Posts from the 'Op-Ed' Category

Could your Bitcoin balance soon help you qualify for a home mortgage?

Could your Bitcoin balance soon help you qualify for a home mortgage?

Bitcoin currently trades sideways around the US$64,000 level as global risk appetite wanes significantly. Market participants closely monitor the escalating possibility of a full-scale war between the United States and Iran. According to CoinMarketCap data this morning, the price per bitcoin stood at US$64,682. This represents a slight decline of 0.15 per cent from 24 hours earlier. In contrast, Ethereum, the leading alternative virtual asset, demonstrated relative resilience, rising 0.5 per cent from the previous day to US$1,870. This divergence highlights the complex dynamics at play within the broader digital asset ecosystem during periods of heightened geopolitical tension and market uncertainty.

Middle East geopolitical risks actively stoke inflation across global markets. This persistent inflationary pressure directly limits the potential for near-term central bank interest rate cuts. Consequently, this restrictive monetary reality caps the immediate upside potential for Bitcoin and other risk assets. We observe this macroeconomic correlation clearly in international oil markets. As of 6 p.m. Eastern time, September Brent crude rose 3.12 per cent from the previous session to US$90.85 a barrel. This marked the first time since the 11th of last month that Brent crude topped US$90. Simultaneously, West Texas Intermediate crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 3.1 per cent to US$85.05 a barrel.

Traditional financial markets and cryptocurrency markets consistently move in tandem during periods of systemic stress. The current hesitation in Bitcoin price action reflects a broader market reassessment of risk. Investors actively price in the reality that persistent inflation will keep monetary policy restrictive. This environment demands a sophisticated understanding of how digital assets function. They are no longer mere speculative instruments but are becoming integral components of a modernising and increasingly decentralised financial architecture. Market participants now recognise that digital scarcity and decentralised consensus provide a unique hedge against fiat currency debasement.

Despite these immediate macroeconomic headwinds, a structural shift is underway in how traditional finance views digital wealth. The American Homeowner Crypto Modernization Act represents a critical step toward bridging the gap between decentralised finance and mainstream credit access. Representative Nancy Mace introduced this legislation to mandate that federal housing agencies update their underwriting rules. Agencies including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency must treat verified digital assets alongside traditional savings, stocks, and bonds.

This legislative proposal focuses strictly on asset recognition rather than enabling mortgage payments in cryptocurrency. Borrowers could count their crypto holdings as part of their total asset base. The compliance requirements are stringent and deliberate. Applicants must provide concrete proof of ownership, detailed transaction records, and official exchange documentation. A simple wallet screenshot will not suffice for federal underwriting standards. This rigorous documentation standard aims to satisfy regulatory concerns while validating the financial standing of applicants whose wealth concentrates heavily in digital assets rather than traditional banking accounts.

We must remain realistic about the legislative timeline and the inherent hurdles ahead. The bill currently sits at the committee stage in the House of Representatives. The House Clerk formally referred the measure to both the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. It still needs to clear these committees, pass the full House, navigate the Senate, and secure a presidential signature. Timelines remain inherently uncertain. Debates surrounding consumer protection and financial stability guarantee that housing-related crypto legislation will face intense scrutiny and likely amendments before any final legislative vote.

If this bill eventually becomes law, the practical impact on borrowers will prove highly significant. Individuals with substantial crypto portfolios will find it much easier to meet asset and reserve requirements for home loans. This is particularly true if regulatory agencies allow stablecoins to function similarly to cash equivalents in standard underwriting models. Such a progressive change would democratise access to homeownership for a demographic that has historically faced severe friction when trying to leverage digital wealth for traditional financial goals like buying a home. This shift empowers a new generation of wealth builders who prioritise self-custody and decentralised finance over legacy banking institutions.

Lenders and regulators will inevitably implement strict guardrails to manage this new asset class. They must actively manage volatility, concentration risk, and potential fraud within mortgage portfolios. We can expect financial institutions to apply conservative haircuts to the assessed value of non-stablecoin holdings. Stricter documentation protocols will become the absolute norm for these applicants. These risk controls are necessary to protect both the borrower and the lending institution. They also reflect a maturing regulatory approach that acknowledges the validity of crypto assets while mitigating their inherent market fluctuations.

