Latest news with #LVRGResearch
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Solana Breaks $200 as Jito's BAM Draws Bullish Bets
Solana (SOL) surged past the $200 mark for the first time since March, as network player Jito introduced the Block Assembly Marketplace (BAM), a move that some observers said boosted investor interest in SOL. The token jumped nearly 9% in the past 24 hours, peaking at $203 before slight profit-taking. SOL's rally was backed by strong flows into derivatives, with the SOL CD20 product posting an 8.87% gain and volume nearly tripling to 4.87 million units, per CoinDesk Analytics. The breakout followed the announcement of BAM, a new high-performance block-building architecture developed by Jito Labs and the Jito Foundation. Scheduled to go live in the coming weeks, BAM introduces a dedicated layer for transaction sequencing, promising faster execution, minimized MEV, and programmable control over blockspace. 'Solana surged past an important price level at $200 after the announcement of the Block Assembly Marketplace, which would create a new system for transaction processing,' shared Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research, in a note to CoinDesk. 'Investors were bullish as the development would greatly enhance the efficiency of Solana transactions with more privacy and flexibility across the network.''Traders believe that Solana has been oversold as developers continue to build on the blockchain despite the downfall of the memecoin market. We're optimistic that Solana can rise higher as an innovative hub with new opportunities for developers and traders,' Ruck added. At a technical level, BAM relies on a network of scheduler nodes using Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) to privately sequence transactions before they reach validators. This means the use of nodes that privately decide the order of transactions before they hit the main Solana network, helping avoid front-running and ensuring fairness. Additionally, BAM introduces a plugin system that allows developers to create custom rules for sorting transactions, whether that involves prioritizing specific types of trades, bundling orders, or charging for access. In short, blockspace becomes programmable, and anyone building on Solana can now earn money by shaping how that space is used. Meanwhile, strength in SOL stems from an increase in institutional inflows into SOL investment products hit $39 million, with pre-commitments to the proposed REX-Osprey SOL ETF now totaling over $73 million. Data from SoSoValue shows that 2.95 million SOL, worth approximately $531 million, have been accumulated by corporate wallets so far in July. SOL is now up more than 33% in July, outperforming both bitcoin and ether. And technical improvements, such as the rollout of BAM, may continue to boost tailwinds.
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Shanghai regulator explores stablecoin policy amid China crypto ban
HONG KONG: A Shanghai regulator said it held a meeting this week for local government officials to consider strategic responses to stablecoins and digital currencies - a marked shift in tone for China where crypto trading is banned. The Thursday meeting was organised by the Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and follows calls by experts and major companies in China to develop a yuan-pegged stablecoin. We need to have 'greater sensitivity to emerging technologies and enhanced research into digital currencies,' He Qing, the regulator's director, told the meeting according to a post on the body's official WeChat account. Photos of the meeting showed some 60-70 attendees. Shanghai is China's main international financial hub and often leads pilot programmes for regulatory change. 'Given China's strong fintech ecosystem, it has the potential to be a key player in shaping the future of blockchain-based payments,' said Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research. Blockchain-based stablecoins - which are typically pegged to a fiat currency and offer faster and cheaper transactions - have gained much momentum worldwide. One estimate by ARK Investment Management puts the transaction value of stablecoins globally last year at $15.6 trillion, surpassing that of Visa. It noted that the value per transaction tends to be much higher. In the U.S., where the legal framework is more developed, more and more companies such as Amazon and Walmart are looking at launching stablecoins. In Asia, South Korea's new government has pledged to allow companies to introduce won-based stablecoins and develop the necessary infrastructure, though the central bank has cautioned that it should be a gradual adoption. E-commerce firm and fintech giant Ant Group are urging China's central bank to authorise yuan-based stablecoins to counter the growing sway of U.S. dollar-linked cryptocurrencies, sources have said. The companies plan to apply for stablecoin licenses in Hong Kong, where stablecoin legislation is scheduled to take effect on August 1. HURDLES At the Shanghai