Cryptocurrency
Binance exit aftershock: Can one resignation tip the crypto trust scales?
On Sept. 13, news broke of yet another high-level executive parting ways with Binance.US.
This time, it was none other than Brian Shroder, the CEO and president of the exchange, who, after two years in the hot seat, was heading for a “deserved break,” as Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao was quick to announce on X (formerly Twitter) that same day.
There has been some speculation regarding recent management changes at @BinanceUS. Brian Shroder is taking a deserved break after accomplishing what he set out to do when he joined two years ago. Under his leadership, https://t.co/hSHrrlF7o7 raised capital, improved its product…
— CZ Binance (@cz_binance) September 15, 2023
The news coincided with the announcement that around 100 people had also lost their jobs that day — about a third of the workforce.
A massive outflow of funds followed, with the highest being just over $66 million in a single transaction. Zhao was keen to underline that Shroder’s departure was amicable and that he had achieved everything he had set out to do.
“Ignore the FUD,” was the call from the parapets, the common plea for calm when any kind of disruption occurs.
In an industry strained and battered by tales of fraud and wrongdoing, however, this call went unheeded once again. The days since the news broke have seen significant outflows from Binance to platforms such as Jump, AU21 Capital, QCP Capital and Wintermute.
Once again, it raises issues that have long dogged the cryptosphere, chiefly those of influence and trust. There are few other sectors where layoffs or a change at the top of a company can have such an impact.
Such things are generally accepted as the natural ebb and flow of the business world, and while there may be a momentary blip, more often than not, things are back on track fairly soon afterward.
Even in this instance, from the chart, it is apparent that there were still sizeable inflows to Binance during the period. The two incidents may be completely unrelated. With so many factors involved, no one can say for sure.
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Jim Graham, a cryptocurrency analyst at think tank PsyBold, told Cointelegraph: “While we can’t attribute the shift in funds wholly to last week’s announcement, we most certainly can’t reject it, either. There have been several key managerial changes in the past few months, and virtually all of them have been accompanied by a dip in holdings on the platform. Trust remains a massive obstacle for crypto platforms, and it’s an obstacle they are failing to overcome.”
Money is a valuable commodity, and even the hint that it may be in jeopardy is reason enough to react quickly and decisively.
As the saying goes, trust is earned, not given away, and the recent negative events involving crypto platforms have done little to raise that level of trust. Graham added:
“Crypto platforms need to be on par with banks regarding trust. Investors need to know that entrusting their money to them is a good, safe idea, not a risky one. Unfortunately, they are nowhere near that, and until we reach that level, these spikes are inevitable.”
So, how do the platforms get to that level of trust? Most people would simply say, stop doing bad things. Once crypto platforms act more like banks, people may trust them more.
But this is much easier said than done. For one, most banks have been around for years, some even hundreds of years. Trust has an element of longevity to it, which people like. The general feeling is if something or someone has acted responsibly and transparently for a long time, there is more of a chance that they will continue to do so.
Crypto platforms don’t have that luxury, of course. Most can only look back on a few years of existence; the only pledge they can give is their word.
On top of that, there is the age-old discussion of regulation. Licensed banks are regulated. That means an authority monitors what they do and is there to step in if things go wrong.
The last thing such an authority or the bank wants is a bank run, as this represents a complete breakdown in trust for all concerned, with the consequences that go with that. Once that has happened, it is tough to win that trust back, as witnessed during the economic crisis of 2008.
In the unregulated world of crypto exchanges, there is currently a stalemate. Some investors are in the middle, clamoring for regulation, fearing for their investments. In contrast, others are vehemently opposed, stating regulation is the very thing cryptocurrency was created to avoid.
And on either side are the exchanges and the authorities, each accusing the other of this and that in what seems like an endless spiral, with neither ready to back down.Sandra McAllister, an attorney specializing in tech litigation with Clifford Chance, told Cointelegraph:
“The need to clarify the legalities around trading cryptocurrencies, particularly in the U.S., is vitally important for the future of the industry, but the protracted processes and tactics being employed are damaging, for both sides, and that, in turn, is turning investors away.”
“The power of social media is also a pressure on the market. The bounce in the Ripple price we saw in July following the court ruling on XRP underlines that perfectly. The decision was anything but conclusive and, in reality, nothing more than a step along the path, but it was blown up on social media as a huge victory that drove up prices. We only have to see where the Ripple price is today to see how much of a victory it actually was,” she said.
