Investors Withdraw Over 200,000 BTC from Exchanges in Two Months
According to Odaily, recent data from HODL15Capital reveals that investors have withdrawn a significant amount of Bitcoin from exchanges over the past 60 days. A total of 204,772 BTC has been moved out of these platforms, indicating a notable shift in investor behaviour.
Bitcoin(BTC) Drops Below 104,000 USDT with a 2.92% Decrease in 24 Hours
On Dec 18, 2024, 14:41 PM(UTC). According to Binance Market Data, Bitcoin has dropped below 104,000 USDT and is now trading at 103,986.820313 USDT, with a narrowed 2.92% decrease in 24 hours.
Bitcoin(BTC) Drops Below 104,000 USDT with a 2.92% Decrease in 24 Hours
On Dec 18, 2024, 14:41 PM(UTC). According to Binance Market Data, Bitcoin has dropped below 104,000 USDT and is now trading at 103,986.820313 USDT, with a narrowed 2.92% decrease in 24 hours.
Polygon Community Rejects Proposal for Stablecoin Reserve Deployment
According to BlockBeats, on December 18, the Polygon community members have rejected an initial proposal, also known as a pre-PIP, which suggested deploying over $1 billion in stablecoin reserves to generate yield. This proposal was put forward by Web3 risk provider Allez Labs in collaboration with DeFi protocols Morpho and Yearn. The aim was to leverage approximately $1.3 billion in DAI, USDC, and USDT reserves within the PoS Chain bridge to earn returns.
Polygon stated that community members expressed concerns over security issues and the lack of an opt-in mechanism for affected users, leading to doubts about the proposal's feasibility. Given the community's reservations, it appears unlikely that the proposal will be approved. However, this does not preclude Polygon from exploring innovative or even bold ideas in the future.
Bitcoin's Security Unlikely To Be Compromised By Quantum Computers This Decade
According to Odaily, Ki Young Ju, the founder and CEO of CryptoQuant, recently expressed his views on the X platform regarding the security of Bitcoin against quantum computing threats. He stated that it is improbable for quantum computers to crack Bitcoin within this decade, and it remains unlikely even in the next decade. Ju emphasized the importance of not being misled by individuals who lack understanding or by unfounded fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) surrounding the topic.
Ju's comments come amid ongoing discussions about the potential impact of quantum computing on cryptographic systems. As quantum technology advances, concerns have been raised about its ability to break current encryption methods, which could pose a threat to digital currencies like Bitcoin. However, Ju reassures that such a scenario is not imminent, urging the community to focus on factual information rather than speculative fears.
The discourse around quantum computing and its implications for blockchain technology continues to evolve. While some experts acknowledge the theoretical risks, they also highlight the significant technological hurdles that must be overcome before quantum computers can pose a real threat to Bitcoin's security. Ju's remarks aim to provide clarity and confidence to those invested in the cryptocurrency space, encouraging them to rely on informed perspectives rather than sensationalized narratives.
How DeFi Protocols Generate Revenue and Why It’s Important
TL;DR
Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols offer decentralized financial services via smart contracts and charge fees for those services. When a DeFi project’s revenue increases, it attracts more users and liquidity.
Introduction
Choosing between different DeFi protocols can take plenty of time and effort. Many seem similar, so how do we know which one is the best for generating passive income from our crypto? An essential step is understanding a platform’s revenue and how much of it is shared with its users. You can then use this information to make an informed decision on where to invest your assets.
How DeFi Protocols Function
Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols offer a range of financial services that operate via smart contracts. For example, a DeFi protocol could offer decentralized exchange services, loans, and liquidity pools, all run via smart contracts on a blockchain. All you need to access and use these services is a wallet and some crypto to cover your transaction fees.
There’s almost no limit to the financial services DeFi can offer. You can access exchange services, money markets, derivatives, and savings products in the DeFi world. All of these services are permissionless and disintermediated in nature.
How DeFi Protocols Generate Revenue
DeFi services’ operating costs come from the computing power needed to run smart contracts. Users typically cover this amount with the gas fees they pay. However, there are also other additional costs for services such as development and maintenance. DeFi protocols charge fees for their services to cover these costs and generate a profit.
Decentralized exchanges (DEXs)
Users swapping tokens on a DEX must pay a fee to utilize its services. For example, a trade may incur a 0.3% fee for the DEX operator's treasury or liquidity reserves.
Lending protocols
Users who borrow from a lending protocol must pay a borrowing fee. Some of this will go to paying the liquidity provider (other users who have provided capital), while the rest will go to the protocol.
Why Revenue Is Important
Beyond covering a protocol’s costs, improved revenue and profits can also benefit stakers. DeFi projects often maintain a revenue-sharing model via their governance token holders. They also may use revenues to increase APRs for stakers or liquidity providers on their platforms.
For DEXs, higher revenue can attract more users and in turn, improve liquidity. It can also boost APY for yield aggregators if they benefit from combining users’ staked funds for “bribes” as network validators.
To summarize, we can describe a project’s inflows and revenues in a circular fashion:
Popular projects attract liquidity, which attracts more users and forms a virtuous cycle.
Higher trading traffic and liquidity lead to lower slippage and faster execution.
More users improve legitimate trading volume, which leads to more revenue.
Revenue is shared with staked users, which provides more liquidity.
This loop also attracts users who want to engage in yield farming. Those looking to invest their money can increase their chances of maximizing their gains with compound interest. The more successful a project is, the more liquidity and, in turn, the more yield farmers it will attract. This process generates more revenue that can be used to improve a protocol’s offering.
