Recently, David Duong, the head of institutional research at Coinbase, one of the leading US crypto exchanges, shared his concerns about the potential impact of macroeconomic factors on the crypto markets.
In a conversation with crypto analyst Scott Melker, Duong highlighted the strengthening US dollar and the relatively aggressive stance of global central banks as potential short-term challenges for the crypto markets.
Duong expressed a cautious outlook for the immediate future, citing the recent rebound of the US dollar as a significant concern for the crypto sector. This is because cryptocurrencies are often valued against the US dollar, and a stronger dollar could potentially dampen the appeal of digital assets.
Adding to this, Duong pointed out that the interest rate differentials, which are likely to be influenced by the upcoming announcements from the Federal Reserve, could also play a significant role in shaping the crypto market dynamics.
Duong also mentioned the European Central Bank’s (ECB) intention to hike interest rates, despite recent weak economic data. He further noted Japan’s reluctance to adopt an aggressive stance and move away from yield curve control. These factors, he claims, could contribute to the US dollar maintaining its strength for a more extended period, which might not bode well for the crypto market.
However, Duong’s outlook isn’t entirely pessimistic. He anticipates a more favorable digital asset trading environment as we progress into the second half of 2023. He believes that the completion of the Mt. Gox settlements and the anticipation of Bitcoin’s upcoming halving event next year could potentially create a more positive sentiment in the crypto market.
He said:
“I think that we’re probably going to get a better environment as we get further into the second half of the year. I think by that point the Mt. Gox distributions, those payments are going to be done, [and] people will start talking about the halving in earnest.”
Featured Image Credit: Photo via Coinbase