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Moving assets around between different exchanges or different assets is nothing new or unusual, of course. In times of economic downturn, funds tend to flow toward the “safer” havens, such as bonds and gold, before reverting to more profitable areas when things pick up.
Graham commented, “While diversifying holdings and being ready to react to ensure you are not unduly affected by negative pressures is sound financial advice, the problem facing crypto holders right now is which platform is safer than another. The FTX demise showed us that ‘too big to fail’ does not apply, so what remains?”
Crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe has made a bold prediction, forecasting that the price of Bitcoin could reach $500,000, with Ethereum’s soaring past $20,000 in the coming years.
His outlook, supported by macroeconomic trends and growing institutional adoption, suggests that the crypto market is on the cusp of an unprecedented rally.
Overcoming ‘Bear Market PTSD’
Market sentiment is currently quite low following one of the biggest daily sell-offs in crypto history, which saw more than $400 billion wiped off in less than a day. However, while Van de Poppe acknowledges the bearish outlook, he argues that the market is primed for a major bull run.
According to him, a “perfect storm” is brewing, fueled by growing institutional adoption and the U.S. government’s more tolerant stance on crypto. This includes a proposal for a national digital asset stockpile. Additionally, institutions are launching crypto products providing greater market access and banks have been given the leeway to offer custody services following the SEC’s revocation of SAB 121.
Van de Poppe admitted that many investors were skeptical, still haunted by past downturns, a phenomenon he called “bear market PTSD,” which makes it hard for traders to believe in a long-term uptrend. Nonetheless, he argued that Bitcoin and Ethereum’s trajectories should not be judged by past cycles alone, especially given their increasing global adoption and the ongoing influx of institutional capital, including millions spent on crypto by an organization linked to U.S. President Donald Trump.
A shifting macroeconomic landscape could also boost crypto’s explosion. The analyst suggests that China’s economic strategy to deal with Trump’s new tariffs could create the perfect condition for altcoins to thrive.
In his opinion, the Asian giant has two options to counter the U.S.: devalue its currency to continue exporting products into the United States or focus on its own domestic market to become stronger. If it chose the second option, it would mean selling its dollar reserves, buying back the renminbi, and making it solvent.
Such a situation, in Van de Poppe’s opinion, would cause the dollar to lose some of its strength, and a weaker dollar coupled with lower yield bonds often leads to increased capital flow into digital assets.
Exponential Gains
Taking everything into consideration, Van de Poppe outlined two likely possibilities. In the blow-off top scenario, he envisions a rapid bull run, similar to the dot-com boom of the ‘90s, which could see BTC shoot up to anywhere between $300,000 and $500,000 before a sharp correction.
Ethereum would follow suit and could climb past $20,000 with the acceleration of institutional adoption, potentially powered by its new marketing initiative, Etherealize.
The second option would be an extended supercycle, leading to a slower but self-sustaining rally that could drive Bitcoin’s value towards $1 million over the next few years. ETH would also benefit from taking advantage of the expected growth of layer-2 networks and institutional DeFi integration to push to $30,000.
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TL;DR
- Large investors bought 750 million DOGE during the recent dip, potentially setting the stage for a price rebound.
- While some analysts expect a further drop to $0.17, historical trends suggest the possibility of another explosive bull run for Dogecoin in the coming months.
Time for a Reversal?
The cryptocurrency market has suffered substantial losses in the past week, mainly due to the crash witnessed on February 3. Bitcoin (BTC) is down 6% for that timeframe but it was the altcoins that took the major hit.
The OG meme coin, Dogecoin (DOGE), was among the biggest losers, with its price plunging well below $0.30 and tanking by 21% weekly (per CoinGecko’s data).
However, it seems like whales have interpreted the downtrend as a “buy the dip” opportunity and increased their exposure to the asset. X user Ali Martinez revealed that large investors purchased 750 million tokens (worth almost $200 million) during the correction. “This is a strong sign of confidence in the market,” the analyst claimed.
Whale accumulation is often seen as a bullish signal since it could make some traders follow suit and thus trigger a potential price uptrend. The buying spree also leaves fewer assets available on the open market, meaning DOGE’s valuation might head north (assuming demand remains constant or increases).