meeting, a policy expert from Guotai Haitong Securities spoke about the history, types and characteristics of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, and analysed global regulatory frameworks and strategic approaches, the regulator's post said. The expert explained the opportunities and challenges facing stablecoins and offered policy suggestions for digital currency development, the post added. Separately, Yang Tao, the deputy director of the think tank National Institution for Finance and Development, said this week that China should explore the issuance of yuan-based stablecoins in the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone and in Hong Kong simultaneously. Any change in China may not come easily, with the country's capital controls likely to be a key hurdle to the development of stablecoins, market participants have said. The central bank's governor Pan Gongsheng also said last month that the boom in digital currencies and stablecoins poses huge challenges to financial regulation. Mainland China banned cryptocurrency trading and mining in 2021 due to concerns about the stability of the financial system. While the debate around stablecoins in China has heated up of late, the outlook for other cryptocurrencies is less clear. Outside mainland China, non-stablecoin digital currencies continue to increase in popularity with bitcoin climbing to an all-time high above $118,000 on Friday. - Reuters
The Star
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
In big shift, Shanghai regulator mulls policy responses to stablecoins and cryptocurrencies
HONG KONG: A Shanghai regulator said it held a meeting this week for local government officials to consider strategic responses to stablecoins and digital currencies - a marked shift in tone for China where crypto trading is banned. The Thursday meeting was organised by the Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and follows calls by experts and major companies in China to develop a yuan-pegged stablecoin. We need to have "greater sensitivity to emerging technologies and enhanced research into digital currencies," He Qing, the regulator's director, told the meeting according to a post on the body's official WeChat account. Photos of the meeting showed some 60-70 attendees. Shanghai is China's main international financial hub and often leads pilot programmes for regulatory change. "Given China's strong fintech ecosystem, it has the potential to be a key player in shaping the future of blockchain-based payments," said Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research. Blockchain-based stablecoins - which are typically pegged to a fiat currency and offer faster and cheaper transactions - have gained much momentum worldwide. One estimate by ARK Investment Management puts the transaction value of stablecoins globally last year at $15.6 trillion, surpassing that of Visa. It noted that the value per transaction tends to be much higher. In the U.S., where the legal framework is more developed, more and more companies such as Amazon and Walmart are looking at launching stablecoins. In Asia, South Korea's new government has pledged to allow companies to introduce won-based stablecoins and develop the necessary infrastructure, though the central bank has cautioned that it should be a gradual adoption. E-commerce firm and fintech giant Ant Group are urging China's central bank to authorise yuan-based stablecoins to counter the growing sway of U.S. dollar-linked cryptocurrencies, sources have said. The companies plan to apply for stablecoin licenses in Hong Kong, where stablecoin legislation is scheduled to take effect on August 1. HURDLES At the Shanghai meeting, a policy expert from Guotai Haitong Securities spoke about the history, types and characteristics of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, and analysed global regulatory frameworks and strategic approaches, the regulator's post said. The expert explained the opportunities and challenges facing stablecoins and offered policy suggestions for digital currency development, the post added. Separately, Yang Tao, the deputy director of the think tank National Institution for Finance and Development, said this week that China should explore the issuance of yuan-based stablecoins in the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone and in Hong Kong simultaneously. Any change in China may not come easily, with the country's capital controls likely to be a key hurdle to the development of stablecoins, market participants have said. The central bank's governor Pan Gongsheng also said last month that the boom in digital currencies and stablecoins poses huge challenges to financial regulation. Mainland China banned cryptocurrency trading and mining in 2021 due to concerns about the stability of the financial system. While the debate around stablecoins in China has heated up of late, the outlook for other cryptocurrencies is less clear. Outside mainland China, non-stablecoin digital currencies continue to increase in popularity with bitcoin climbing to an all-time high above $118,000 on Friday. - Reuters
