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In the digital age, cryptocurrencies have emerged as a disruptive force, captivating the attention of investors and enthusiasts around the globe. Born out of the desire for decentralized financial systems, cryptocurrencies have revolutionized how we perceive and interact with money, promising a future where financial transactions are borderless, transparent, and secure.
Like any emerging technology, cryptocurrencies have faced their fair share of challenges and criticisms. The cryptocurrency market’s volatility has been a concern, with prices experiencing fluctuations that have led to speculative bubbles and bursts. Additionally, concerns regarding security and regulatory oversight have raised questions about cryptocurrencies’ long-term viability and stability.
Crypto assets have been around for over a decade, but more severe attempts to regulate them have recently been moved to the top of the policy agenda. According to Mark Venables, the president and owner of the Daytona Beach-based ecommerce business The Crypto Merchant, this is partly because crypto assets have moved from being niche products in search of a purpose to have a more mainstream presence as hedges against weak currencies and potential payment instruments in the past few years.
Regulatory conversations surrounding cryptocurrencies have historically been up and down in the United States, with concerns about money laundering, scams, and cybercrime. The Biden administration has called for stricter regulation, exemplified by an executive order which urged regulators to evaluate cryptocurrencies’ broader risks and benefits in March 2022 and in the 2023 roadmap for risk mitigation that urges Congress to expand regulatory powers.
Venables, on the other hand, believes that the government is targeting cryptocurrencies not because of their potential for fraud or mishandling but because they have the potential to disrupt the status quo of the banking and money transfer industry.
“The threat that cryptocurrencies bring isn’t about facilitating illegal activities. It’s about offering an alternative to traditional banking that cannot be controlled by centralized institutions,” Venables states. “This is why crypto has ended up in the crosshairs of regulators. But the genie is out of the bottle – you can’t put it back. It’s about control, and cryptocurrencies threaten that control.”
On the international front, crypto regulation follows distinct narratives. The U.K., under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has shown a pro-crypto stance, aiming to become a global hub for crypto technology by regulating stablecoins, paving the way for them to be accepted as a recognized form of payment.
Conversely, Canada has implemented stricter regulations, treating cryptocurrency as a commodity for tax purposes and creating a clear regulatory framework for exchanges.
According to Venables, perhaps with the current exception of the U.K., the regulatory attempts all fall within his theory of the fight for control. While Venables doesn’t dismiss the potential for fraud, he believes that the concerns might be misplaced since scams are not a byproduct of the digital era.
“Fraud has existed since the beginning of time. Currently, most banks don’t want anything to do with crypto, citing safety concerns because of the amount of ‘crime’ committed with crypto. I think this is complete nonsense since cash is used for that exact purpose more than anything on the planet.”
Venables’ expertise, however, extends beyond the regulatory sector. In the global theater of finance and technology, periods of significant downturns, known as the ‘crypto winter,’ are part and parcel of the journey. Much like a bear market in traditional finance, a crypto winter describes a prolonged season where digital asset values experience a considerable decline.
Unlike the traditional capital markets, however, when it comes to cryptocurrency, there is no specific metric by which a ‘crypto winter’ occurs. It’s not declared by any authority, but it represents a general situation where exchanges and investors see continued declines over a certain period of time. They usually happen over multiple currencies and for a period of at least three months.
“This phase does rattle some, but most of us who have been in the business for a long while see it as a natural ebb and flow, and we know that it will pass,” Venables weighs in. Based on the observed cycles of boom and bust that have been observed since the inception of crypto assets, Venables projects the current crypto winter will end by 2024.
Additionally, according to Venables, despite the current chill of the crypto winter, there is a thaw on the horizon, specifically for Bitcoin and Litecoin. He firmly advocates that these cryptocurrencies have demonstrated a unique resilience in the face of fluctuating market conditions.
Reflecting on Bitcoin’s potential jump in value, Venables shares, “I’d say that by the end of 2024, we’ll probably hit $100,000 per Bitcoin. Many people even say it will hit a billion within the next decade. Still, I think this is our last crazy bull run, with unpredictable regulations looming over the market worldwide.”
As the industry evolves, understanding the intersection of regulation and market fluctuations becomes more critical than ever. The infiltration of cryptocurrencies into the regulated financial system, coupled with explosive growth and downturns, has prompted regulators to act, lest they risk the economic landscape stability.
The crossroads of these narratives – the predicted thawing of the Crypto Winter and the anticipated surge in regulations – chart an intriguing trajectory for the future of digital currencies. As Mark Venables suggests, this dynamic landscape is fraught with challenges but also ripe with opportunities. As cryptocurrency transitions from a puzzling innovation to an established financial tool, investors and stakeholders alike would do well to keep their ears to the ground and follow the evolving narratives shaping the crypto world.
*This article was paid for Cryptonomist did not write the article or test the platform.
