Research (106)

Keep up with the top industry updates as we present bi-weekly market insights that are important to traders in the institutional space. In this week's edition, Kelvin Lam, CFA, Head of Institutional Research for OKX, explores the profound market impact resulting from the recent launches of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US. He analyzes the dynamic interplay between supply and demand and the consequential changes in market structure. Additionally, he highlights potential trading opportunities that institutional traders can seize following this significant market event.

Keep up with the top industry updates as we present bi-weekly market insights that are important to investors in the institutional space. In this week's edition, Kelvin Lam, CFA, Head of Institutional Research for OKX, shares his three predictions for the Institutional crypto market in 2024. Alongside unveiling these predictions, he'll also explain why these trends hold significant importance for institutions currently positioned in crypto space.

Authored by Kiwi Yao, researcher @OKX Ventures 2023 was a big year for account abstraction (AA), as the arrival of the ERC-4337 Ethereum standard brought new opportunities for users of the network. ERC-4337 gave access to smart wallet contracts, and its progress since launch has brought new capabilities.

Keep up with the top industry updates as we present bi-weekly market insights that are valuable to traders in the institutional space. In this week's edition, Kelvin Lam, CFA, Institutional Research for OKX, analyzes the recent market drivers and seeks to understand the drivers behind the recent crypto market weakness. Despite the prevailing uncertainties, alternative trading approaches present opportunities to generate yield in this environment.

The crypto space moves quickly, and staying ahead of ‌market trends to make informed decisions could give you a much-needed edge. That’s why many crypto companies have developed analytics tools to help traders navigate the space.

With the rise in cryptocurrency adoption, blockchain-based smartphones have recorded a growing interest in the market. The awareness of data privacy, financial inclusion, and security has changed how users store data, transact monetary values, and communicate. Increased privacy, security, and decentralized smartphone features have given birth to a new generation – crypto phones.

For centuries, gold has stood the test of time with little competition as an asset. To many, it’s the perfect asset. It's scarce and has become a sought-after metal. It’s long been a bastion of value and a hedge against economic turmoil. However, Bitcoin has challenged gold’s position in the last few years, leading some to call it “digital gold”.

Cryptocurrencies and stocks are two different types of asset classes for traders to choose from. Each has its own characteristics and fundamentals that traders must study and understand before committing their funds. 

BUIDL in crypto is a term used to describe the action of actively building or creating something within the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. It’s a play on the word “hodl,” which refers to holding

To most experts, Singapore's emergence as a leading player in the global crypto space isn't a surprise. The country has long been one of the world's top TradFi (traditional finance) centers , and Asia's top FinTech hub . In recent years, sizable wealth has flowed .

Cycles and narratives have always been central topics in the global crypto market. In the past, the industry often looked to the Bitcoin halving to track cycles, and explored major narrative directions. However, following the approval of Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs, the crypto market has become highly coupled with the global financial market, and the variables affecting the crypto market's movements are increasing.

For those new to the world of crypto, understanding the intricate relationship between traditional financial markets and the digital realm can be daunting. One such connection lies in the impact of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, which is now making headlines in mainstream media. Many traditional finance (TradFi) and crypto traders are speculating on a potential bullish rally. Will this truly be the case when the makes the call to cut rates? From understanding what the Federal Funds Rate is to exploring its macroeconomic impact, this guide will dive into the impact of interest rate cuts on crypto prices and how traders can better position themselves ahead of such a hotly anticipated catalyst.

Cryptocurrency and its associated technologies are on the rise in Latin America (LATAM), driven by a variety of nation-specific social and economic factors. The region is rife with opportunities for the technology, fueled by inflationary pressure, the devaluation of local currencies, and a strong entrepreneurial mindset among many. Most significantly, we see undeniable real-world examples of how cryptocurrencies can bring about financial inclusion and rewrite the traditional financial system. Industry players have taken note of the same.

Crypto is on the march in Europe, with Central, Northern, and Western Europe (CNWE) representing the second-largest market in 2023 behind North America, according to Chainalysis . Meanwhile, Eastern Europe captured 8.9% of the total global crypto value received in the year to June 2023, with Ukraine sitting highest (fifth) among all European nations in Chainalysis' 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index.

Could Australia be the next location for a spike in crypto interest, adoption, and invention? Many in the space are bullish on just that, and for good reason. At 23%, the nation has the highest rate of crypto adoption among all developed countries and the eight highest globally, according to a Swyftx survey. Meanwhile, 25% of the 2,199 adults surveyed in July 2023 intended to purchase digital assets over the following 12 months. And, according to the same survey, 54% of Australian millennials own or have owned crypto in the past.

Crypto is busy causing positive disruption in the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT). The region led the way for digital asset adoption between July 2021 and June 2022, according to data from Chainalysis . The blockchain data platform's 2022 Geography of Cryptocurrency Report showed that users in the region received more than $566 billion in cryptocurrency value across the period — a 48% jump compared to the previous year. Although this figure dropped to an estimated $389.8 billion in on-chain value between July 2022 and June 2023, optimism remains high for crypto's continued emergence across the region.

Authored by Kiwi Yao, researcher @OKX Ventures and repurposed by Kelvin Lam, CFA TON ecosystem and industry analysis report Introduction In 2018, Telegram introduced TON (The Open Network), emerging as one of the prominent Layer-1 solutions in the cryptocurrency space. With its native token $TON currently holding a significant position in market capitalization, driven by user engagement and a thriving ecosystem, TON has garnered substantial attention. OKX Ventures has conducted extensive research on the TON network, delving into its intricacies and identifying key areas for future growth within the ecosystem.

What is DYOR? DYOR is the acronym for 'do your own research'. DYOR embodies the individualistic spirit of crypto that encourages each person to conduct their own research to decide when to buy, sell, or hold certain crypto tokens to make sure they're making the right choices based on their trading strategy.

When it comes to building a portfolio for the long haul, traders often look towards long-standing, blue-chip stocks and exchange-traded funds tracking the Standard and Poor's 500 (S&P 500). Given their time-tested narrative and popularity among institutions, it's no surprise why such assets are top picks for anyone new to the world of traditional finance (TradFi).

Gold has been considered a safer trading vehicle for centuries, with many seeing the commodity as a reliable hedge against inflation today. However, despite its historical resilience, the commodity does present certain challenges.

DeFi (decentralized finance) keeps putting forward attractive alternatives to conventional financial offerings — those we can neatly place under the TradFi (traditional finance) umbrella. DeFi’s shiny

Over the years, e-commerce has evolved from the static pages of Web1 to the dynamic platforms of Web3. In the early days of Web1, online shopping was a novelty, with simple sites that displayed produc

Authored by Kiwi Yao, researcher @OKX Ventures When combined, smart accounts and intent create a powerful tool that allows you to manage your digital assets more efficiently. The ERC-4337 standard enables third parties to process order flows for you. This makes it simpler to carry out tasks while also improving scalability. The alliance between smart accounts and intent paves the way for more advanced interactions in the future.

Authored by Kiwi Yao, researcher @OKX Ventures The simplicity account abstraction (AA) brings to Web3 onboarding has seen the number of registered accounts soar during 2023. That could signal a bright future for Web3's mainstream adoption, as fresh use cases bring others into the latest iteration of the web. But what does the growth of account abstraction look like exactly, and what's caused it's recent emergence?