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07.04.2025
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Crypto Market Monitor
Q1 2025 Crypto Market Review
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The first quarter of 2025 had a bit of everything. After the excitement that built up in late 2024, the market took a breather, cooling off in Q1 while still pushing forward with some major trends.
Tornado Cash and the Impact of Censorship: A Breakdown
On 21 March 2025, the United States Treasury Department disclosed its decision to lift sanctions previously imposed on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency mixing platform that has faced allegations of facilitating money laundering activities for cyber threat actors.
Stablecoins: Key Developments and Future Catalysts
Stablecoins have come a long way from being just a bridge between crypto and traditional finance - they’re now a multi-billion-dollar industry, shaping global markets and catching the attention of institutions and regulators alike.
Making Sense of Market Shifts: Navigating Volatility and Decoding The “American Narrative” in Crypto
Week 10 of 2025 began with heightened volatility across the financial markets. U.S. policies not only impacted domestic equities but also sent ripples through global markets, particularly in India and China.
Crypto Pulse: Market Sentiment and Key Developments
Investors are betting Bitcoin will surge to $120,000 in March despite crypto markets crashing to $88,000 this week. This is according to options data, which shows that almost four out of every 10 trades that expire March 28 will only pay out if Bitcoin hits above $120,000.
The cryptocurrency market hosts over 10,000 digital assets, a number that was only a fraction of this a year ago. Among them, there are approximately 300 Layer 1 (L1) blockchains and over 100 Layer 2 (L2) networks.
Uniswap L2 Launch: A Strategic Move to Capture Value
Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) commanding approximately 25% of the total DEX market share, has recently launched its own Layer 2 solution called Unichain.
The forthcoming upgrades to Ethereum and Polkadot put their distinct approaches to scalability and efficiency on display. Ethereum is addressing critical protocol limitations including its expanding validator set and the need for a simpler UX.
Tezos (XTZ) is a Layer 1 smart contract blockchain network that powers a range of applications including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming.
ESG in Crypto: Building a Responsible and Inclusive Economy
This piece delves into ESG considerations within the cryptocurrency and digital assets industry, exploring climate impact, financial inclusion, social aspects, illicit activities, and governance.
Unveiling Cryptographic Enigmas: The Magic of zkSNARKs and zkSTARKs
As we continue our voyage from the foundational shores of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), you're about to embark on an expedition of epic proportions. Picture this as a thrilling sequel to our previous adventure, where we uncovered the mysteries of ZKPs.
Web 3.0: A Controversial Paradigm Shift or a Technological Mirage?
Web 3.0, the much-hyped successor to Web 2.0, has sparked fervent debates and divided opinions among tech enthusiasts, economists, and policymakers alike. Proponents hail it as a transformative force,...
With the rise of digital assets, custody has become an increasingly important service for the safekeeping of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. This article introduces you to the world of cust...
Climate change, social diversity, and ethics are becoming increasingly important in investment decisions. ESG or Environment, Social, and Governance is a general framework to invest ethically and sust...
Humans today have a digital consciousness and an identity that makes our life easy in many ways. Given the consistent increase in average daily time spent online, either work or leisure, and advanceme...
A DAO is an alternative to the traditional organisational structure, a potentially better way to coordinate capital and talent almost instantaneously, at scale, from anywhere in the world.
The blockchain trilemma states that a perfectly decentralised, secured, and scalable system cannot exist, and trade-offs must be made between these three desirable traits. In this edition of The Bridg...
Tokenomics describes the role a cryptocurrency plays in a blockchain ecosystem. Understanding the key components of tokenomics is essential in assessing the potential of a project.
We uncover the latest trend in the cryptoverse, Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs are often mistaken to be digital art, however, they are not the art or asset itself but the deed or proof-of-ownership...
Who is in charge of the code on which blockchains and their applications run? Who runs the multibillion-dollar organisations of the most successful applications? When facing a difficult decision, how ...
Centralised Exchanges have played a pivotal role in the crypto asset ecosystem, acting as fiat ramps, custodians, exchange, market makers and VCs, thereby consolidating a lot of power and responsibili...
Just "knowing thyself" is not sufficient for a smart platform blockchain. Oracles are critical middleware that connect blockchains to the real world unlocking the full potential of platforms chains. T...
