Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Government Pushback On Cryptos Intensifies; Class Split Coming Sooner, Not Later

Published 07/26/2021, 08:30 AM
Updated 07/09/2023, 06:31 AM

This article was written exclusively for Investing.com

  • Bitcoin, Ethereum: leading the cryptocurrency asset class lower since April and May
  • Stablecoins are cryptos, but there is a difference
  • Yellen and company are looking at stablecoins
  • Regulation is on the horizon
  • The real reason for governmental concerns: Expect bifurcation sooner rather than later

Last week, we heard from several market luminaries via the B-Word virtual conference, an event hosted by the Crypto Council for Innovation whose stated aim is to, "demystify and destigmatize mainstream narratives about Bitcoin," as well as "explain how institutions can embrace it." Market-focused celebrity speakers at the virtual event included ARK Invest founder Cathy Wood, Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) and Square (NYSE:SQ) co-founder Jack Dorsey, and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) founder Elon Musk.

Ms. Wood, who is also the CEO and CIO of her investment company, used the platform to continue expressing her bullish expectations for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Mr. Musk, Tesla’s TechnoKing, admitted to guilt for pumping cryptos but denied dumping them. Jack Dorsey, who is also the CEO of Twitter and payments company Square said, cryptos are the currency of the internet.

Musk and Dorsey are poster boys for disruptive technology forces. On the other side of the spectrum, governments worldwide rely on the status quo for power. Control of the money supply is crucial to maintaining power.

If Mr. Dorsey is correct, the cryptocurrency asset class poses a substantial threat to government control. The ability to expand and contract the money supply is critical for monetary and fiscal policies. Cryptocurrencies are a libertarian force that presents a direct threat.

Cryptos, stablecoins and the coming onslaught of government-issued digital currencies comprise the asset class. I expect a division between the three, as well as increasing regulation of the asset class.

After their parabolic rallies ended in April and May, Bitcoin and Ethereum, the crypto class leaders, are sitting a lot closer to their lows than their highs. Government leaders are signaling that they may be ready to kick the cryptocurrency asset class when it is down to prevent it from exploding to new highs.

Bitcoin, Ethereum: leading the asset class lower since April and May

Bitcoin hit its high on Apr. 14, the day of Coinbase’s (NASDAQ:COIN) listing on NASDAQ.

Bitcoin Futures Weekly

Source: CQG

The weekly Bitcoin futures chart highlights the decline from $65,520 per token on Apr. 14 to a low of $28,800 in late June.

At the $32,480 level at the end of last week, Bitcoin was still near the lows and less than one-half the price at the high, though at time of publishing it's trading at the $38,000 level. Ethereum, the second-leading cryptocurrency, waited until May to peak.

Ethereum Futures Weekly

Source: CQG

Ethereum rose to a high of $4,406.50 on May 12 and dropped to a low of $1,697.75 in late June. At the $2,040 level on July 23, Ethereum was also under half the price at the high. At time of publishing it's also higher, at $2,333.

The parabolic rises ended, and after falling like knives, Bitcoin and Ethereum have been digesting the correction and consolidating not far from the recent lows.

Stablecoins are also cryptos, but there's a difference

Bitcoin and Ethereum are pure cryptocurrencies that reflect a libertarian philosophy, rejecting the government’s control of the money supply.

A stablecoin is a blockchain-based currency where the price reflects the level of another cryptocurrency, fiat money, or an exchange-traded commodity. The four leading stablecoins floating around in cyberspace are Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), Binance USD (BUSD), and Multi-Collateral Dai (DAI).

Tether Ranking

Source, all images: Investing.com

As of the end of last week, Tether was trading at $0.9994, and was the third-leading crypto behind Ethereum, with a market cap of over $61.76 billion. At time of publication USDT remains in third place, is at $1.0006, with a market cap of $61.83B.

USD Coin Ranking

During the same period, USD Coin was at the $0.9989 level, and was the seventh leading cryptocurrency, with a market cap of $27.025 billion. As we publish, it's in eighth place, trading at $0.09995 with a market cap of $27.13B.

Binance USD Ranking

At $0.9989 per token, Binance USD’s market cap was $11.775 billion, ranking tenth on the cryptocurrency hierarchy. At time of publication it remains in tenth position, now trading at $0.9996 with a market cap of $11.85B.

