BACKGROUND IMAGE BACKGROUND IMAGE BACKGROUND IMAGE

Crypto Update: Diminishing and increasing exposure

Cryptocurrencies 5 minutes to read
Picture of Jacob Pouncy
Jacob Pouncey

Cryptocurrency analyst, Saxo Bank

Summary:  This week the entire crypto market cap rose by 4.5%, bringing the market cap to just above $180 billion.


Bitcoin and Ethereum rose by 5.5% and 7% respectively. CME reported record volumes last Thursday with a notional value of 112,700 BTC or $546 million. 

China looks to curb Bitcoin mining

On Monday the National Development and Reform Commission released a list of sectors that it plans to restrict or eliminate. Bitcoin mining was on that list put out by China’s top economic planning agency. Some in the industry believe that China could ban mining outright. An ban on mining could influence energy producers as Bitcoin miners predominantly run on renewables, meaning that miners often buy excess capacity. Additionally, most of the global mining activity takes place in China, and China could tax a large slice of the industry which pulled in over $4 billion last year.
 
XBT Provider list new products

Cryptocurrency exchange-traded note supplier, XBT Provider, recently launched several new ETNs on a Swedish stock exchange. The notes track the spot price of Ripple’s XRP and Litecoin in both SEK and EUR. These offerings now double the number of ETNs from the provider. These give investors that ability to invest in these assets through a regulated exchange. Currently, ETNs from XBT provider is the only way on SaxoTrader to gain pure exposure to digital assets. Since the peak in early 2018, investors have gained multiple avenues to get exposure to digital assets without leaving the comfort of traditional exchanges and brokers. 

Facebook looking for outside funding

Nathaniel Popper, a New York Times tech writer, stated that Facebook is looking to raise $1bn for its cryptocurrency ambitions. This comes at a time when Facebook is sitting on over $40bn in cash and cash equivalents. Facebook aims to launch a stable coin that is backed by a basket of traditional currencies held in reserve. Popper states that the outside capital raise could be a device to give an air of decentralisation to the initiative since outside investors will have a stake in the Facebook-led project. I doubt Facebook will have trouble raising funds considering that the Whatsapp rival Telegram has raised over $1.7 billion. A Barclays analyst believes that Facebook coin could add $3-19 bn to the company’s revenue stream. The launch of FB Coin and its subsequent trading on exchanges could do a lot in terms of exposing and onboarding millions of new users to the cryptocurrency sector. 
100419 XBTUSD
100419 5 year XBTUSD

Disclaimer

The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/legal/saxoselect-disclaimer/disclaimer)

Saxo Bank A/S (Headquarters)
Philip Heymans Alle 15
2900
Hellerup
Denmark

Contact Saxo

Select region

International
International

Trade responsibly
All trading carries risk. Read more. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. Read more

This website can be accessed worldwide however the information on the website is related to Saxo Bank A/S and is not specific to any entity of Saxo Bank Group. All clients will directly engage with Saxo Bank A/S and all client agreements will be entered into with Saxo Bank A/S and thus governed by Danish Law.

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.