The blockchain trilemma refers to the idea that a public blockchain cannot reach the desired level of decentralisation, security, and scalability all at once. In this edition of the Bridge, we introdu...
Are blockchains that safe? How to attack and prevent attacks
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore some well-known attacks which are commonly used to compromise blockchain networks and discuss how consensus mechanisms such as Proof of Stake and Proof of Wor...
Classification and importance of nodes in a blockchain network
In this edition of The Bridge, we explore the role of nodes in blockchain networks and how these different types are required to ensure the validity and security of data.
We acquaint readers with the Compound protocol and its governance token COMP in this edition of the Bridge. We present a framework to think about valuation of COMP and other DeFi governance tokens ear...
A Beginner’s Guide to Blockchain Accounting Standards
The UTXO and account-based models are the most commonly used accounting standards in blockchain networks. For instance, Bitcoin uses the UTXO based model as its accounting standard, while Ethereum uses the account-based model, also called as account model or balance model.
Ethereum’s journey towards Serenity, its proof of stake version, begins with implementation of beacon chain. This article makes readers understand the role of beacon chain in Ethereum’s ultimate versi...
In this edition of The Bridge, we introduce you to different types of encryption techniques and how crypto-asset wallet encryption techniques secure transactions in a blockchain network.
The Bridge is a publication designed to explain the key concepts behind blockchain and crypto-currencies. If you are unfamiliar with forks, this article is made for you. A fork is the action uses to c...
Tokenisation of assets is one of the hottest topics in the fintech industry. Many believe in its potential to change the financial world for the better. In this edition of the Bridge, we talk about to...
This edition of the Bridge focuses on staking, a process at the heart of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
This edition of the Bridge focuses on mining, a process at the heart of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. If this notion is foreign to you, then this article is for you.
In this edition of “The Bridge,” we will introduce you to the consensus mechanism, a notion at the heart of all blockchain-based systems. It is the mechanism that creates trust in the system by acting...
Blockchain 101: A simple analogy with a famous board game. Whether you play chess or not, this publication is for you. We invite you to discover the crypto world through the game of chess. Don’t be af...
Bitcoin continues to consolidate with long-term investors beginning to re-accumulate coins for the first time since December 2023. The month of May saw a market-wide recovery in the last two weeks
In April, the crypto market witnessed significant events and developments across various fronts. Total crypto market capitalization declined by 16% over the month.
Bitcoin recovered significantly in 2023, surging by about +150% year-to-date, from USD 16,600 to 41,600 at the time of writing. Bitcoin is one of the best-performing assets this year.
Remarkably, September 2023 bucked the trend of historical challenges in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market cap staying resilient, diverging from the usual "red" month pattern.
As we bid farewell to August, a month that kept the global economy on its toes, it's time to dissect the pivotal developments that have set the stage for what's to come in the world of finance and cryptocurrency.
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the most significant updates shaping the world of economics, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Polkadot is a promising project that should interest investors. First, interoperability increases digital asset utilisation, and Polkadot offers all the broadest types of interoperability.
Welcome to July edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for June 2023. The total crypto market capitalization grew...
Welcome to June edition of the Digital Investor, where we bring you the most important highlights and updates from the cryptocurrency markets for May 2023. The total crypto market capitalization decli...
Ethereum Self-sustaining Engine: A Financial Model
In this edition of the Digital Investor, we take a look at the state of the Bitcoin and Ethereum network. Its focus is a financial model analysis of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Major banks collapsed, stablecoins lost their peg, and decentralized apps struggled with bad debts. However, the crypto industry remained strong with active development. Read on for an in-depth analys...
The Shapella upgrade will take place next month. It will allow stakers to unlock their ethers. The process is not automatic. We explain how to do it and what we expect the price will do. Get ready for...
The beginning of 2023 has been positive for risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. This is due to a convergence of factors, such as decelerating inflation and oversold conditions in these...
Some analysts are predicting further declines in the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, followed by a potential buying opportunity before the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates in 2024 to support th...