The whales’ latest actions contrast to those at the beginning of the month. Back then, they offloaded 270 million DOGE in the span of 24 hours, which was shortly after, followed by a price decline.
DOGE Predictions
The meme coin’s market dynamics have caused numerous people to speculate on its next potential move. The X user AMCrypto assumed that DOGE might be headed for a further decline to as low as $0.17 before rallying toward a new all-time high.
Trader Tardigrade and KALEO also chipped in recently. The former forecasted a massive bull run, citing the token’s historical performance:
“In the 2016 pullback, DOGE retraced 59.76%, followed by a +9,221% bull run. In the 2020 pullback, DOGE retraced 56.2%, followed by a +30,693% bull run. When in doubt, check the macro chart.”
KALEO was bullish, too, seeing $0.25 as “a solid entry and practically free compared to where we’ll see it a few months from now.”
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[PRESS RELEASE – Singapore, Singapore, February 6th, 2025]
Academic Labs, a notable innovator in the education sector, has announced its listing on Bitpanda, one of Europe’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. This milestone follows the release of Whitepaper 2.0, which details advancements in its EduFi Ecosystem, built on the Solana blockchain. The whitepaper introduces the AAX Chain and the AI-Agent layer, two innovations aiming to transform education by harnessing AI and Web3 technologies. Notably, Academic Labs has demonstrated remarkable potential, with its cryptocurrency volume doubling and rising by 70% even when the market was down, indicating strong prospects for 2025.
Whitepaper 2.0 introduces two innovations: the AAX Chain and the AI-Agent layer. The AAX Chain, built on the Solana blockchain, harnesses its high-speed, low-cost, and scalable infrastructure to optimize educational resources and facilitate seamless knowledge discovery, curation, and sharing. The native AAX Token, following the SPL token standard, serves as the lifeblood of the ecosystem, enabling value exchange, governance, and incentivization.
The AI-Agent layer enhances personalized learning by leveraging the power of advanced machine learning algorithms. By analyzing large amounts of data from the Universal Library of Knowledge and the comprehensive Learner Data Layer, the AI-Agent generates adaptive learning paths, content recommendations, and targeted support, ensuring that each learner receives a tailored educational experience.
Whitepaper 2.0 also highlights the integration of decentralized identity (DID) within the Academic Labs EduFi Ecosystem. Leveraging the Solana blockchain’s capabilities, learners can create and manage their digital identities securely and transparently, empowering them to showcase their achievements and skills across various platforms while maintaining control over their educational data.
Furthermore, the whitepaper explores the incorporation of decentralized science (DeSci) and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications within the ecosystem. By tapping into Solana’s robust DeFi infrastructure, Academic Labs offers learners and educators novel opportunities to engage with tokenized assets, participate in yield farming and staking programs, and access innovative funding models for educational projects and research endeavors.
The tokenomics of the AAX Token, as detailed in the whitepaper, ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the Academic Labs EduFi Ecosystem. With a carefully designed token allocation and unlocking schedule, the ecosystem is structured to align incentives and foster long-term commitment to the platform’s success.
Prior to Whitepaper 2.0, Academic Labs had already made steady progress in the EduFi space, launching a successful MVP, hosting hackathons and courses at top universities, and empowering various ecosystems with more than 2 million people.
The whitepaper outlines an ambitious timeline for expanding the Academic Labs EduFi Ecosystem. The platform plans to launch a suite of new products powered by AI and gamification functions in the coming months, enhancing user engagement and learning outcomes. Additionally, Academic Labs aims to secure new listing opportunities for the AAX Token across global cryptocurrency exchanges, increasing liquidity and accessibility for users worldwide.
Following the prior listing on Gate.io, on February 7th, Academic Labs will be listed on Bitpanda, one of Europe’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. This represents a key step in Academic Labs’ efforts to expand its education-focused initiatives through Web3 and AI.
With the introduction of the AAX Chain, AI-Agent layer, and the planned expansion of its product offerings and token listings, Academic Labs aims to develop AI-driven solutions for the education sector. The integration of advanced technologies, along with the platform’s existing ecosystem, supports its ongoing efforts to enhance digital learning experiences.
About Academic Labs:
Platform: https://acad.live
CoinGecko: https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/academic-labs
Gate: https://www.gate.io/tr/trade/AAX_USDT
Bitpanda: https://www.bitpanda.com/en/bitpanda-spotlight
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