand, a value under this threshold implies that loss-selling is dominant among the participants. According to the chart he dropped, he seemed to think that Bitcoin’s moving average SOPR has fallen below 1.0, indicating that most spent outputs are being sold at a loss.

Bitcoin bull run 1
Source: X

He further highlighted that the current drop in SOPR indicates that the bottom of the correction is near, suggesting that the market is not yet close. 

Interestingly he urged his followers to remain calm as he emphasized on the significance of SOPR spikes, noting that they often signal market tops as long-term holders lock in profits. He further assured them of his commitment to providing accurate signals for identifying the market top which focuses on real strategies backed by data rather than hype or speculation. 

“But don’t worry, I’ll be the first to give you the signal of the top. No hype, no nonsense, Just real strategies backed by data,” the analyst said.

 

Alternative Guide To Know The Bitcoin Market Top Cycle

While IonicXBT has highlighted the SOPR metric as a valuable tool for predicting market tops, other analysts, such as Kaleo, have shared alternative indicators. Kaleo has presented an inverse Bitcoin chart suggesting that BTC could reach the trendline of his logarithmic growth curve by next year, potentially soaring to a massive price target of around $220,000.

In a recent post, Kaleo expressed growing bullishness, stating, “Alright, I’m giving in. Be more bullish.” Analyzing the inverse chart, he suggests that Bitcoin tends to experience steep rallies a few months after its halving event, when BTC miner rewards are slashed in half.

Bitcoin bull run 2
Source: X

Kaleo believes that Bitcoin will consolidate for a few more days before initiating surges that break through multiple resistance levels. Based on the chart, he appears to predict that Bitcoin will reach new all-time highs by early next month. At the time of this writing, Bitcoin is valued at $62,092, up over 3% for the day. 

Bitcoin price chart from Tradingview.com
BTC price makes a run for $63,000 | Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview.com

Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com



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Crypto Founder Identifies The Best And Worst Time To Be In Bitcoin

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Bitcoin and the rest of the crypto market have been trading sideways for the better part of the year now. However, the tide is starting to turn as there could be a recovery trend for the crypto market very soon. To this end, a crypto founder has identified the best and worst times to be an investor in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Going by his prediction, the worst could be over for Bitcoin, and the market could be for a great time soon.

Best And Worst Time To Be In Bitcoin

Charles Edwards, founder of digital assets-focused hedge fund Capriole Investments, took to X (formerly Twitter), to share when he thinks is the best a worst time to be in Bitcoin. In the post, Edwards attached a screenshot of quarterly returns for Bitcoin, showing the best and worst-performing quarters.

According to the information, the best quarter for Bitcoin is the last quarter of the year, and the worst is the third quarter of the year. Going by this, it means that the Bitcoin price is currently going through its worst-performing quarter. However, this also means that the downtrend could be nearing its end since the month of September is almost over.

The average returns for the third quarter is shown to be +5.39%, the worst of any quarter. The second worst-performing quarter is the second quarter, but even that remains high at +26.89%, while the median returns for the fourth quarter is actually in the negative at -4.64%, an is the only quarter with a negative median return.

In contrast, the fourth quarter has always been bullish, with average returns of +88.84% and median returns of +56.90%. With less than two weeks left to go in the third quarter, Edwards believes that the worst is over. “If you are still here, congratulations. You made it through the worst time to be in Bitcoin. The best lies ahead,” the post read.

BTC Could Jump To New All-Time High In October

Going by the monthly returns for Bitcoin, as depicted on the Coinglass website, Edwards’ forecast that the decline is almost over looks to be correct. The months of October, November, and December have been some of the most bullish months for the coin in history, and this year could be the exact same.

Bitcoin monthly returns
Source: Coinglass

If this trend holds, then the Bitcoin price could be looking at an average increase of around 20% in October. Such a price increase could set the BTC price on a path to a new all-time high. A continuation of the bullish trend would see the Bitcoin price hit a new all-time high by the time the year 2024 is over.

Bitcoin price chart from Tradingview.com
BTC bulls reclaim control of price | Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview.com

Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com



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Is Global Liquidity What Bitcoin Needs to Reach $100,000?

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The Federal Reserve instituted a 50-point rate cut, with promising liquidity conditions for a Bitcoin price spike. However, risks abound with cuts this severe, and crypto profits are far from guaranteed.

Global liquidity is very likely to increase, but this might not equal Bitcoin inflows.

Rate Cuts, Liquidity and Bitcoin

The Federal Reserve has decided on a 50-point rate cut, and Bitcoin’s price has been soaring. Given these and broader market trends, many in the community expect a Bitcoin bull market.

However, rate cuts alone cannot guarantee such favorable market conditions; other factors are also crucial. The key to understanding all of this is global liquidity.

At first glance, Bitcoin’s price over the last few weeks has seemed ponderous, sluggish, and indecisive. Upon a closer look, though, it is actually trending closer than ever before. Raoul Pal, CEO and founder of Global Macro Investor, noted that this correlation was “close, very close” throughout 2024.

Compared to previous years’ data on Global Liquidity (L2) and the price of Bitcoin, this year’s proximity is staggering.

Global M2 and Bitcoin 2024
Correlation of Global Liquidity (M2) and Bitcoin. Source: Raoul Pal

In an exclusive interview with BeInCrypto, Adrian Fritz, Head of Research at 21Shares, described the relationship between cuts and liquidity.

“The upcoming Fed rate cut could lead to short-term Bitcoin price volatility. However, the extent of the cut will play a crucial role in shaping market reactions. A more aggressive 50 bps cut could offer short-term liquidity relief,” he added, with obvious importance for Bitcoin,” Fritz said.

The “more aggressive” rate cut has taken place, and Bitcoin has already responded in kind. The dollar is the global reserve currency, and US rate cuts have well-established impacts on liquidity and market risks. Crypto provides an invaluable reservoir of liquidity for international markets, and this dynamic has only increased.

Quinten Francois, co-founder of WeRate, has noted a trend pointing towards a liquidity spike, and Bitcoin will surely benefit from it. Seems simple, right?

Read More: Bitcoin Halving History: Everything You Need To Know

Global Liquidity Spikes and Bitcoin
Trends Pointing to 2024 Liquidity Spike. Source: Quinten Francois

Dangers in a Volatile Market

Rob Viglione, CEO of Horizen Labs, also discussed these dynamics with BeInCrypto. Like Fritz, he also expected a 25-point rate cut:

“Since a 25 basis point cut is largely expected, major price swings are unlikely, but the direction of travel in the short term will likely be positive as investors move to more volatile assets. In the longer term, lower interest rates will continue to favor risk-on assets like Bitcoin, as investors continue to seek higher returns outside of traditional investments,” Viglione claimed.

However, both underestimated the extent of these cuts. Viglione said that major price swings were unlikely in a 25-point scenario, but cuts are much more severe.

In other words, the market could be set up for a major spike. There are hazards, too, though, that may stand between Bitcoin and a big score.

“A 50-point cut may also heighten concerns about deeper economic challenges or the risk of an impending recession, which could trigger a price pullback. This is especially relevant considering Bitcoin’s recent failure to break through the $60,000 mark and September’s historically poor performance for both Bitcoin and broader markets,” Fritz concluded.

Thankfully, Bitcoin has already broken through $60,000. Bitcoin is viewed, perhaps incorrectly, as a risk-on asset, and lowered interest rates do benefit these. For now, all the conitions seem reasonable to expect a price spike, provided that investor confidence remains high. Nobody can know the future, but we may indeed see $100,000 Bitcoin sooner than we think.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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