In this blog post, I would like to share my thoughts and observations on the second quarter of 2023. A lot has changed in the cryptocurrency world in the last three months, and I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on these changes as well as share some personal lessons learned and predictions for the coming months. I will discuss 10 important points that were crucial for the second quarter of 2023.
1. Q1 Boom and actual Q2 correction
After a strong Q1 2023, mainly characterized by strong institutional interest and increasing adoption of cryptocurrencies as a means of payment, we saw a noticeable correction in Q2. Binance played a significant role in this by converting a significant portion of their BTC into TUSD.
Then, in the second half of June, we again saw a huge explosion in the crypto world. Until mid-June, the quarter had been rather poor, but because of rumors of a Bitcoin Spot ETF, prices skyrocketed. The entire return for crypto, especially bitcoin, actually happened in the last 2 weeks of June.
2. Shapella’s ETH Unstaking
The Shapella upgrade on April 12 enabled the unstaking of Ethereum. You might think that due to the increased supply of ETH this would have a negative impact, however it was more positive for the ETH price.
The reason? Not all ETH could be unstaked at once, and the update went through successfully and smoothly, sending a positive signal to all ETH HODLers.
Overall Ethereum has performed well, however Bitcoin has outperformed Ethereum due to the spot ETF hopium especially in the last 2 weeks of Q2.
3. DCG Credit Maturity from Genesis
In May, Digital Currency Group was faced with repaying a $575 million loan to Genesis. However, this was then simply pushed to the future.
A perhaps ticking time bomb, as DCG would likely have to liquidate some of its crypto positions to service the loan.
4. USA 1 Billion Bitcoin Sell-Off
I had expected the US to sell 1 billion in bitcoin this quarter. Didn’t happen then though, which of course helped Q2 end up more positive than expected after all.
However, this too is probably a ticking time bomb.
5. Crypto Crackdown: Binance vs. CFTC
In Q2, we saw an escalation in the clash between Binance and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This has shaken the confidence of some investors in the crypto market and further brought regulatory risks in the crypto sector into focus.
The U.S. is definitely on a war path with crypto, though it has leveled off in the last few weeks of June, which has also contributed to the strong performance in recent weeks.
6. Economic Crisis?
I had fears of an economic crisis for the second quarter of 2023. Due to rising inflation and geopolitical tensions, I rather expected a weaker stock performance.
But on the contrary, the stock markets had one of their strongest performances ever. Germany and the EU are in recession, but in the US you don’t notice it at all.
7. Real Estate Market
The real estate market is also holding up surprisingly well considering the rising interest rates and general economic difficulties.
In some cases, real estate prices even rose again in Q2. Whether this is sustainable remains to be seen, but this is definitely an unexpected development.
8. MiCA-Regulation approved in Europe
MiCA regulation was approved in Europe in Q2, exactly as expected. This leads to significant regulatory changes in the crypto market as clearer regulations and standards for crypto exchanges and other crypto services were introduced.
9. FED Balance Sheet & Interest Rate Hikes
During the second quarter, the Federal Reserve actually acted exactly as we and most investors expected. The issue of a debt crisis was averted and more rate hikes took place.
10. USD-Hyperinflation?
Concerns about possible hyperinflation of the U.S. dollar sobered in the second quarter. The U.S. dollar continues to hold strong, which should also not be a big surprise to most.
Overall, the second quarter of 2023 has been a turbulent time for the crypto market, with many factors influencing prices. It is important to reflect on these events and incorporate the lessons into our future investment strategies.
11. Renaming Cake DeFi to Bake (Bonus-Point)
Also in Q2, the 4th anniversary took place and with it the rebranding of my company Cake DeFi to Bake.
It’s incredible how much we’ve grown in a short 4 years. There is now an entire group of companies – Cake Group – which prompted us to rename.
Personal Predictions
For the coming quarter, I expect Bitcoin to maintain its dominance, mainly due to existing institutional support. Ethereum could also show strong performance, depending on the progress of Ethereum 2.0 implementation. However, it should be noted that the crypto market is extremely volatile and uncertain, and therefore these predictions should be taken with a grain of salt.
My Investment Strategy
In terms of my personal investment strategy, I plan to continue to take a diversified approach and maintain my positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum. I will also continue to look for interesting opportunities in smaller projects and intend to increase my investments in DeFi projects.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the second quarter of 2023 was an exciting time in the cryptocurrency world, marked by surprises, challenges, and significant changes. While some of the events in the crypto world were cause for concern, there were also many positive developments and advancements that give reason for hope.
For the coming quarter, I look forward to the continued developments and opportunities that will emerge in this dynamic and exciting space. I will continue to monitor trends, educate myself, and adapt my strategies to successfully navigate this ever-changing landscape.
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Julian
CEO Cake Group & Bake