How to See How Much DeFi Protocols Generate
DeFi operates on-chain, which means almost all transactional information — depending on the blockchain used — is verifiable. Blockchain explorer is easily accessible by everyone, but that doesn’t mean we can always understand the extent of a protocol’s revenue. There are a number of blockchain data aggregators that simplify the task so you can better understand each protocol’s revenue.
With a Google search and some research from trusted sources, you should be able to find metrics, revenues, and stats on DeFi protocols’ revenues. These figures can help you make more informed investment decisions.
Closing Thoughts
Revenue is a crucial metric to study, whether you’re looking at a project’s real yield or basic fundamentals. You can wisely invest only if you understand how a protocol generates and shares its revenue. You can further understand the topic by diving into DeFi 2.0, yield farming, and general financial topics on Binance Academy.
Further Reading
What Is Yield Farming in Decentralized Finance (DeFi)? | Binance Academy
What Is DeFi 2.0 and Why Does it Matter? | Binance Academy
Introduction to DeFi | Binance Academy
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9 of Top 10 ETFs by AUM in 2024 Are Crypto-Related: The ETF Store President
According to Odaily, Nate Geraci, President of The ETF Store, has highlighted a significant trend in the exchange-traded fund (ETF) market for 2024. This year has seen the launch of 670 ETFs, with nine out of the top ten by assets under management (AUM) being related to cryptocurrencies. This dominance underscores the growing influence and integration of digital assets in the financial sector.The prominence of cryptocurrency ETFs in the rankings is notable, especially considering the inclusion of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) in the list, which expands the top rankings to include the leading eleven ETFs. This trend reflects a broader acceptance and interest in cryptocurrency investments among institutional and retail investors alike. The increasing number of crypto-related ETFs suggests a shift in investment strategies, as more investors seek exposure to digital currencies through regulated financial products. As the ETF landscape continues to evolve, the strong performance and popularity of cryptocurrency ETFs indicate a potential shift in market dynamics. This trend may influence future ETF launches and the strategic decisions of asset managers aiming to capitalize on the growing demand for crypto investments. The integration of digital assets into mainstream financial products is likely to continue shaping the investment landscape in the coming years.
Sushi Treasury Diversification Proposal Opens for Voting
According to BlockBeats, a new proposal for the diversification of Sushi's treasury is now open for voting, as per data from Snapshot on December 7. Sushi CEO Jared Grey has outlined that currently, 100% of Sushi's treasury assets are held in SUSHI tokens. The proposed diversification strategy aims to reallocate 70% of the treasury holdings into stablecoins, 20% into blue-chip assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), and the remaining 10% into DeFi tokens like AAVE.If implemented, the strategy will involve systematically liquidating the current SUSHI holdings within a specified timeframe to minimize market impact. The proposal suggests employing an average cost strategy during the sell-off and executing sales under favorable market conditions. The primary objectives of this proposal include reducing volatility by lessening the impact of SUSHI on the treasury's value, enhancing liquidity by increasing the liquidity of operational and strategic assets, and generating yield through opportunities in staking, lending, or liquidity provision.As of the time of reporting, the proposal has received votes from three addresses, totaling 270,000 SUSHI, all in favor of the proposal.
Cardano Founder Criticizes Global Impact Of Operation Chokepoint 2.0
According to Odaily, Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has recently expressed concerns about Operation Chokepoint 2.0, describing it as a global and highly targeted attack on the cryptocurrency industry. Hoskinson highlighted the long-term economic and psychological damage caused by this initiative and called for unity within the industry to advocate for new legislation that would prevent such activities from occurring again.
Hoskinson shared his views on the global impact of Operation Chokepoint 2.0 on the platform X, emphasizing that the operation represents a systematic approach involving harassment, fines, audits, and the denial of services to cryptocurrency businesses worldwide. His comments align with those of pro-cryptocurrency attorney John Deaton, who has suggested that the Trump administration should investigate the operation. Hoskinson's remarks underscore the need for the cryptocurrency community to come together to address these challenges and work towards a more secure and supportive regulatory environment.
If Bitcoin were to drop to $1, it would represent a complete collapse of the cryptocurrency market. Here’s a detailed analysis of why this scenario is nearly impossible:
1. Bitcoin's Supply and Market Cap
Bitcoin has a hard cap of 21 million coins, with approximately 19 million already mined. Its price is a reflection of its market cap divided by circulating supply. Currently, Bitcoin's market cap is around $1.8 trillion, and a drop to $1 would shrink this to just $19 million. This would effectively erase the value held by millions of investors, institutions, and even governments.
2. Global Adoption and Use Cases
Bitcoin is widely adopted as a store of value, a hedge against inflation, and a medium of exchange in some cases. Major corporations like Tesla and institutional investors such as MicroStrategy hold significant Bitcoin reserves. Countries like El Salvador and the Central African Republic have adopted Bitcoin as legal tender. For Bitcoin to fall to $1, all these stakeholders would need to divest simultaneously, which is highly improbable.
3. Institutional Involvement
Institutional adoption has added a layer of stability to Bitcoin’s price. Banks, investment funds, and payment processors have integrated Bitcoin, providing a strong support system. Such entities wouldn’t abandon Bitcoin unless it was rendered entirely obsolete by technology or regulation.
4. Technological and Network Effects
Bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology is secure and decentralized, providing an immutable ledger for transactions. The network effect, where the value of Bitcoin increases as more people use it, has solidified its position. A $1 price would suggest that the network has been abandoned or its technology rendered useless.
Bitcoin reaching $1 again would require a combination of catastrophic events that disrupt global financial systems, technological advancements, and complete abandonment by its user base. Given the current ecosystem, this scenario is highly unlikely.