This legislative movement aligns perfectly with a broader vision for the future of global financial infrastructure. As I explore in my ongoing research regarding the convergence of artificial intelligence and decentralised systems, true financial innovation requires seamless interoperability between legacy systems and emerging technologies. Treating verified crypto holdings as legitimate collateral directly challenges outdated financial tests that fail to capture the reality of decentralised wealth. It signals a gradual but undeniable shift toward a more inclusive, transparent and human-centric financial ecosystem that serves modern economic participants.

We must treat this bill as an early signal rather than an immediate solution for borrowers. United States policy begins to formally link crypto wealth to mainstream credit access for the first time. Implementation will proceed slowly, and institutional risk rules will remain conservative. The directional momentum is clear. Regulated recognition of digital asset balances will gradually transform how households qualify for major loans. Despite the current sideways price action stemming from geopolitical fears, this foundational progress in legislative recognition reinforces a fundamentally bullish outlook for the long-term integration of cryptocurrency into the global economy.

The intersection of macroeconomic pressure and legislative progress defines the current era of digital assets. While oil prices and geopolitical tensions dictate short-term price action, the structural integration of crypto into traditional finance dictates long-term value. Recognising digital assets in mortgage underwriting validates years of advocacy by the crypto community. It proves that decentralised wealth can coexist with regulated financial systems. This bill is a testament to the resilience of the industry. We are witnessing the early stages of a financial paradigm shift. The path forward requires patience, but the destination promises a more equitable, transparent, and technologically advanced economic landscape for all participants.

 

Source: https://e27.co/could-your-bitcoin-balance-soon-help-you-qualify-for-a-home-mortgage-20260720/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j

Bitcoin at US$63,780: Buying opportunity or trap? The uncomfortable truth

Bitcoin at US$63,780: Buying opportunity or trap? The uncomfortable truth

Bitcoin trades at US$63,780.63, representing more than a 50 per cent correction from the all-time high of US$126,198 it established in October 2025. While the fourth post-halving cycle successfully produced a peak higher than any prior market expansion, the subsequent downward correction has proved exactly as aggressive as the previous upward climb.

In the last 24 hours, the price dropped by an additional 1.55 per cent. The psychological environment governing the market reflects this downward pressure, with the Fear and Greed Index at 22, signalling extreme fear among active market participants.

Technical indicators validate this widespread anxiety because every single major moving average hovers directly above the current price action, constructing a series of formidable overhead resistance levels that complicate near-term bullish recovery efforts.

Heavy structural headwinds intensify these technical difficulties, particularly as large-scale capital movements from sovereign nations disrupt market stability. The United States government recently generated substantial anxiety among trading desks by transferring US$288 million in seized bitcoin and ether directly to the Coinbase Prime trading platform. This substantial block of digital assets originated from historical criminal enforcement seizures involving Farace and BTC-e.

The government routed these specific assets through a series of fresh, newly generated blockchain wallets before the coins finally arrived at the institutional exchange platform. This transaction triggered widespread alarm among allocators because the sudden movement directly contradicted prior official assurances of a strict no-sell reserve order for government-held digital tokens.

The unexpected emergence of potential state-sponsored liquidation pressure hit the market at a highly vulnerable juncture. This government supply shock immediately amplified existing selling pressure, forcing market participants to reassess the asset’s near-term supply dynamics.

Simultaneously, institutional investment vehicles recorded their worst single-day capital outflows of the month, indicating a coordinated retreat among traditional finance managers. Total outflows from spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds reached a staggering US$424 million in a single trading session. This heavy institutional divestment saw BlackRock’s IBIT vehicle shed US$185 million in investor capital, while Fidelity’s FBTC vehicle experienced an even larger reduction by losing US$245 million.

These massive liquidation numbers pose an immediate, severe obstacle that any optimistic price prediction must fully account for before forecasting a sustainable market turnaround. The sudden departure of institutional sponsorship suggests that professional wealth managers are actively de-risking their portfolios in response to changing global conditions. This dual pressure of government selling and exchange-traded fund redemptions creates a formidable barrier that will require significant time and substantial buying volume to completely clear.