DAI Ranking

And finally, as of last week, DAI was at $1, with a market cap of $5.42 billion, ranking in twenty-second place out of over 11,000 tokens. As of publication it remains in twenty-second place, continues to trade at $1 with a current market cap of $5.56B.

Yellen and company are looking at stablecoins

Janet Yellen, the Secretary of the US Treasury, has been working with regulators to discuss stablecoins, which have been under policy maker’s microscope. The Secretary said:

In light of the rapid growth in digital assets, it is important for the agencies to collaborate on the regulation of this sector and the development of any recommendations for new authorities.” The Secretary noted the potential benefits of stablecoins while also cautioning that regulators need a framework for “mitigating risks they could pose to users, markets, or the financial system.”

With the total market cap of all cryptocurrencies at $1.395 trillion at the end of last week, it does not pose any systemic risks to the financial system. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) alone had a market cap of above $2.479 trillion on July 23. Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies’ market cap rose to over $2.4 trillion at the recent high. The Treasury Secretary and many legislators feel this is the perfect time to put a regulatory framework in place before the crypto class swells to a level where they are chasing a speculative beast.

Progressive US Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has long had financial institutions and markets in her crosshairs, sent a letter to SEC Chair Gary Gensler asking him to address the risks the cryptocurrency market poses to consumers and financial markets. Chair Gensler has a history in the fintech sector as he was the CFTC Chairman when Bitcoin futures were emerging. He also taught a fintech course at MIT during his hiatus from government service.

Regulation is on the horizon

Fed Chair Jerome Powell has told the markets the central bank is evaluating the possibility of issuing a digital dollar. At a press conference following the June FOMC meeting, he told reporters that the central bank needs to “get it right” when it comes to a digital dollar.

Last week, Chair Powell commented that one of the strongest arguments in favor of a central bank digital currency is it would lessen the need for multiple stablecoins or cryptocurrencies.

It's clear regulation is on the horizon in the US and Europe. Given the Biden administration’s embrace of a more global approach, a coordinated regulatory framework is the most likely route.

China recently cracked down on cryptocurrency mining, trading, and other market aspects as Beijing prepared to roll out its digital yuan. The US and Europe will take the prolonged regulatory route while China regulates with a sledgehammer.

The real reason for governmental concerns: Expect bifurcation sooner rather than later

The underlying concern for all governments remains the control of the money supply. The purse strings are a crucial ingredient in maintaining power.

Conducting monetary and financial policies includes the ability to expand or contract the money supply. Cryptocurrencies are libertarian as they remove the control from central banks and governments and return them to individuals. The ideological divide creates a wide underlying philosophical gap.

I expect the market to bifurcate with two levels of regulation. Government-issued digital currencies and some stablecoins will carry different risk weightings and regulatory rules than cryptocurrencies and stablecoins that reflect values of more esoteric underlying products.

Meanwhile, it seems that the US government is getting serious about regulation when Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many other cryptos have experienced substantial declines. Fans of the asset class may see it as regulatorys kicking the dog while it’s down, but government initiatives are long overdue.

While we will hear a lot about nefarious uses and ransomware attacks that require payment in cryptos, the real issue is the systematic risk that the asset class shifts control of the money supply from the status quo to individuals.