2022 was a rough year for crypto. Events like the Terra (LUNA) crash, the losses on Celsius, the Three Arrows Capital implosion, and of course, the FTX-Alameda collapse, each took the market to where ...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macro headwinds dominate cryptocurrencies as central banks tighten monetary conditions. Bitcoin is closely correlated with USD liquidity. As the Fed started quantitative tightening on 1 September, pre...
After the prolonged downward trend of cryptocurrency prices for almost all months this year, July 2022 has been the time of recovery for the crypto markets. The total market cap increased by 24%, and ...
We remain cautious in our approach, preferring Bitcoin and Ethereum over alternative smart contract platforms and decentralised finance or metaverse tokens. High cost-push inflation figures and slow g...
We continue to navigate the crypto market cautiously, with a preference for low beta coins such as bitcoin and ether. As prices have declined massively in May in the wake of the Terra debacle, draggi...
The overall crypto market capitalisation declined by approx. 20% last month, given the uncertainties caused by rising inflation, rate hikes, geopolitics, and Covid-19 restrictions. While good fundamen...
Last month, digital assets and equities did well. Bitcoin price increased by 22%, ether by 38%, and the Decentralised Finance (DeFi) token AAVE jumped as much as 100%. The current high inflation scen...
Last month, digital asset prices have been hit twice. First, the rise of inflation coupled with rising expectation of a first Fed hike mid-March negatively impacted the price of bonds, and risky asset...
Historically, September has not been the best month for growth assets, and this year was no different. Bitcoin price ended the month 4% lower than it started, while Ether fell by more than 15%.
Macroeconomic headwinds weighed heavily on bitcoin and the whole cryptoverse in January. According to the AMINAX® Index, an index made of a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, the crypto market dr...
In this edition of the New Digital Investor, we celebrate the new highs made by the crypto markets in October and discuss the events that led up to it. We attempt to answer the most pertinent question...
September was a tumultuous month as good and bad news alternated. In the same month, bitcoin became legal tender in one country while another country banned all trading activities. In our view, bitcoi...
In the previous edition of The Digital Investor, we noted that platform chains had significant developmental upgrades coming up while Bitcoin's on-chain fundamentals looked weak. Over the past month, ...
Crypto markets struggled through most of July but managed to close on a strong note, up by almost 13%. With the increase in prices, market sentiment has also buoyed. We present an analysis of the on-c...
This new publication will shed light on cryptoassets as an emerging asset class and its fundamental drivers. We hope you will enjoy reading this publication and that you will find it helpful in unders...
In this edition of Digital Investor, we cover the largest decentralised asset management protocol, Yearn Finance. We cover its fair launch, the value drivers for the token, its moat and significant pr...
Synthetix – a platform to issue and trade synthetic assets
This digital investor explores the Synthetix protocol, its upcoming changes, and how it stacks up against other DeFi protocols in terms of valuation. The article dives into the mechanics of the protoc...
Gold 2.0 or tokenised thin air? Critics say it is not money, slow, costly, energy-intensive and for criminals. Believers say bitcoin is the future. Bitcoin polarises view. One thing is sure; everyone ...
This Digital Investor builds on concepts explained in The Bridge and analyses the landscape of decentralised exchanges (DEXes) for investors, from market making to different players. The first section...
Oracles are a critical middleware for smart contracts. We evaluate the need for decentralised oracles and how Chainlink is poised to accrue value as the oracles space grows.
Portfolio diversification: The contribution of digital assets
Allocating digital assets in a portfolio can double the Sharpe ratio. Read the Digital Investor to understand the diversification potential of the digital asset class.
Interoperability helps investors to increase the utilisation of their digital assets. This Digital Investor shows how THORchain facilitates better asset utilisation and dive into different factors cen...
Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Connected Future
Interoperability has the potential to create plumbing for the internet of value by connecting blockchains. Learn more about the challenges, the solutions, and the opportunities.
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we evaluate the performance of different DeFi portfolios. We test three different approaches – hold ETH as it is the major asset that gives exposure to DeFi, b...
In this digital investor, we examine the latest crypto market developments. We compare the 2017-2018 ICOs wave with the current DeFi wave and investigate the sustainability of the liquidity mining tre...
Bitcoin halvings force miners to upgrade their equipment and 2020 was no different. The latest generation of mining equipment offers higher efficiency compared to the previous generations. In this Dig...
