As 2023 fades into the background, the new year has started with significant developments in the cryptocurrency world. January 10th saw the SEC approve 11 U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, a significant milestone in crypto history. After just one week of trading, these ETFs outperformed silver ETPs, making Bitcoin the second-largest exchange-traded commodity by volume. This development has sparked speculation about the potential for spot ETFs for other cryptocurrencies. Coupled with the anticipated Bitcoin halving in April, there’s a strong sentiment of confidence across various sectors about potential price increases, fostering a sense of optimism regarding future value growth. January 2024 showcased the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector as a true reflection of the broader cryptocurrency market: volatile, exciting, and unpredictable. A surprise security breach in the Socket protocol resulted in the theft of $3.3 million in ETH. The Socket protocol team swiftly identified and rectified the vulnerability shortly after the incident. Thanks to collaborative efforts from various analytics firms, about 70% of the stolen funds were reclaimed within a week, offering considerable reassurance to the impacted stakeholders. While the total value locked (TVL) and the price of numerous DeFi tokens saw an increase at the beginning of the month, there was a noticeable slowdown in the latter half. However, Sui and Pulse Chain demonstrated remarkable TVL growth, surging 107% and 189%, respectively. The notable increase in Pulse Chain’s value can be attributed to the expansion of its native decentralized exchange (DEX), PulseX, particularly underscored by the transfer of more than 20 million DAI stablecoins from Ethereum to PulseChain in less than a week. Meanwhile, the growth in Sui’s TVL is linked to the rising popularity of two lending protocols, Navi Protocol, which grew by 162%, and Scallop Lend, which saw a 229% increase. The launch of Scallop Lend’s second phase of its airdrop and rewards program on January 16th contributed to a doubling in the protocol’s TVL.
Full analysis : Bitcoin ETF surge & DeFi growth: Crypto’s 2024 landscape unveiled.
