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Cryptocurrency Market Update Amid U.S. Election Speculation

Stay informed on the latest developments in the cryptocurrency market amidst the speculation surrounding the U.S. election. Explore how the election may impact digital currencies and investment trends.

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Cryptocurrency Market Update

Cryptocurrency Market Update

The cryptocurrency markets experienced a downturn on Wednesday, mirroring a decline in U.S. equity prices and amid speculation surrounding the ongoing presidential election.

Bitcoin (BTC) saw a rapid drop from $65,000 to $63,500 within a two-hour span during mid-morning trading in the U.S., marking a 1.7% decrease over the past 24 hours. Ether (ETH) and Solana’s token (SOL) also faced losses, albeit less severe, each down by over 1%.

In the altcoin space, smaller cryptocurrencies recorded more significant declines, resulting in a 2.8% drop in the Coindesk 20 Index (CD20). Notable decreases included 5%-6% dips for Ripple’s XRP (XRP), Polkadot’s DOT (DOT), Cardano’s ADA, and Polygon’s MATIC.

Simultaneously, U.S. equities struggled to recover from recent substantial losses, with the Nasdaq 100 declining by 1% and the S&P 500 dropping by 0.7%.

Uncertainty surrounding the U.S. presidential election intensified following reports of mounting pressure on President Biden not to seek re-election. The crypto prediction market Polymarket now indicates an 80% probability of Biden not running, up from 40% the previous day. Odds for Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the Democratic nominee surged to 63% from 15% in the same timeframe.

Conversely, GOP nominee Donald Trump’s likelihood of winning slightly decreased on Polymarket to 65%, down from a peak of 70% after surviving an assassination attempt over the weekend.

The recent rally in crypto prices was partly driven by investors anticipating a Trump victory and a potentially more crypto-friendly U.S. administration.

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Binance Partners with Grant Thornton for Enhanced Financial Compliance

Discover how Binance’s partnership with Grant Thornton is set to enhance financial compliance, ensuring robust regulatory adherence and fostering trust in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Stay informed on the latest developments in crypto governance.

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Binance Engages Grant Thornton for Accounting and Tax Advisory

In a recent announcement, Binance revealed that it has enlisted the services of Grant Thornton, a U.K.-based firm, to provide guidance on accounting and tax-related matters. This strategic partnership aims to enhance the exchange’s financial operations and compliance.

Previously, Binance collaborated with the auditing firm Mazars to create a proof-of-reserves report intended for its crypto clients. However, in December 2022, Mazars paused its services for Binance and other cryptocurrency clients, citing concerns over the public’s potential misinterpretation of these reports.

Grant Thornton is no stranger to the crypto sector, having previously worked with the stablecoin issuer Circle. A spokesperson for Binance stated that the firm will assist in navigating various complexities, including:

  • Technical accounting
  • Financial reporting
  • Audit preparedness
  • Tax matters

The urgency for transparency within the crypto industry has intensified, especially following the collapse of former crypto exchange FTX. In response, there has been a growing demand for exchanges to provide regular proof-of-reserves to verify that they possess the assets they claim to hold. However, it’s essential to note that proof-of-reserves merely offers a snapshot of an exchange’s financial standing at a specific moment, which could create potential loopholes for companies. This concern was one of the reasons Mazars decided to halt its work on these reports.

As clients increasingly request comprehensive financial audits from crypto exchanges, Binance has indicated that Grant Thornton will play a pivotal role in preparing the exchange for such audits, although the firm will not serve as Binance’s auditor.

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Market Update: Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Prices Dip Amid Economic Concerns

Stay updated with the latest market trends as Bitcoin and cryptocurrency prices experience a dip amid growing economic concerns. Explore the factors influencing these changes and what it means for investors in the current landscape.

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Latest Prices

Latest Prices

CoinDesk 20 Index: 1,786.39 — −3.8%

Bitcoin (BTC): $56,607.61 — −4.24%

Ether (ETH): $2,395.39 — −4.4%

S&P 500: 5,528.93 — −2.12%

Gold: $2,488.75 — −0.17%

Nikkei 225: 37,047.61 — −4.24%

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Bitcoin experienced a significant dip as it fell below the $56,000 mark during the early hours in Asia, marking its lowest point since August 8. This decline has reversed nearly all the gains accumulated over the past month. Although BTC made a slight recovery and was trading above $56,500, it remains over 4% lower in the past 24 hours. The CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20), which serves as a broad indicator of the digital asset market, has also seen a decline of approximately 3.5%. Meanwhile, U.S. stocks, particularly those tracked by the Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 indexes, plummeted by as much as 3.5% on Tuesday, signaling the onset of a traditionally bearish September. This downturn was exacerbated by weak U.S. manufacturing data, reigniting fears of an economic slowdown. The negative sentiments extended to Asian markets, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 falling over 4%.