In this edition of The Digital Investor, we propose two valuation models for cryptocurrencies. In the first model, we propose an innovative method to price cryptocurrencies in terms of fiat currency. ...
Phase 0: One Small Step for Ethereum, One Giant Leap for Decentralised Networks
Ethereum 2.0, one of the most ambitious and anticipated project in the blockchain industry, is just weeks away from its Phase 0 release. After years of delay, Ethereum is nearly ready to launch the Be...
Bitcoin halving: The battle of hard and soft money
Bitcoin halving is just around the corner. In this Digital Investor edition, the first section compares and contrasts halvings of Bitcoin and other assets. The second section invites readers to explor...
Does bitcoin as outside money stand a chance to weather the coronavirus storm? In this article, we present the empirical analyses of various crises and bitcoin bottoms.
In this special edition of the Digital Investor, we present our take on the recent crash in financial markets. As the Coronavirus took the entire world by storm, financial markets across the board sta...
As the coronavirus disease spreads, economies slow and global financial market sold off. Bitcoin price has dropped substantially. What does it mean for crypto-currencies?
DeFi or decentralised finance has been growing at an astonishing pace. Should you participate in it? If you have an appetite for risk, how can you participate? In this edition of the Digital Investor,...
To achieve the goal of serving as a decentralised platform for all sorts of applications, Ethereum needs to scale. It envisions achieving this by moving from a proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensu...
In this publication we underscore the importance and the current state of digital assets against the backdrop of looming uncertainty in traditional asset classes. In our market outlook, we take the ri...
Bitcoin halving is arguably the most important known event for the crypto-asset industry in 2020. The third Bitcoin halving is expected to take place in May 2020. Will it help bulls regain control?
In this month’s Digital Investor, we start to examine a topic that is set to accompany us in the coming years: what are the price determinants of crypto assets? If you are a crypto investor or plan to...
Are crypto-assets suitable for institutional investors?
For years, crypto-asset has been a confidential asset class for non-institutional investors. However, we observe growing “institutionalisation”. In this issue of The Digital Investor, we give a broad ...
What makes crypto assets an attractive addition to an investor’s portfolio? Our analysis shows that a small exposure to crypto assets can enhance portfolio performance for the given level of risk as t...
Imagine that in a near future this universe becomes reasonably large and liquid, or in other words, it becomes as mature as other alternative asset classes such as commodities and hedge funds.
In this article, we look at historical examples and draw conclusions regarding reward halving impact on price, mining profitability, transaction fees and network hashrates.
We believe Libra to be the most significant blockchain project initiated by a publicly listed multinational corporation since JP Morgan announced JPM coin.
The development of cryptofinance regulation – National focus
The last five years have witnessed a rapid development of cryptofinance regulation. Initially, it reacted to, and framed, innovative practices. Then, it has broadly supported the development of crypto...
The Basel Framework and Cryptoassets: Finishing Line?
The second Basel Committee consultative document on the prudential treatment of cryptoasset exposures is very comprehensive and suggests that the 3-year long gestation may soon come to an end. Materia...
There is no consensus regarding the proportion of illicit finance carried out through cryptofinance. Time series support the view that licit cryptocurrency transactions are growing much faster than il...
Regulators have acknowledged the use cases and highlighted the risks of stablecoins since 2019. The reactions that have followed the TerraUSD (UST) fallout in May 2022 suggest that asset-backed stable...
Early concerns that the use of cryptoassets might undermine the effectiveness of sanctions have turned out to be overrated, due to the structure of crypto markets and compliance efforts by exchanges. ...
On 9 March 2022, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order that formalizes the top-down, federal-wide, adoption framework for cryptofinance in the US. This watershed milestone had a long g...
The steady adoption of cryptoassets, and their recent all-time high capitalisation level, has raised again the issue of whether cryptoassets pose a systemic risk to the financial system. International...
Confronted with the rapid expansion of the Metaverse, regulators face the challenge to promote this new marketplace sustainably by mitigating old and new risks to consumers, ensuring fair competition ...
Will 2022 deliver a unified US federal approach to crypto regulation?
The regulatory work initiated by US authorities in 2021 should give rise to a federal cryptofinance framework in 2022. The expectation is a framework supportive of sustainable cryptofinance that may i...
