China's historical dominance in the crypto industry persists despite periodic crackdowns, with many crypto companies still earning a significant portion of their revenue from the country and maintaining unofficial channels of liquidity; China's economic uncertainty, including concerns about future crackdowns and a collapsing real estate market, can impact global crypto markets.
A Hong Kong crypto exchange, HashKey, will begin retail trading on August 28, allowing residents to invest up to 30% of their net worth into cryptocurrencies with a warning if the limit is exceeded; meanwhile, China is cracking down on private blockchain firms, arresting crypto executives and seizing assets, and the FBI has traced down $41 million in Bitcoin stolen by North Korean hackers from various projects.
Deep-pocketed Bitcoin holders have accumulated over $1 billion worth of BTC in the last two weeks, while the number of investors holding at least 10 BTC has reached a three-year high; the growth in market caps of the top six stablecoins suggests a potential reversal in the crypto market.
The top crypto exchanges in the world are dominating the market, with the eight largest platforms accounting for over 91% of market depth and 89% of trading volume, according to crypto insights firm Kaiko. Binance remains the leading exchange, with a market share of 64.3% in 2023, but liquidity is concentrated within a few exchanges, leading to concerns about decentralization. Altcoin liquidity has also suffered due to regulatory issues in the US, with Coinbase, Kraken, and Bitstamp holding the majority of altcoin liquidity.
The crypto industry experienced significant capital outflows of $55 billion in August, leading to a liquidity crunch that allows isolated events to have a greater impact on prices and market movements, according to an analysis from Bitfinex.
According to a report, the value of illicit foreign exchange transactions conducted with digital currency in South Korea was estimated to be $4 billion last year, prompting regulators to focus on the unregulated over-the-counter (OTC) crypto market.
Bitcoin could experience significant inflows from China in the coming months due to a weakening Chinese yuan and increasing capital flight, with Chinese investors turning to Bitcoin as a familiar investment in times of economic uncertainty, according to experts. The recent data shows that China's capital outflow reached its highest level since 2015 in August, potentially putting further pressure on the yuan. While Chinese capital controls may limit investment options, cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, is seen as a viable alternative. However, analysts caution that the impact of Chinese capital flight on Bitcoin may not be as significant as it was in 2017 due to changes in regulations and crackdowns on certain practices.
Crypto analyst predicts Bitcoin (BTC) could reach $89,000 by 2025, with a "max upside" of $142,000, depending on factors such as on-chain supply, the approval of spot BTC ETFs, and overall adoption of the cryptocurrency.
China's neighbor, Hong Kong, is seeing significant crypto activity and volume, with recent transactions rivaling those in mainland China, possibly indicating a shift in China's stance towards digital assets.
The crypto industry in Asia is flourishing as it attracts projects and investors looking to avoid regulatory uncertainties in the US, leveraging favorable policies and growing crypto adoption in the region.
Chinese investors sold $21.2 billion in US assets, including Treasury bonds and stocks, in August, the largest amount in four years, as the onshore yuan weakened and speculation grew that Beijing was taking measures to support its currency.
The global cryptocurrency market cap increased by 0.7%, with major coins trading mixed and Bitcoin dominance reaching a new 30-month high, surpassing $35,000 intraday.