Macroeconomic forces outside the immediate sphere of digital networks dictate this downward price trajectory. The primary driver of the latest market contraction is a sharp geopolitical risk-off sentiment that shook international financial markets on July 16, 2026.

Renewed conflict and intensifying military tensions between the United States and Iran on that day triggered an immediate flight to safety among global investors. This sudden geopolitical flashpoint spooked international market participants, sparking a rapid, synchronised sell-off that simultaneously battered high-growth technology equities, traditional commodities, and decentralised cryptocurrencies. This synchronised market contraction proves that the recent price drop does not arise from internal blockchain vulnerabilities or crypto-specific failures. Instead, the price action reflects a broad, macro-driven aversion to geopolitical instability.

Market analysts warn that prolonged friction in the Middle East could significantly delay highly anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and tighten global financial conditions. Investors currently prioritise absolute liquidity and capital preservation over speculative price appreciation, a behavioural shift that deprives risk assets of the consistent inflows necessary to defend higher price levels.

The mature integration of digital tokens into the global financial framework manifests clearly in recent cross-asset correlation statistics. Bitcoin currently maintains a strong 64 per cent correlation with the traditional S&P 500 stock index and an identical 64 per cent correlation with gold. This dual statistical linkage indicates that macroeconomic interest rate expectations and geopolitical headlines guide the cryptocurrency market just as forcefully as they steer traditional equities and safe-haven precious metals.

As broader market positioning shifted rapidly in response to international headlines, the cryptocurrency derivatives sector underwent a swift, painful unwinding. Total open interest across the bitcoin futures market dropped by 4.17 per cent, demonstrating that heavily leveraged traders chose to abandon their positions rather than attempt to defend key support levels.

Funding rates collapsed to a very low level of positive 0.006 per cent, proving that speculative long conviction has completely vanished from the trading environment. This sharp cooling of speculative leverage triggered US$46.1 million in forced bitcoin liquidations, effectively purging overextended participants from the ecosystem.

From a strictly technical analysis standpoint, the asset’s immediate trajectory depends entirely on specific support and resistance levels. The immediate price zone between US$63,800 and US$64,000 represents a critical near-term support floor, closely aligned with the 38.2 per cent Fibonacci retracement level at US$63,067.

If this specific price boundary holds firm against the ongoing selling pressure, bitcoin could establish a temporary consolidation range between US$63,800 and US$65,500. A definitive downside break below this support floor risks a rapid retest of the lower support zone spanning from US$62,000 to US$62,050, particularly if international headlines take a turn for the worse.

The digital asset ecosystem remains highly cautious and dependent on global macroeconomic developments. Short-term price stability rests entirely on incoming international news flows and buyers’ ability to maintain the line at critical technical support thresholds. In my humble opinion, the market will tank further; there is no need to rush in to buy now.

 

Source: https://e27.co/bitcoin-at-us63780-buying-opportunity-or-trap-the-uncomfortable-truth-20260717/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j

Bitcoin at US$64,660: The hidden on-chain signal that suggests we’re still in a bear market

Bitcoin at US$64,660: The hidden on-chain signal that suggests we’re still in a bear market

Bitcoin recently outperformed both United States and European equities following the United States Consumer Price Index inflation report on Tuesday. This decisive move marks a strong recovery after weeks of trading sideways near recent lows. This price action is a structural shift rather than a random fluctuation.

The current market dynamics suggest that selling pressure is exhausting. Buyers are increasingly positioning themselves and waiting for positive macroeconomic catalysts to drive the next leg higher. This exhaustion of sellers often precedes significant trend reversals, especially when converging macroeconomic and onchain data support this trajectory. Independent analysis reveals patterns that mainstream narratives frequently suppress, and the current data strongly supports a bullish structural foundation for the future of decentralised finance.

The primary catalyst for this renewed momentum is undeniably macroeconomic relief. The latest Consumer Price Index report showed an unexpected 0.4 per cent monthly drop in inflation. This represents the largest cooling in inflation since April 2020. With annual inflation slowing down, macro investors have renewed confidence that the Federal Reserve may hold interest rates steady or begin cutting them in the near future. This expectation drives capital back into risk assets like cryptocurrencies.