Latest comments

no corona no covid im the one there looking for here in united states of america chicago illinois all country people i need help 🇺🇸
hey I want money
Bitcoin is getting stronger as more and more people are investing in it. No amount of scaremongering is going to change that.
if any government attempts to regulate my crypto, I move to a country that doesn't - look out Georgia and El Salvador - here I come and millions of other crypto millionaires - I can see this back firing for any government - and the smarter ones know it - do what the super wealthy have always done - go offshore to a place that treats you the best - forced out and away by governments that want to emulate China FFS!
Mr. Dorsey... disgusting.  Interesting way to reference the spawn of Satan.
hello my love 💕💕
this media and government fud on crypto is just one big pathetic joke - the biggest risk to most of our wealth - the little people, is the central banks printing trillions - most does not go to us, but goes into making the super rich even richer. And it inflates away our hard earned earning and savings - WE CAN SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING! WE'RE NOT AS STUPID AS YOU THINK! Meanwhile Dimon has done a total u-turn and like many in the FED trough who have been involved in market rigging and money laundering for years, are now saying they're offering crypto to their clients, but can't publicly recommend it to them! The FUD is for the little people, whilst the big players corner the crypto market so they can continue to control global wealth and the expensive of ordinary citizens, many of whom are totally unbanked.
Your a man on a raft in the middle of the ocean with a flashlight
 I'm a man who saw his savings earning less interest than the rate of inflation and watching it diminish every year in purchasing power - I'm a man who took my 100k of savings four years ago and invested in crypto and now have crypto valued at today's prices in the millions - doesn't sound much like your man on a raft - sounds like you're talking about your clueless self! And I've converted 100k of crypto back into fiat, so the rest is now pure profit - no way I can lose!
There are over 7 billion homosapiens on the planet. Even a blind homosapien catches a buck now and then. Your post is near sighted and confused. Your hypnotized by the waves and have no idea where the shore is. Yet you wish to guide others without stars, compass, or nautical chart. Just a lot of hot air you heard from somewhere to fill the sails of the fearful.
Nothing like one leftist government following another in their CCP power grab. A little taste of free market with Crypto and the government jumps in with another set of handcuffs.   EVil to the core!
not just leftist governments - the UK gov and Biden's gov are not leftist in the slightest - fascist police states also love control - there aren't many governments in the world that actually believe in liberal democracy and freedoms for their people
the Chinese already won the war with the digital yen.
Boomer FUD
CEMİL
Govs will try anything they can to protect their power over money
who holds the gun, holds the money. When did our governments lost their guns ?
 when did the people of the USA hand over theirs? Do you know how much guns and ammo has been purchased by citizens in the US over the past ten years? Enough to take on the US army!
F.O to all governments. Bitcoin is the only onel to set you free. Fix the money fix the world
exactly - the banks and governments have only got themselves to blame - ten years ago, I earnt enough interest on my savings and with low inflation to have a reasonable life - they have forced me to take my money out of savings and fiat and to risk it in all sorts of other ways just to make ends meet - I didn't ask or vote for them to damage fiat currencies and devalue them so much. They've only got themselves to blame to continue to increase public and private debt at stupid low interest rates to go totally out of control so that now they have to have super / hyper inflation to be able to pay off all their debts.
This article highlights exactly why crypto is needed as a decentralised force. Take the power away from 0.1 %
Regulation, over Regulation, will be short lived, 50% of millennial millionaires are invested in crypto. By 2035, Millennials will inherit 74 trillion in wealth from Boomers. If people think we are going to elect officials or support monetary systems that diminish our wealth in the upcoming elections they are insane. It's a bottom up movement and democratic nations will ensure it's success.
I hope so, but the MSM will do what they can to convince others some pack of lies.
I'm curious how Yellen thinks they will regulate a decentralized asset class. What would make more sense is that they undermine public confidence in cryptos to the point that the average person wouldn't consider using or even holding them.
simple. Apple/Google, delete from App store. Done.
they're doing the latter already - so that the FUD keeps retail customers out whilst the big old money players buy up all the crypto at stupid low prices - diamond hands my friends - diamond hands!!! hodl hodl hodl - don't let them get to you, or you'll be selling to them and making them a long term fortune which should be yours!
 you clearly have never dabbled in crypto! ahahahahah
FUD article right on schedule.
yep - diamond hands folks - the big boys can't buy from us, if we don't put our crypto onto the market to sell - take it off exchange and into long term cold storage - all of it!!!!
Is this guy serious? This is what you are writing about today? Why focus on the negative? I don't doubt governments would like to ban Btc and other cryptos like China but they can't. China's imprisoned people live under a brutal dictatorship that is hard to believe even exists in this day and age. We are a free people. Pretty tough to ban crypto without seriously infringing on our rights.
Nail on the head!
 fiat is the biggest greater fool scam out there - you haven't yet understood what is happening to the Euro, GBP, USD - do you honestly think it's fine to print unlimited amounts of new fiat - are you not familiar with Venezuela, Argentina, Zimbabwe? Most crypto has a finite amount - such as BTC - this makes it a very valuable network as people can send it instantly to each other around the world without a third party getting in the way, charging a fortune as a middle man and treating you as guilty of fraud and money laundering until you prove yourself (at great time and expense and hassle) to be innocent - often the proof is not enough for them so you can't move your money around freely to people you choose to give your money to - So, seriously - who is the greater fool?
 I'd love to see your definition of a fact - what you have just said is about as much a fact as a Trump fact - pie in the sky rubbish
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.