Market
Pantera Capital MP Reveals 5 Reasons For Bullish Outlook
NEAR, the native token of the Layer 1 (L1) blockchain Near Protocol, has surged to a one-month high after breaking out of a previous downtrend that saw the token hit a low of $4 on July 5. Currently trading at $5.93, NEAR has recorded a substantial 20% gain over the past week, propelling it to the 19th position among the top 100 cryptocurrencies.
This positive momentum has drawn the attention of venture capital firm Pantera Capital, whose Managing Partner, Paul Veradittakit, has shared several reasons for the firm’s bullish stance on NEAR’s protocol and its growth potential.
Scalability Solution Amidst Bitcoin And Ethereum Challenges
Veradittakit took to social media on Thursday to highlight NEAR’s value proposition within the blockchain ecosystem.
Veradittakit noted that while Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) have been at the forefront of the crypto technology “revolution,” with Bitcoin establishing itself as a store of value and Ethereum supporting smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps), both face “challenges” related to transaction scalability.
According to Pantera’s MP, this is where NEAR Protocol plays a key role in addressing these scalability issues while prioritizing developer engagement and user experience by offering a scalable and user-centric blockchain solution.
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NEAR distinguishes itself with its Thresholded Proof of Stake (TPoS) system and Nightshade sharding, which increases scalability and decentralization. These advancements have paved the way for NEAR to achieve significant milestones, such as reaching $335 million in Total Value Locked (TVL), an increase of 547% in just six months.
According to Veradittakit, such growth demonstrates NEAR’s traction and strategic effectiveness in the market. Furthermore, NEAR’s market presence is fortified by key metrics, including a 42% quarter-on-quarter increase in daily active addresses, a surge in transactions from 35 million to over 220 million, and a substantial rise in monthly active users from 2.9 million to 15 million.
NEAR And Crypto AI Integration
Notably, NEAR is also positioning itself as a leader in the emerging crypto artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, which has gained significant traction especially over the past year with surges of firms like Nvidia.
The NEAR team has emphasized the integration of AI through an open and decentralized framework, which places user control over data and assets at the forefront.
This has garnered recognition, as NEAR has been announced as part of Grayscale’s AI Fund. The fund’s component assets and weightings include Bittensor at 2.92%, Filecoin at 30.59%, Livepeer at 8.64%, NEAR at 32.99%, and Render at 24.86%.
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Lastly, Veradittakit emphasized that NEAR’s success can be attributed to the leadership of its co-founders, Illia Polosukhin and Alexander Skidanov, as Polosukhin’s expertise in AI and Skidanov’s engineering understanding has been “instrumental” in developing NEAR’s infrastructure.
Despite reaching its monthly high of $5.93 and a substantial 300% gain year-to-date, the token will need to break above the $8.28 level in the short term to break out of its downtrend structure.
However, with these advancements and the adoption of AI-related tokens, NEAR may be poised for further gains throughout the year, helped along by the broader market’s recovery.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Market
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Price Up, Leads Daily Gains
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) price has risen more than 10% in the last 24 hours, surpassing the $10 billion market cap and signaling renewed bullish momentum. The recent surge has brought BCH closer to key resistance levels, indicating the potential for further gains if the uptrend strengthens.
However, indicators like the RSI and ADX show that while the trend is improving, it is not yet fully strong. Whether BCH can sustain its upward momentum or face a pullback will depend on how it navigates critical resistance and support levels in the coming days.
BCH Current Uptrend Is Getting Stronger
BCH currently has an ADX of 19.31, up from 12 just a day ago. This increase indicates that the strength of the trend is gradually gaining momentum after being weak.
However, since the ADX is still below 25, it suggests that the uptrend has not yet reached a strong or sustained level of trend strength.
The ADX measures the strength of a trend, with values above 25 indicating a strong trend and below 20 indicating a weak or uncertain trend. While Bitcoin Cash is currently in an uptrend, the ADX at 19.31 suggests that the trend is still in its early stages of strengthening.