On 15 October 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States allowed trading in the ProShares bitcoin futures Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). On 12 November 2021, the SEC rejected...
Promotion of sustainable ‘cryptoization’ by global standard setters
In October 2021, global standard setters issued several policy recommendations to handle the buoyancy in cryptocurrency adoption, the use of stablecoins, and the risks posed by thriving decentralised ...
Global superpowers, China and the US, debate cryptocurrencies and take opposing positions, making international headlines. Considering the broader context, cryptocurrencies win.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) generates benefits and is growing in importance. A regulatory endorsement is crucial for mass adoption. This might be achieved through the constructive cooperation between...
Cross-border challenges of a Central Bank Digital Currency and Global Stablecoins
Developing and implementing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based cross-border payment system is a daunting task. The launch of a Global Stablecoin (GSC) in a regulatory-controlled environment ...
Basel Committee Consultation: A Prudential Treatment of Banks’ Cryptoasset Exposure
The Basel Committee recognises the ineluctability of asset tokenisation, but proposes to subject exposure to bitcoin, ether, utility tokens, DeFi tokens, and other network coins to a one-size-fits-all...
Cryptocurrency Markets and Regulators – What to expect
The US regulators are contemplating action in the wake of recent market developments. A regulatory upgrade is required to promote institutional-grade cryptofinance.
The updates proposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to its Guidance on the risk-based approach to virtual assets are not conducive to the development of sustainable Decentralised Finance (D...
Unlike traditional finance, cryptofinance involves a high degree of regulatory uncertainty. Market participants hedge this risk by operating in jurisdictions characterised by developed and stable regu...
Illicit use of cryptocurrencies – Regulatory and market evidence
Regulators have feared and combated the illicit use of cryptocurrencies since bitcoin was born. The adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies is leading to less illicit transactions.
The ongoing consultation on the ordinance in the distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) space is the last step in providing Switzerland with a comprehensive and globally unrivalled DLT regulatory fram...
EU pilot regime for DLT-based market infrastructure
The EU takes a circumspect approach regarding DLT-based market infrastructure despite recognising that no primary market can thrive without a secondary market.
The EU tackles fragmentation and creates legal certainty by extending the regulatory perimeter to crypto-asset issuers and service providers. Implementation by 2024.
Which crypto-asset regulation for the European Union?
In recent years, several European Union (EU) member states have developed their own crypto-asset regulations. The EU is now poised to introduce a single market regulation for crypto-assets.
The regulatory endorsement of global stablecoins (GSCs)
Facebook unveiled project Libra in June 2019. A fundamental regulatory uncertainty regarding the future of GSCs followed. In July 2020, GSCs received a fundamental regulatory endorsement.
The inexorable march of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The steadily growing global interest in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) suggests that the official launch of the first CBDC is approaching fast. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revi...
Telegram, or the strategic importance of regulators
Digital financial businesses often consider regulators as a compliance issue. However, regulators are strategically important for the success of projects. The demise of Telegram is a sad reminder.
Crypto AML: a complex but worthy compliance effort
The implementation of the global anti-money laundering Travel Rule standard for virtual assets is a daunting compliance task, but once achieved, will boost the credibility of the cryptofinance industr...
The US authorities rejected the last pending Bitcoin ETF proposal. The decision further delays the adoption of cryptocurrencies in the USA, evidences the controversial decision-making process and bri...
CBDCs & Asset Tokenisation – Digital Regulation in 2020
Central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenisation are dominating regulatory discussions. A wholesale CBDC is likely to come into being in 2020. Widespread asset tokenisation would give rise to num...
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a discussion paper on prudential crypto-assets standard. While the initiative is laudable, the preliminary direction is misguided in our view.
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the dispatch to further improve the DLT/blockchain regulatory framework. Switzerland is consolidating its leading position, reinforcing legal certainty, removing ...
Tackling the Issues of Stable Coins and Digital Money
International regulators have defined strict authorization criteria for Global Stable Coins (GSC) such as Libra. In the short term, no such coins will go live. They have also made it clear that Centra...
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidelines on stable coins (including Libra), thereby increasing regulatory certainty around these type of projects. The Swiss Nation...
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