Macro Trends

After a year of silence, the Layer1 public chain Core Chain has recently regained market attention due to its impressive surge. Core's exponential growth is attributed to the demand from Bitcoin miners and the emergence of BTCFi narrative.

In 2024, we will witness the arrival of a cryptocurrency “super cycle,” not only due to the cyclical effects of economic factors but also based on the fusion of the traditional financial world with decentralized finance, propelling the cryptocurrency market into an unprecedented growth stage. The “Value Network Effect” (VNE) will become a new standard for measuring the influence of cryptocurrency assets.

Why are cryptocurrency exchange founders like SBF and CZ constantly facing money laundering allegations? How do cryptocurrency mixers like Bitcoin Fog and Tornado Cash facilitate money laundering? How do virtual asset service providers avoid suspected money laundering transactions and meet compliance requirements? Today, we will explain it all.

Public goods are a fundamental concept in Western economics concerning the collective well-being of society and the market. In Web3, this concept entails being adequately non-excludable and non-rivalrous.

AI x Crypto encompasses multiple subfields, including AI Agents, decentralized computing, data, oracles, ZKML, FHEML, coprocessors, Memes, generative art platforms, and gaming applications.

The blockchain market has grown rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic driven by P2E gaming.

The current situation where the security of tokens depends entirely on the project's self-awareness. To address this, we may need to improve token mechanisms or introduce effective token supply monitoring schemes to ensure transparency in token quantity changes. We need to be vigilant, as while people's awareness of fraud is increasing, attackers' anti-fraud techniques are also constantly evolving. This is an ongoing game, and we need to continue learning and thinking to protect our interests.

The SEC's approval of Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. has started to bring cryptocurrencies into the institutional space, and large public funds with significant capital under management are expected to enter the market.

As a form of cultural expression, meme coins need time to earn people's trust, especially in an industry that has held onto doctrines about what value is for decades. However, even without this point, meme coins hold social value, as they are an important litmus test for financial freedom.

Recently, besides the booming "shiba inu donations" in the SOL ecosystem, there's also a project in the BTC ecosystem generating huge buzz, leading to a revival of the entire BTC NFT sector. This is the community-acknowledged leader of the rune segment—Runestone.

On January 16, 2024, Klaytn and Finshcia, two of Asia's leading blockchains, announced plans to launch a unified mainnet. By combining their respective ecosystems and assets, they aim to build an Asian mega-blockchain and lead the global Web3 market.

"Financial nihilism" is one of the major factors influencing the price fluctuations of cryptocurrencies and may further strengthen. In the upcoming cycle, it will continue to play an important role.

As the cryptocurrency market rebounds, venture capitalists who have been on the sidelines are now investing in the Web3 industry. It is still low compared to past peaks, which can be attributed to 1) negative events such as Terra Luna and FTX bankruptcy, 2) the mega-trend shift from blockchain to artificial intelligence, and 3) macroeconomic deterioration.

In the past, bull markets stimulated user growth, but this growth resembled more of a market volatility effect amplified by leverage, rather than genuine market acceptance. Now, the liquidity surge driving market volatility is about to give way to a permanent structural shift driven by three major positive factors.

The upcoming elections may impact Bitcoin's performance as important macro policy issues such as government deficits and debt, inflation, the independence of the Federal Reserve, and the role of the United States in the world are at stake. Bitcoin is seen as an asset hedging against the devaluation of the US dollar, which could be influenced by the next president's stance on the independence of the Federal Reserve. Additionally, industry-specific legislation and geopolitical factors may also affect Bitcoin's trajectory. Investors can assess the impact of reelection from the statements and actions of the candidates. Government overspending may lead to currency devaluation, and the independence of central banks is also crucial. Recently, CNN reported on two comprehensive bills aimed at promoting responsible financial innovation.