Bitcoin Fundamental Briefing, December 2020

Year is coming to an end…

So, guys, step by step, we have come to the end of 2020 – a tough year for everybody.  It is common to talk about results by the end of the year, so do we. But still – we’re interested in the future mostly, not the past. Thus, results are a good thing, but what’s next? What to expect from the market in the nearest future, right after the holidays? And we have special events that could help us to understand the market’s sentiment better right now.

So let’s get started

At the beginning of mention a few events that by our view, have essential meaning for the market’s development and could set some turning points. First of all, we see hidden risk, a “phantom menace” that stands around SEC claim to Ripple.

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it has filed an action against Ripple Labs Inc. and two of its executives, who are also significant security holders, alleging that they raised over $1.3 billion through an unregistered, ongoing digital asset securities offering.

The core of the claim stands in SEC treatment of Ripple is an “investment asset”, such a stocks or bonds and its emission has had to be registered as it was used as source to finance the capital of the company:

The complaint alleges that Ripple raised funds, beginning in 2013, through the sale of digital assets known as XRP in an unregistered securities offering to investors in the U.S. and worldwide.

The complaint alleges that the defendants failed to register their offers and sales of XRP or satisfy any exemption from registration, in violation of the registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, and seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement with prejudgment interest, and civil penalties.

Ripple, in turn, argues that XRP is not a security.

“This complaint is wrong as a matter of law. Other major branches of the U.S. government, including the Justice Department and the Treasury Department’s FinCen, have already determined that XRP is a currency. Transactions in XRP thus fall outside the scope of the federal securities laws. This is not the first time the SEC has tried to go beyond its statutory authority. The courts have corrected it before and will do so again.”

So Ripple has chance to win this claim, but the precedent per se looks worrying. It tells on two things – tighter regulation and menace for other altcoins, that uses the same distribution way as XRP, especially if initial distribution has happened few years ago.

Besides, as you know, MoneyGram stands in close partnership with Ripple on providing cryptocurrency payments. Other companies and MoneyGram as well could lose faith and interest in cryptocurrencies, as not regulated enough, which in turn, makes a negative impact on the growth of this business and pace of involving other classic payment agencies in the cryptocurrency sphere.

Germany Banning Derivatives Trading with its New Tax Law Starting 2021

Germany has made changes to its law that no longer allows the losses from income from forward transactions, crypto derivatives trading to be deductible. In 2020, regulators around the world tightened their noose on cryptocurrencies, and Europe is making a move against derivatives trading.

“If the trader realizes option transactions with a total profit of 1,000,000 euros and transactions with a total loss of 800,000 euros in one year, he will not only have to pay withholding tax on the profit of 200,000 euros but also on 990,000 euros from 2021,” explained the tax advisors. This is because only 10,000 euros can be offset from the total losses of 800k euros, and 790k euros are carried forward to the following years.

Institutional flows to cryptocurrency holds

MicroStrategy Announces Over $1B in Total Bitcoin Purchases in 2020

it had purchased an additional approximately 29,646 bitcoins for approximately $650.0 million in cash in accordance with its Treasury Reserve Policy, at an average price of approximately $21,925 per bitcoin, inclusive of fees and expenses.

As of December 21, 2020, the Company holds an aggregate of approximately 70,470 bitcoins, which were acquired at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.125 billion and an average purchase price of approximately $15,964 per bitcoin, inclusive of fees and expenses.

“The acquisition of additional bitcoins announced today reaffirms our belief that bitcoin, as the world’s most widely-adopted cryptocurrency, is a dependable store of value. The Company continues to believe bitcoin will provide the opportunity for better returns and preserve the value of our capital over time compared to holding cash”

Chris Wood cuts exposure to gold, a first in years; invests in Bitcoin

“The 50 per cent weight in physical gold bullion in the portfolio will be reduced for the first time in several years by five percentage points with the money invested in Bitcoin. If there is a big drawdown in bitcoin from the current level, after the historic breakout above the $20,000 level, the intention will be to add to this position,” Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies  wrote in his weekly note to investors, GREED & fear.

Fidelity CEO: Our Bitcoin storage business has been incredibly successful

and Fidelity Digital to Hold Bitcoin as Collateral for Cash Loans

Fidelity Digital Assets will allow its institutional customers to pledge Bitcoin as collateral against cash loans in a partnership with blockchain startup BlockFi. The target is Bitcoin investors who want to turn their digital stash into cash without selling, and potential customers include hedge funds, crypto miners and over-the-counter trading desks, Jessop said.

“As the markets grow, we’d expect that this becomes a fairly important part of the ecosystem.”

Fidelity said institutional-investor interest in digital currencies is rising. A survey the asset manager conducted earlier this year found 36% of respondents held crypto in their portfolios. More than six out of 10 expressed interest in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, up from 47% in a 2019 survey.

Sweden Explores Moving to a Digital Currency

Per Bolund, financial markets minister, said a review launched on Friday is expected to be completed by the end of November in 2022. Anna Kinberg Batra, a former chairwoman of the Riksbank’s finance committee, will lead the inquiry.

Sweden is among the first countries in the world to consider introducing a digital currency. Its central bank is already running a pilot project to introduce an electronic krona based on the same blockchain technology that underpins digital currencies like Bitcoin.

“An initial simple CBDC would offer only modest advantages for fiscal and monetary policy, but a more radical CBDC could make policy more powerful someday. On the fiscal policy side, a simple CBDC could facilitate instant delivery of stimulus payments“

MINING

Market Statistics

$50,000 Is Potential 2021 Bitcoin Resistance; Support Is $10,000.

Bitcoin will maintain its propensity to advance in price into 2021, in our view, with macroeconomic, technical and demand vs. supply indicators supportive of $50,000 target resistance, implying about a $1 trillion market cap. The $10,000 mark has shifted to a critical support level after serving as the crypto’s resistance mark since 2017.

$500-$700 Set to Define Ethereum in 2021.

Net Unrealized Profit/Loss Current value stands at 78% from the 2017 top. Price in 2017 increased +1,400% to ATH. A +1,400% increase today –  at $286,000