KuCoin Research has released its monthly report for January 2024, highlighting a notable resurgence in Web3 investments. During this period, seed rounds and strategic financing increased, with 22% of projects securing funding that exceeded USD $10 million.
Compared to the previous month, the proportion of projects with financing below USD $10 million decreased, signaling a shift in investor behavior. Infrastructure, NFT, and Gaming emerged as focal points, establishing their dominance alongside the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) ecosystem.
The surge in Bitcoin options dominated headlines in January, fueled by the growing anticipation of approval of the first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US. Investors and market participants closely monitored regulatory developments, speculating on the potential impact of such approval on the broader cryptocurrency market.
Surging Bitcoin Options
The optimism surrounding the spot Bitcoin ETFs and the favorable stance adopted by the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, set the stage for a boost in Bitcoin options. The net long positions of asset management institutions and large holders remained robust, signaling resilience amid global macroeconomic shifts.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission has given the green light to spot Bitcoin ETFs. This decision allows retail investors to access cryptocurrencies directly through traditional brokerage accounts, eliminating risks associated with holding digital assets on crypto exchanges.
In its official statement, the SEC affirmed the approval based on the belief that the proposed spot Bitcoin ETFs are designed to ensure fair disclosure, prevent trading in non-transparent conditions, safeguard sensitive information, and maintain fair and orderly markets. This decision represents a notable departure from previous delays and rejections, reflecting a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies in mainstream finance.
Fourteen asset managers, including the industry giant BlackRock, had sought approval for spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US. The varying management fees among these proposals, ranging from 0.24 to 0.80 percent, showcase the competition and differentiating strategies in this emerging market.
Stablecoins and Bitcoin
According to KuCoin's report, stablecoin issuance, especially USDT, is on an upward trend. USDC has stabilized, reflecting the market's adaptability to changes. The unexpected rise in the Bitcoin and inscription ecosystems attracted BRC20 tokens, centralized exchanges, crypto veterans, and venture capitalists into the inscription market.
Besides that, high-speed public chains like Solana and Avalanche exhibited a strong rebound, propelling uptrends in sectors such as MEME, DePIN, and GameFi. This resulted in a flourishing market for inscriptions across various ecosystems. Layer2 trends, particularly in ETH Layer2, rebounded in Total Value Locked after a temporary slowdown.