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bitcoin Nears $108K as Fed Rate Cut Bets Rise; Traders Eye Ether, Solana, Cardano
Bitcoin BTC is back near $108,000, marking a full recovery from last week's dip to six figures driven by Middle east tensions, as macro signals turn risk-on and crypto bulls regain technical footing. The market is now betting on a convergence of two trends: dovish Fed commentary and retail's accelerating rotation into digital assets, traders say. 'Crypto will continue its bullish trend,' said Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research. 'Institutional purchases are picking up, and Jerome Powell's comments hinting at rate cuts have flipped investor sentiment quickly.' Powell this week said rate adjustments remain on the table, contingent on successful trade deals and softening inflation, words that markets took as code for a late-2025 pivot. At press time, bitcoin was trading over $107,800, up 1.6% in the last 24 hours. Ether ETH is holding at $2,480 with a 1.8% gain. Solana's SOL SOL, dogecoin DOGE, XRP XRP and BNB Chain's BNB BNB showed gains under 1%, but could be next to move if BTC and ETH prices further recover. FxPro's Alex Kuptsikevich said that the overall market capitalization had previously dipped below its 200-day moving average and rebounded sharply, 'confirming that level as new support.' Bitcoin also reclaimed its 50-day average, signaling that momentum may accelerate if sentiment holds, he noted, adding that BTC remains about 5% below its recent highs and is lagging behind traditional tech benchmarks, such as the Nasdaq 100, which has just hit fresh all-time highs. 'If crypto-related equities maintain this pace, they may soon catch up with traditional finance,' he said. Meanwhile, underlying demand is strengthening. eToro data shows U.S. retail investors are increasing crypto exposure amid a weakening dollar and rising global uncertainty, with 58% reportedly rebalancing their portfolios to favor digital assets. According to CoinShares, 89% of current holders plan to increase crypto investments in 2025, while 75% of respondents are actively exploring entry points to the market.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bitcoin Traders Are Watching These Levels for Cues on Downside Risk
Crypto markets are giving no return opportunities for intraday traders, but long-term market watchers say the market is in a coiled spot and key levels are to be monitored for moves on either side. Bitcoin BTC hovered just above $105,000 on Wednesday, showing a steady rise from earlier in the week. Ether ETH, Cardano's ADA ADA, dogecoin DOGE and XRP XRP showed returns under 1%. Overall market capitalization declined 1.8%. Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research, said the market's shift in sentiment reflected a sense that trade tensions, and that the drag on risk assets may have been priced in. 'While the U.S. economy shows signs of contraction, investors are optimistic on tech, especially on the future outlook of Bitcoin as institutions continue to integrate further with the industry,' Ruck said, adding that despite inflation risks and uncertain macro policies, the crypto market's long-term trajectory remains positive. Bitcoin's price action over the past week has been telling. According to data from Fineqia research analyst Matteo Greco, BTC ended last week week around $105,700, down 3.1% from the previous week's close near $109,050. This came as BTC spot ETFs saw $150 million in net outflows in the the first negative print after six consecutive weeks of inflows. 'BTC reserves on exchanges continue to decline, while reserves for major altcoins such as ETH and XRP have stabilised,' Greco wrote in an email to CoinDesk. Stablecoin reserves on exchanges have reached their highest levels in years, he added, a sign that investors may be preparing to deploy fresh capital rather than exiting the market. Greco added that bitcoin's market-value-to-realised-value (MVRV) ratio currently stands at around 2.2, below the historical top threshold of 3.7. That suggests we're in the late stages of the cycle — but not at the peak yet. Bitunix analysts pointed to the Fed's dovish comments as a short-term boost to risk appetite, though they warned that dollar volatility could disrupt flows. 'Bitcoin's short-term key level is at $105,000,' they said. 'If it can hold above this level, it may continue to rise. Conversely, if the market shifts back to risk aversion, the key support level at $102,700 must be defended.' As such, analysts say that if Bitcoin's dominance begins to fade, historically a sign of late-cycle rotation, altcoins could gain momentum, marking the later innings of a bull market. With stablecoin reserves rising and institutions continuing to integrate Bitcoin into their strategies, traders are bracing for what could be a volatile but potentially lucrative summer. We're hoping that the positive trend for the crypto markets continues for the long run,' LVRG's Ruck said.
