Cryptocurrencies have jumped to new heights as a series of positive regulatory actions and strategic investments breathe new life into the previously stagnant market.
Bitcoin, reached its highest price since June 2022, surpassing $31,818. With an impressive year-to-date increase of over 90% and a substantial 30% surge in the past month, Bitcoin continues to demonstrate strength. Ether, the second-largest token, experienced its most significant upswing since March, while Ripple XRP skyrocketed 73% following a US judge’s ruling allowing its sale on public crypto exchanges.
Matthew Dibb, Chief Investment Officer at crypto asset manager Astronaut Capital, expressed optimism about the changing regulatory landscape, stating, “Based on recent developments, it appears that the regulatory environment may be moving in a positive direction.”
The recent Ripple ruling, coupled with fraud charges against the former CEO of now-defunct crypto lender Celsius Network, has led to a notable shift in sentiment. Furthermore, the market has been invigorated by the entry of financial giants BlackRock and Fidelity into the cryptocurrency space.
Justin d’Anethan, Head of Business Development in Asia at Keyrock, acknowledged the need for regulatory clarity among Ripple stakeholders and highlighted the potential impact of the court ruling. While the language used in the ruling remains somewhat ambiguous, the determination that XRP tokens sold on public crypto exchanges do not qualify as securities under the law could set a crucial precedent.
This ruling triggered a surge in the value of smaller cryptocurrencies, often referred to as “altcoins.” Tokens such as Solana, Matic, and Stellar experienced impressive gains ranging from 15% to 50%. Additionally, shares of the popular exchange Coinbase soared by 24% to a new yearly high.
Greg Moritz, Chief Operating Officer of crypto hedge fund Alt Tab Capital, emphasised that if centralised crypto projects are not classified as securities, it could pave the way for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to become the primary regulator—a preferred outcome for most members of the crypto community. Moritz believes that forthcoming cases will likely provide further insights into how private crypto offerings will be treated by the courts.
While liquidity remains limited for altcoins, it is gradually improving for Bitcoin and Ether.
Cryptocurrencies are now trading near or above levels previously witnessed during the “crypto winter” triggered by the collapse of the FTX exchange in November of the previous year. FTX’s failure, which resulted in customer losses, provided additional impetus to global regulatory efforts aimed at taming the sector and safeguarding small investors enticed by the allure of quick returns.
The crypto industry still faces hurdles, including China’s near-complete ban on cryptocurrencies and ongoing legal battles involving Coinbase and Binance. Both platforms are actively contesting lawsuits from the SEC, while Binance also faces scrutiny from other regulatory bodies. Nevertheless, the entry of traditional financial institutions into the crypto market, accompanied by substantial investments, has injected new life into the market.