Bitcoin mining profitability has hit historic lows, as reported in a recent research note by JPMorgan. The analysts highlighted that bitcoin miners earned an average of just $43,600 per EH/s in daily block reward revenue during August, marking the lowest recorded level. This figure stands in stark contrast to the peak earnings of $342,000 in November 2021, when BTC was priced at $60,000 and the network’s hashrate stood at 161 EH/s. Notably, the network hashrate, which serves as a measure of competition in the mining sector, saw an increase for the second consecutive month in August, averaging 631 EH/s—up 16 EH/s from July and approximately 20 EH/s below the levels observed prior to the last halving event.

In a notable development, crypto derivatives protocol Volmex Finance has introduced a new implied volatility index specifically for Solana’s SOL token. This index is designed to measure anticipated price fluctuations in the fifth-largest cryptocurrency globally. Dubbed the SVIV index, it provides traders with insights into the expected volatility of SOL over a 14-day period. According to Volmex, market participants can utilize this index to gauge the potential price swings of SOL in either direction over the upcoming two weeks. The company also plans to roll out longer-duration implied volatility indices for SOL, including a widely used 30-day index, along with related derivatives, enabling traders to capitalize on volatility trends. Since early April, perpetual futures linked to Volmex’s bitcoin and ether implied volatility indices have been actively trading on Bitfinex.

Chart of the Day
— Omkar Godbole

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Global Stock Markets Plummet Amid Economic Slowdown Fears

Explore the recent downturn in global stock markets as fears of an economic slowdown take hold. Stay informed on the factors driving this decline and what it means for investors and the economy at large.

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Global Stock Markets Experience a Notable Sell-Off

Global Stock Markets Experience a Notable Sell-Off

Concerns regarding an economic slowdown have once again gripped a nervous stock market. September, often regarded as the most challenging month for stocks, is proving true to form, particularly for investors in Nvidia.

On Wednesday, global stock markets were predominantly in the red, as apprehensions about a potential economic downturn in the United States intensified ahead of the crucial jobs report scheduled for release on Friday.

Here’s the latest update:

  • S&P 500 futures saw a decline of 0.3 percent in premarket trading.
  • Broad sell-offs were observed in stock markets across Asia and Europe.
  • Oil prices experienced a drop as concerns over global economic growth escalated, while Bitcoin’s value also fell, approaching a one-month low.

This follows a challenging day for U.S. markets. The Nasdaq Composite index plummeted by 3.3 percent on Tuesday, with Nvidia at the forefront of this decline. The chip manufacturer’s stock tumbled by 9.5 percent, resulting in a staggering loss of $279 billion in its market capitalization, which marked the largest single-day decline for any U.S. stock in history. This downturn had a cascading effect on other major players in the artificial intelligence sector, collectively known as the Magnificent Seven. (More insights on Nvidia’s challenges are detailed below.)

The S&P 500 recorded its most significant drop since the meltdown on August 5. Investors may be experiencing a sense of déjà vu, as last month’s downturn was partially triggered by indicators suggesting a slowdown in the U.S. economy. The weak manufacturing data released on Tuesday has reignited those concerns.

While economists continue to regard the likelihood of a recession as low, a steady stream of disappointing growth indicators—particularly in the labor market—has unsettled some investors. This comes as the Federal Reserve contemplates the prospect of finally reducing interest rates.

What’s next? Market participants will be closely monitoring the JOLTS employment data released on Wednesday, along with the Fed’s Beige Book economic report for additional insights.

The primary focus is on Friday’s payrolls report. Economists anticipate that approximately 163,000 jobs were added in August. A weaker-than-expected figure could prompt the Fed to consider a substantial cut of 50 basis points, according to Andrew Hollenhorst, an economist at Citi. He emphasized during a webcast with clients on Tuesday that, “We could experience considerable volatility on Friday as we interpret the jobs report, and subsequently, as Fed officials analyze the report.”

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