2 metrics signal traders do not expect $2T crypto market cap anytime soon

2 years ago

Cryptocurrencies failed to interruption the 42-day agelong downtrend aft the $1.95 trillion capitalization absorption was rejected connected March 20. Even though Bitcoin (BTC) gained a humble 3.7% implicit the past 7 days, altcoins presented a robust rally.

Crypto markets' aggregate capitalization showed a 6.2% summation to $1.92 trillion betwixt March 14-21. Such show was positively impacted by Ether's (ETH) 14% gains, Cardano (ADA) expanding 13%, and Solana (SOL) gaining 10%.

Total crypto marketplace cap, USD billion. Source: TradingView

While those assets were not the biggest play gains among the top-80 coins, Ether whitethorn person fueled investors' expectations aft Glassnode's on-chain information showed that ETH balances connected crypto exchanges reached their lowest levels since 2018.

Comparing the winners and losers provides skewed results arsenic lone 2 names presented antagonistic performances implicit the past 7 days:

Weekly winners and losers among the top-80 coins. Source: Nomics

Ethereum Classic (ETC) rallied 51% aft the HebeSwap decentralized speech exertion surpassed $290 cardinal successful full worth locked. With liquidity pools increasing connected the protocol, Ethereum Classic appears to person a decentralized concern (DeFi) hub of its own.

AAVE gained 35% pursuing its v3 liquidity excavation upgrade connected March 16, adding cross-chain plus functionality, a assemblage publication tool, and a state optimization model. Several wallet-based decentralized applications (DApps) volition beryllium integrated, including Instadapp, Debank, 1Inch, Paraswap, Zapper, DeFisaver, Zerion and more.

Kusama (KSM) gained 31% aft Parity Technology confirmed that it volition enable parachain (sidechain) swaps connected the upcoming 0.9.18 release. Moreover, Manta Network's on-chain privateness Dolphin Testnet reached 30,000 transactions connected March 14.

Tether premium shows flimsy discomfort

The OKX Tether (USDT) premium is simply a bully gauge of China-based retail trader crypto demand. It measures the quality betwixt China-based peer-to-peer trades and the U.S. dollar.

Excessive buying request tends to unit the indicator supra just worth astatine 100%, and during bearish markets, Tether's marketplace connection is flooded, causing a 4% oregon higher discount.

Tether (USDT) peer-to-peer vs. USD/CNY. Source: OKX

Currently, the Tether premium stands astatine 99.9%, its lowest level since March 3. While distant from retail panic selling, the indicator showed a humble deterioration implicit the past week.

Still, weaker retail request is not worrisome arsenic it partially reflects the full cryptocurrency capitalization, which is down 46% year-to-date.

Futures markets amusement mixed sentiment

Perpetual contracts, besides known arsenic inverse swaps, person an embedded complaint usually charged each 8 hours. Exchanges usage this interest to debar speech hazard imbalances.

A affirmative backing complaint indicates that longs (buyers) request much leverage. However, the other concern occurs erstwhile shorts (sellers) necessitate further leverage, causing the backing complaint to crook negative.

Accumulated perpetual futures backing complaint connected March 21. Source: Coinglass

As depicted above, the accumulated seven-day backing complaint is somewhat affirmative for Bitcoin and Ether. This information indicates somewhat higher request from longs (buyers), but it is insignificant. For example, Solana's affirmative 0.20% play complaint equals 0.8% per month, which should not beryllium a interest for astir futures traders.

On the different hand, some Terra (LUNA) and Polkadot (DOT) futures showed somewhat much request from shorts (sellers). Thus, the lack of Tether request successful Asia and mixed perpetual declaration premiums awesome a deficiency of assurance from traders contempt the caller terms gains.

The views and opinions expressed present are solely those of the author and bash not needfully bespeak the views of Cointelegraph. Every concern and trading determination involves risk. You should behaviour your ain probe erstwhile making a decision.

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