Don’t Fight Changes in Global Liquidity Conditions (Core Strategy Rebalance)
Regulatory Threats More Bark than Bite (To Asset Prices)
Last week we discussed that more regulatory actions would be coming – and they certainly were.
- On Monday morning, Paxos was ordered to shut down its services surrounding Binance’s BUSD stablecoin on the grounds that it might be deemed a security. There were worries that there would be additional regulatory action against other centralized stablecoin issuers, but as the week progressed, it certainly appeared that this was a Binance-specific issue.
- Later in the week, SEC chair Gensler proposed expanding federal custody requirements to include crypto assets, which would require crypto exchanges to gain regulatory approval and secure certain federal or state registrations. The changes would apply to all client assets, and the amendment includes a requirement for a written agreement between custodians and advisors, as well as enhanced record-keeping rules and surprise examination requirements. The amended regulation would also require that client assets be properly segregated and held in accounts designed to protect them in the event of a qualified custodian bankruptcy or insolvency.
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CORE STRATEGY Most of the risks that prompted us to turn cautious in early February still persist, so we believe it’s right to remain patient. However, the near-term (2–4 weeks) setup is starting to look compelling for a tactical rally as sentiment is miserable, liquidity conditions are improving on the margin, a lot of risk has already been priced in, and we’ve seen serious capitulation and deleveraging. All eyes will...
MSTR Reloading Presents Opportunity for Bounce, But Broader Picture Remains the Same
CORE STRATEGY There is a chance that MSTR flows spark a short-term bounce here, but assets further out on the risk curve continue to face headwinds from ongoing uncertainty surrounding trade and monetary policy. Although the current administration takes a pro-crypto stance, there appears to be no immediate catalyst to revive market enthusiasm. We still anticipate that crypto will outperform this year, but until we see further progress on trade/monetary...
CORE STRATEGY With lingering trade war talks and robust economic data dissuading a dovish Fed pivot, we think the potential for downside volatility remains elevated. While regulatory developments and institutional adoption continue to bolster the medium- to long-term outlook, no immediate “good news” seems likely. Nevertheless, we still expect crypto to outperform this year. Until we see flows return to crypto, raising cash/trimming altcoin positions appears prudent (BTC dominance higher)....
CORE STRATEGY With the looming threat of an escalating trade war and economic data robust enough to discourage a more dovish Fed stance, we believe the upside risk for the DXY and yields has increased in Q1. Moreover, the market remains highly volatile and headline-driven, inhibiting the crypto market from gaining meaningful momentum. While regulatory developments are a key medium- to a long-term tailwind for crypto, it is unlikely that...