I have long emphasised the correlation between traditional financial markets and digital assets. When macroeconomic conditions ease, liquidity inevitably seeks higher yields, and Bitcoin stands as the premier beneficiary of this global capital rotation. The market correctly prices in this shifting monetary policy landscape before official rate decisions occur, demonstrating the efficiency of decentralised markets compared to legacy systems.

Onchain metrics further validate this constructive outlook. Bitcoin continues to trade above the average on-chain cost basis of all investors. It remains below the short-term holder cost basis near US$69,000. This specific positioning provides deep insight into market psychology.

Long-term holders have largely stopped realising profits during this period. Furthermore, recent outflows have been increasingly sold at a loss. These behaviours reflect classic signs of a late-stage bear market where weak hands have already capitulated. The remaining supply sits in the wallets of conviction buyers who understand the long-term value proposition of decentralised financial infrastructure. We can clearly observe that buyers absorbed much of the selling pressure from the decline in June.

The Glassnode Accumulation Trend Score showed broad buying activity across both small and large wallet cohorts as Bitcoin traded near its recent lows. This broad accumulation indicates retail participants and sophisticated whales recognise the value at these price levels. The accumulation has since moderated as prices stabilised, signalling a healthy natural equilibrium rather than frantic speculation.

Institutional flows also reflect clear signs of improvement, even amidst broader market caution. United States spot Bitcoin ETF redemptions slowed considerably from the heavy outflows we witnessed in June. This deceleration suggests institutional selling pressure is finally stabilising. Bitcoin funds netted US$181 million in inflows on Tuesday.

This positive movement partially offset the US$424 million in outflows recorded the day before. While this reflects a minor recovery, the unwinding lacks support from strong, aggressive buying. This nuanced institutional behaviour aligns perfectly with my independent analysis of traditional finance entering the crypto space. Until inflows return and hold consistently, this remains a market where institutions have stopped fleeing but have not started buying aggressively.

Traditional financial players exercise extreme caution. They require confirmed macroeconomic shifts and sustained price stability before committing fresh capital. This cautious approach is rational, and it highlights the friction between legacy regulatory frameworks and decentralised systems. Traditional financial tests like the Howey test remain unsuitable for evaluating these decentralised crypto systems, creating temporary hesitation among institutional allocators.

The derivatives market provides additional confirmation of this shifting sentiment. Traders have steadily shifted away from bearish positioning over recent weeks. The options put-to-call ratio has fallen to its lowest level of the year. This decline indicates a substantially reduced demand for downside protection.

Smart money is adjusting its risk models, recognising that the probability of a severe downward continuation has diminished. Perpetual futures funding rates have remained slightly positive during this recovery phase. This specific metric suggests that long positioning has not become crowded.

In my experience analysing market liquidity and derivatives volume, crowded long positioning often precedes sharp, corrective liquidations. Funding rates remaining slightly positive indicate a sustainable and organic recovery. Technically, Bitcoin is currently hovering around US$64,660. This price action reflects a strong multi-day push that reclaimed the crucial US$65,000 psychological milestone.

The recent upward momentum accelerated significantly when Bitcoin broke back over the technical resistance levels between US$58,000 and US$62,000. This breakout triggered a massive wave of short covering. Traders betting on further price drops bought back their positions to limit losses. This forced buying acted as rocket fuel, pushing the price decisively past the resistance zone.

Three powerful, converging factors drive this recent upward momentum.

  • First, easing United States inflation data has provided essential macroeconomic relief.
  • Second, massive institutional ETF inflows, including over US$180 million in net inflows in a single day, led heavily by funds like BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust, demonstrate continuous whale accumulation that absorbs market supply and applies strong upward price pressure.
  • Third, short covering and forced liquidation cleared out bearish leverage, fuelling the breakout. These elements form a robust foundation for the next major expansion phase of digital assets.

I am looking forward to more changes.

 

Source: https://e27.co/bitcoin-at-us64660-the-hidden-on-chain-signal-that-suggests-were-still-in-a-bear-market-20260716/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j