If the ADX continues to rise above 25, it could confirm a stronger uptrend, but for now, Bitcoin Cash price movement remains cautious, with room for further development.
Bitcoin Cash Is Not In The Overbought Zone Anymore
Bitcoin Cash has an RSI of 64.5, down from over 70 just a day ago. This decline suggests that while the asset is still experiencing bullish momentum, the intensity of buying pressure has started to decrease.
The drop below 70 takes BCH out of the overbought zone, indicating a more balanced market sentiment.
The RSI measures the speed and magnitude of price changes, with values above 70 indicating overbought conditions and below 30 signaling oversold levels. At 64.5, BCH remains in bullish territory, which supports the ongoing uptrend.
However, the slight decline in RSI could mean the pace of gains is moderating, potentially leading to BCH price consolidation before any further upward movement.
BCH Price Prediction: Will a New Surge Occur Soon?
If BCH maintains its current uptrend and gains additional momentum, it could continue its rise after climbing more than 10% in the last 24 hours.
This strength could push BCH price to test the resistance at $536.9. Breaking this level would signal a continuation of bullish momentum and could attract further buying interest.
On the other hand, if the uptrend fades away and reverses, BCH price could retrace to test the nearest support levels at $424 and $403. If these supports fail to hold, the price could fall further to $364, representing a potential 27% correction.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Custodia Bank to Retrench Staff Again Amid Regulatory Heat
Wyoming-based crypto bank Custodia is reportedly deliberating more layoffs as it braces for ongoing regulatory scrutiny under the Biden administration. The decision comes as the crypto sector faces unprecedented challenges, including de-bankings and increasing pressure from US regulatory agencies.
Meanwhile, cryptocurrency market participants remain hopeful of a better regulatory environment amid expectations of policy shifts with the incoming Donald Trump administration.
Custodia Banks Plans More Layoffs Amid Regulatory Pressure
Custodia Bank might enact more layoffs after retrenching 25% of its staff in August. This comes as the digital asset-focused bank continues to devote resources to its ongoing lawsuit with the Federal Reserve (Fed), which denied the lender a master account last year.
“Fox Business has learned that Wyoming-based crypto bank Custodia Bank will implement further layoffs in order to preserve capital,” Fox Business correspondent Eleanor Terrett reported.
The bank did not immediately respond to BeInCrypto’s request for comment on the supposed layoffs. Early in 2023, Custodia Bank was denied a master account, which would give it access to the Fed’s liquidity facilities. The lawsuit challenges this denial.
Custodia Bank has been trying to conserve capital as it continues its legal battle against the Fed. During its last layoffs three months ago, the company’s founder and CEO Caitlin Long attributed the retrenchments to “right-sizing.” She said it was necessary to maintain operations while preserving capital during the lawsuit against the Fed.
Long also indicated that the efforts could continue “until after Operation Choke Point 2.0 ends,” referring to the alleged ongoing crackdown on digital assets under the Biden administration. Operation Choke Point was the name of an Obama-era effort that “choked off” high-risk industries such as payday lending, gambling, and firearms from banking access.
“I’m incredibly proud of the Custodia team, the services we’re building for our customers and our resilience in the face of repeated de-bankings due to no fault of our own. I especially thank Custodia’s customers and shareholders who have helped us continue the fight for the durability of banking access for the law-abiding US crypto industry,” Terrett added, citing Long.
Noteworthy, oral arguments in the lawsuit will take place on January 21. This will be the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration, following his recent win.
Regulatory Pressures Intensify But There’s Hope for Change Under Trump
Custodia is not alone in struggling against regulatory pressure. The crypto industry at large has recently faced mounting regulatory challenges. High-profile companies like Consensys have also recently announced significant layoffs.
