Markets
Should You Ditch Altcoins? Token unlocks and VC sales raise red flags
Things are getting really turbulent in the markets!
After a stellar run from October to March, the cryptocurrency market hit a rough patch. While Bitcoin and Ethereum are somewhat weathering the storm, smaller altcoins are collapsing. Sentiment in online forums is turning sour, with the prices of many altcoins plummeting. But is this just a temporary fix or the start of a long-term crisis for altcoins?
Dive deeper to get exclusive insights into the altcoin market and what it means for your investments.
Altcoins in trouble
Bitcoin and Ethereum are currently trading just 15% below their yearly highs. On the other hand, major altcoins such as Solana and Avalanche have fallen 40% to 50% from their March peaks. Layer-1 tokens like SUI and Aptos saw even steeper declines, plummeting 60% to 70%. Experts attribute this sharp decline to the unlocking of tokens, the sell-off of venture capital and the lack of new capital entering the market.
Token supply challenges
One of the biggest challenges for altcoins is the continued increase in token supply due to scheduled unlocks. For example, Solana’s daily token supply increases by 74,000 tokens, equivalent to approximately $10 million at current prices. This influx of tokens, combined with venture capital firms selling their seed investments, is putting downward pressure on prices.
Crypto liquidity inflows stagnate
Adding to the problems is the stagnant influx of liquidity into the cryptocurrency market. The market capitalization of stablecoins increased by $30 billion earlier this year, but has remained stable since April. This indicates reduced trading activity and declining investor interest stablecoins such as USDT, USDC, FDUSD and DAI.
Fluctuations in market capitalization
Looking at the combined market cap excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum, June continues to be a busy month for altcoins in 2024. As of June 22, 2024, the aggregate market cap stands at $594.967 billion, reflecting a significant decline of 14.30 % in a single month. This contrasts sharply with the peak of $706.676 billion in early June and the year’s high of $775.36 billion on March 31.
As the cryptocurrency market consolidates, smaller altcoins are grappling with unprecedented challenges.
Thinking of buying the altcoin dip or waiting for clearer skies? Let us know your strategy!
Also check: The Ripple case could be the turning point in the SEC’s battle against Binance