In a startling revelation throughout Coinbase’s Q2 earnings name, CEO Brian Armstrong revealed that Binance, the world’s main cryptocurrency alternate, has liquidated its total holdings of the stablecoin USDC. This sudden disclosure comes as a shock, prompting a flurry of hypothesis and evaluation about Binance’s motivations and the potential implications for the stablecoin market.
“USDC market cap is up after Binance pulled out,” Armstrong reportedly stuttered throughout Coinbase’s earnings name. “The sudden reply appeared to indicate that crypto alternate Binance was a holder of Circle and that USDC is safer now that Binance now not holds the stablecoin,” the media outlet Protos writes in an unique report.
The information is elevating eyebrows, provided that Binance was a considerable holder of USDC, a stablecoin owned by a consortium that features Coinbase. Nevertheless, the scenario turns into extra advanced after we take into account the present state of USDC.
The stablecoins market cap has been shrinking quickly in latest months, plummeting from $44.5 billion in the beginning of the yr to a mere $26.06 billion at press time. This comes on the heels of the Federal Deposit Insurance coverage Company’s intervention to stop a financial institution run on Circle’s foremost banks, a transfer that successfully saved USDC.
Crypto Neighborhood Puzzled By Coinbase CEO’s Revelation
The crypto neighborhood is abuzz with theories about Binance’s motivations for this drastic transfer. Tether (USDT) CTO Paolo Ardoino provided a cryptic clue by way of Twitter, hinting at market pressures and the emergence of latest rivals.
“Isn’t it fascinating that USDT is being pressured down… and USDC, the principle competitor that you’d count on being gaining from the scenario, is redeemed closely however, whereas out of the blue a competitor born 2 days in the past is getting all of it?” Ardoino wrote, presumably referring to Binance’s new stablecoins TUSD and FDUSD.
The latter was launched simply 2 days in the past on Binance with a zero-fee promotion. As Bitcoinist reported, there are rumors that Tron founder Justin Solar is behind the Hong Kong-based First Digital Group which is issuing the stablecoin. CZ and Solar reportedly have shut ties.
Chase Coleman, Founder and Associate of Tiger International Administration, added gasoline to the hypothesis fireplace, suggesting a strategic shift by Binance and its allies:
CZ + Solar have been exiting USDT by way of USDC to get USD. Tether can’t redeem billions. New stablecoins emerge. TUSD denominated volumes went from 0% to twenty% in just some months. Binance controls 90% of TUSD provide. That is quite simple. The cartel is popping. Please advise.
TUSD And FDUSD Shortly Conquer Market Shares
Additional insights come from a latest report by Kaiko, which highlights Binance’s strategic shift to zero-fee buying and selling. The report revealed that Binance had expanded its zero-fee buying and selling promotions to 13 BTC pairs a couple of yr in the past, however reversed this technique because of the substantial value. Regardless of this, Binance’s market share elevated by 10% in 2022, hitting an all-time excessive of ~70% relative to its largest rivals.
As we speak, Binance seems to be specializing in TUSD, a stablecoin it has adopted as a quasi-replacement for BUSD after Paxos was pressured to halt issuance. BTC-TUSD, now Binance’s solely bitcoin market that has each zero maker and taker charges, is the best quantity pair throughout all exchanges, with greater than $10bn in quantity each week.
Based on blockchain analytic agency ChainArgos, $DUSD can be placing up large numbers in its first few weeks “out of the gate even when not involving very many distinctive pockets addresses or distinctive transactions.”
In conclusion, the complete implications of Binance’s strategic shift are but to be seen. Because the mud settles on this bombshell revelation by Coinbase CEO Armstrong, all eyes will likely be on Binance and the broader stablecoin market to see how this high-stakes sport of chess unfolds.
At press time, USDT confirmed a slight depeg, however nothing of concern.
Featured picture from iStock, chart from TradingView.com
