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DeFi Turmoil: Over $5 Million Wiped Out In Liquidations Amid Ethereum Price Drop

The decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem teetered on the brink of a meltdown yesterday as cascading liquidations swept through the market following a sharp drop in Ethereum (ETH) price. Over $5.4 million in collateralized assets were forcibly sold off in a 24-hour period, raising concerns about the stability of the DeFi house of cards.

Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, bore the brunt of the liquidations. Its price plummeted over 9% to below $3,200, a far cry from its recent high of $4,092.

This price swing triggered a domino effect, as collateralized loans used to amplify returns in DeFi protocols faced margin calls. Data from Parsec paints a bleak picture, with a potential $24 million liquidation event looming if ETH price dips further to $3,008.

On-Chain Derivatives Spark $52 Million DeFi Liquidation Blitz

To make matters worse, within the same time frame, major on-chain derivatives have triggered liquidations totaling more than $52 million. After selling at a high of $4,100 for Ethereum, short traders recouped their losses by repurchasing the cryptocurrency at $3,200.

The pain wasn’t shared equally, however. Panic selling by long position holders, those betting on an ETH price increase, resulted in a whopping $104 million in liquidations compared to a  little over $16 million for short sellers. This imbalance could exacerbate the ETH price decline, creating a negative feedback loop.

The situation highlights the inherent risks associated with leverage in DeFi protocols, While leverage can magnify profits, it can also amplify losses, especially during periods of high volatility.

The bloodbath wasn’t confined to the DeFi space. The broader crypto market experienced heightened volatility as investors braced for the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. The potential for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike, coupled with weak inflows into Spot Bitcoin ETFs, cast a shadow of bearish sentiment across the digital asset landscape.

Ethereum Price At A Glance

Currently, Ethereum (ETH) is experiencing a decline of nearly 10% and is currently trading at $3,138. The 24-hour trading volume for ETH stands at $29 million.

Ethereum had a 20% retracement, making it the second most significant decliner among the top 10 cryptocurrencies. ETH traders maintained their sense of confidence by retaining and mitigating their positions in anticipation of an impending period of recovery.

Based on the prevailing market indicators, it is plausible that the price of Ethereum may evade more drops in the foreseeable future, as the bullish sentiment seeks to consolidate at the support level of $3,200, thereby establishing a foundation for a subsequent phase of recuperation.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

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Standard Chartered Predicts Bitcoin At $150,000, ETH At $8,000 By Year-End

Standard Chartered’s latest research notes offer a very bullish outlook for the major digital assets, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), by the end of 2024 and beyond. The bank’s analysts project Bitcoin could reach $150,000, while Ethereum could hit the $8,000 mark.

These projections come amidst a backdrop of significant developments in the crypto space, including the launch of Bitcoin spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and Ethereum’s recent Dencun upgrade.

Bitcoin’s Path To $150,000

The bank’s research delves deep into the factors propelling Bitcoin’s potential surge to $150,000 by year-end. Central to this projection is the influence of Bitcoin spot ETFs, which, since their launch on January 11, have seen rapid inflows exceeding increases in open interest.

According to the bank, this suggests a more robust and sustainable positioning for Bitcoin, distinct from previous speculative peaks. “Rapid inflows to the new Bitcoin (BTC) spot ETFs have dominated […] Most of the inflows are likely to be sticky pension-type flows,” Geoff Kendrick and Suki Cooper elucidate, highlighting the newfound stability in Bitcoin investment trends.

Three pivotal analyses form the cornerstone of Standard Chartered’s Bitcoin valuation:

  1. Gold Analogy: Drawing parallels with the gold market’s response to the introduction of US gold ETFs, the bank estimates Bitcoin could rise to the $200,000 level, marking a 4.3x increase from its pre-ETF price.
  2. Two-Asset Optimization: By optimizing a portfolio with 80% gold and 20% Bitcoin at current gold prices, the analysis suggests a Bitcoin level around $190,000.
  3. ETF Inflows Correlation: Linear extrapolation based on the correlation between ETF inflows and Bitcoin price points to a possible $250,000 level, assuming total ETF inflows around the bank’s midpoint estimate of $75 billion.

Standard Chartered notes that these three measures suggest “that $200,000 is the ‘correct’ end-2025 price level for BTC, […] and that it is likely to be the new midpoint for a sideways trading range at that time.”

Further the research notes that an “overshoot to $250,000 is likely at some point in 2025 if ETF inflows continue apace and/or reserve managers buy BTC.” Previously, the bank only predicted a Bitcoin price of $100,000 by the end of 2024.

Ethereum’s Road To $8,000

Ethereum’s expected climb to $8,000 by the end of 2024 is anchored in two transformative developments: the Dencun upgrade and the expected approval of ETH spot ETFs. The recent Dencun upgrade, by significantly lowering transaction costs on layer 2 blockchains, enhances Ethereum’s competitive edge.

“Ethereum (ETH) has just undergone the ‘Dencun’ upgrade, which dramatically lowers the cost of transactions […] making ETH more competitive,” the research notes.

The forecast also hinges on the anticipation of US SEC approval for ETH ETFs by May 23, a decision poised to catalyze substantial inflows into Ethereum. Drawing from the Bitcoin ETF experience, Standard Chartered expects similar enthusiasm for Ethereum, with projected inflows of 2.39-9.15 million ETH (equivalent to roughly $15-45 billion).

This substantial capital infusion is seen as a crucial lever for Ethereum’s price surge. “We expect significant ETF-driven inflows to ETH […] This could drive ETH to the $8,000 level by end-2024,” the bank elaborates, underscoring the parallel potential for growth akin to Bitcoin’s trajectory.

The Prognosis For 2025 And Beyond

Looking further ahead, Standard Chartered ventures into the terrain of 2025 predictions, where the bank sees the ETH-to-BTC price ratio ascending back to the 7% level, a hallmark of the 2021-22 period.

This adjustment forecasts an Ethereum price of $14,000 by the end of 2025, given the projected Bitcoin level of $200,000. Such a scenario underscores the bank’s optimism about the enduring value proposition and growth potential of these leading digital assets in the medium term.

At press time, BTC traded at $68,401.

Bitcoin price