As BeInCrypto reported in late October, the blockchain software firm behind Ethereum infrastructure tools like MetaMask revealed it was cutting 20% of its workforce. Its CEO, Joe Lubin, cited mounting pressure from the US SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), among other uncertainties in the regulatory space.
“The broader macroeconomic conditions over the past year and ongoing regulatory uncertainty have created broad challenges for our industry, especially for US-based companies,” Lubin shared.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has been accused of taking an increasingly aggressive stance toward the crypto industry. Among the accusations include enforcing stringent banking restrictions and debankings. Nevertheless, Trump’s recent win and upcoming inauguration reignited hope within the crypto sector for a more supportive regulatory environment.
The hope hinges on the delivery of Trump’s crypto blueprint. Experts believe Trump’s pro-business stance could revive the industry by easing regulatory pressures on crypto.
Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, has also expressed optimism about a potential shift in regulatory attitudes. Armstrong recently urged the next SEC chair to drop “frivolous cases” against crypto firms and issue a public apology. He slammed the current SEC composition for what he views as overly aggressive enforcement, calling out Gary Gensler.
“The next SEC chair should withdraw all frivolous cases and issue an apology to the American people. It would not undo the damage done to the country, but it would start the process of restoring trust in the SEC as an institution,” Armstrong posted.
Still, Custodia’s ongoing lawsuit is a symbol of the crypto industry’s fight for legitimacy and fair treatment within the financial sector. While the industry’s outlook remains uncertain in the short term, there is cautious optimism that the incoming Trump administration could bring relief to embattled crypto firms.
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 Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
As BNB Remains Above $600, Can the Price Climb Higher?
Binance Coin (BNB) has stayed above $600 since November 8 but has struggled to retest $700 or near its all-time high.
This stagnation has left many BNB holders disappointed, raising the question: can BNB reach a new peak?
Binance Coin Experiences Low Volatility, Falling Interest
While BNB trades around $612, the volatility around it appears to be the reason why it has remained above $600 but has yet to make another substantial price increase.
When an asset is described as volatile, it means its price experiences significant fluctuations within a short timeframe. High volatility signals greater risk due to unpredictable price swings, but it also offers the potential for higher rewards.
Therefore, if buying pressure increases during high volatility, the asset’s price might increase significantly. If this volatility comes during high selling pressure, the price might tumble significantly.
According to Santiment, BNB’s one-day volatility has declined from its recent peak, suggesting reduced price fluctuations. This drop in volatility could make it difficult for BNB to achieve a notable breakout above the $600 mark, as the market may lack the momentum needed for a significant move.
In addition, Open Interest (OI), a metric that tracks the level of speculative activity around a cryptocurrency, has declined. High OI usually signals increased capital inflows into contracts, often indicating strong buying pressure capable of driving prices upward.
Conversely, a drop in OI reflects reduced liquidity in the market, often associated with selling pressure and a potential price decline. For BNB, the OI has remained relatively stagnant since November 19, indicating that traders are hesitant to inject additional liquidity or take on new contracts.
Further, the OI is notably lower at $532.08 million than on November 14. This lack of speculative activity indicates reduced market momentum, reinforcing the likelihood that BNB’s price will struggle to break above the $600 threshold.
BNB Price Prediction: Drop to $551 Likely
Similar to Open Interest, BNB’s price has followed a consistent trend since July, repeatedly facing resistance around $612. This indicates persistent efforts by bears to prevent the cryptocurrency from challenging its $724 all-time high.
Currently, with BNB trading near the same resistance level, a decline is possible. Historical patterns suggest that if the coin fails to break through, it could retrace to $551, as it did previously.
Similar to Open Interest, BNB’s price has followed a consistent trend since July, repeatedly facing resistance around $612. This indicates persistent efforts by bears to prevent the cryptocurrency from challenging its $724 all-time high.
However, a surge in volatility paired with strong buying pressure could challenge this outlook. In such a scenario, BNB might not stop at holding above $600 but also climb toward $660—or even retest the $724 high.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
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