ARB Protocol

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MARKET PRICES IN RATE CUTS The key macro event this week was the release of the October CPI data, which came in notably cooler than anticipated. The year-over-year CPI was slightly lower at 3.2%, just below the predicted 3.3%, while the month-over-month figure remained steady at 0.0%, in contrast to the expected 0.1%. This cooler inflation data spurred a surge in equity indices. It also bolstered investor confidence in the...

MARKET BREADTH EXPANDING The crypto market is exhibiting signs of increased breadth, particularly noticeable as altcoins, typically further out on the risk curve, begin to attract more interest. As illustrated in the data below, the total market cap for altcoins (including stablecoins) is advancing towards its previous year-to-date high. ETH has not yet seen a substantial rally, but it appears to have established a potential near-term bottom against BTC. This...

TREASURY REFUNDING AND ITS IMPACT ON ASSET PRICES The bond market has been experiencing notable volatility, predominantly due to a phenomenon known as a bear steepening. This situation arises when short-term interest rates remain stable, but long-term rates rise precipitously. We attribute this volatility largely to an increase in the supply of long-duration assets, propelled by a growing budget deficit and the expectation of ongoing Treasury issuances. While this bond...

INSTITUTIONAL CAPITAL BACK IN THE FOLD It took 10 months, but BTC finally made it to the lower bound of our forecasted range for the year ($35k - $44k). The past week has been remarkable for crypto markets, marked by a notable divergence from traditional financial markets. This breakaway may portend a shift in investor sentiment, potentially signaling increased confidence in digital assets as an independent asset class. In any...

THE BID WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR Last week, we painted a picture of a market on the cusp of a potential rally. Our thesis hinged on a confluence of favorable factors: a local peak in rates, a possible global liquidity turnaround, and encouraging seasonality trends. However, the market remained largely inert, a phenomenon we attributed to the uncertainty surrounding the SEC's potential stance on Grayscale. The market had been in...

SEC DEADLINE LOOMS Back in August, a court sided with Grayscale, accusing the SEC of acting in an “arbitrary and capricious manner” when it denied their spot Bitcoin ETF application. Since then, the SEC's options have narrowed to the following:Appeal the court's decision within a 45-day window.Develop a new rationale for rejecting spot Bitcoin ETFs.Consider revoking existing approvals for futures-based ETFs as justification for denying spot ETFs.Conform to the judicial...

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BONDS HAVE A HIGH EMISSIONS SCHEDULE Traditional markets have undeniably faced a whirlwind of volatility over the past week. The bond market continued its recent trajectory with the long end of the yield curve soaring to new multi-decade highs. At one juncture, the 30-year yield even brushed against the 5% mark, a development that has rattled both bond and equity investors. Concurrently, the DXY index maintained its...

ETHTFS COMING TO A BROKERAGE ACCOUNT NEAR YOU Thursday marked a broad-based rebound in equities and crypto, with a modest bounce in the bond market tagging along. This crypto rally received an extra push from some noteworthy developments. Our flash insight on Thursday morning highlighted Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas' commentary, suggesting a high likelihood that the SEC would greenlight ETH futures ETFs this week due to the imminent government shutdown, which...

RATES SURGE ON HIGHER FOR LONGER As expected, Fed Chair Powell took to the podium yesterday and kept interest rates unchanged. Concurrently, he unveiled the Fed’s new dot plot, which forecasts one more rate hike for this year but two fewer cuts for the next year. This was perceived as more hawkish than anticipated by both traditional and crypto markets. The dot plot and Powell's rhetoric collectively signal a 'higher...