Tag Archives: global

The tech record vs crypto crash: Why the liquidity roadmap just split in two

The tech record vs crypto crash: Why the liquidity roadmap just split in two

The global financial landscape is currently presenting a striking paradox as traditional equities power to fresh records while digital assets face heavy liquidation. This divergence highlights how differently various asset classes absorb macroeconomic shocks and structural shifts.

While a tentative ceasefire agreement in the Middle East and a massive wave of corporate investments in artificial intelligence breathe new life into global stock indices, the cryptocurrency market is grappling with aggressive capital flight. This situation reveals a distinct decoupling of sentiment: traditional markets celebrate a reduction in systemic risk, while digital assets remain trapped in a feedback loop of institutional outflows and forced derivatives liquidations.

In traditional equity markets, investors are celebrating a confluence of positive geopolitical and macroeconomic developments. The primary catalyst for this optimism is a draft 60-day ceasefire agreement between United States and Iranian negotiators. This development has significantly lowered the geopolitical risk premium that previously weighed on global commerce.

A direct result of this de-escalation is the retreatment of crude oil, with Brent crude stabilising below US$100 per barrel, specifically around US$93. This drop offers immediate relief to global inflation expectations and energy-strapped consumer supply chains, which in turn provides central banks with more breathing room.

Concurrently, a mixed macroeconomic picture in the United States supports the soft-landing narrative. The April Personal Consumption Expenditures price index registered a headline increase of 0.4 per cent and a core increase of 0.2 per cent, coming in slightly cooler than consensus expectations. Additionally, the United States 1st-quarter gross domestic product was revised lower to 1.6 per cent annualised, down from the initial two per cent prints, confirming an economic cooling that could deter overly aggressive monetary tightening.

This stabilisation in inflation and geopolitics provided the perfect launchpad for an explosive artificial intelligence and technology earnings rally, driving major indices to record closing levels. The S&P 500 advanced 0.58 per cent to close at 7,563.63, propelled by artificial-intelligence infrastructure spending and lower oil prices. The Nasdaq Composite led the gains with a 0.91 per cent surge to 26,917.47, fueled by technology leadership and stellar corporate performances. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a late record during a more subdued session, rising 0.05 per cent to close at 50,668.97.

Individual corporate movers illustrate the sheer scale of this technology-driven euphoria. In software, Snowflake surged 36 per cent on blowout guidance and a massive US$6,000,000,000 compute deal with Amazon Web Services, reigniting interest across the sector. Consequently, Palantir climbed eight per cent, and ServiceNow advanced 6.5 per cent. In hardware, Dell Technologies surged roughly 40 per cent in extended trading after smashing revenue estimates by 88 per cent, driven by an insatiable demand for artificial intelligence servers. Private markets mirrored this enthusiasm, as Anthropic raised US$65,000,000,000 at a staggering US$965,000,000,000 valuation, surpassing its chief rival OpenAI for the very first time. Beyond technology,

Microsoft rose 3.5 per cent following reports that it will launch a next-generation artificial intelligence coding model, while Eli Lilly rallied 4.0 per cent after CVS Health restored insurance coverage for its weight-loss drug, Zepbound, and added its new obesity pill, Foundayo. Asian markets advanced broadly on these positive cues, with Japan’s Topix up 0.5 per cent and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbing 0.8 per cent in early trading, while BYD Company unveiled China’s first automotive-grade 4-nanometer self-driving chip to boost high-margin electric vehicle models.

In stark contrast to this equity market euphoria, the cryptocurrency market has entered a sharp correction, failing to benefit from the broader risk-on environment. Bitcoin fell 0.89 per cent over 24 hours to US$73,709.75, underperforming the broader financial trends and showing a strong 61 per cent correlation with the S&P 500 during the initial phases of the move. This indicates that digital assets are reacting strongly to shifts in institutional capital rather than to internal crypto factors.

The primary driver behind this downward price pressure is a massive wave of institutional selling through spot exchange-traded funds. This selling coincided with the eighth consecutive day of net outflows from United States spot Bitcoin vehicles, totaling US$733,000,000 on a single day. BlackRock’s IBIT alone experienced a significant US$527,800,000 redemption, reversing the strong institutional inflow narrative that had previously supported the asset class.

This institutional withdrawal triggered secondary pain points across the cryptocurrency derivatives markets, turning a standard correction into a cascading sell-off. As prices slipped, overleveraged long positions were forced to close. Bitcoin liquidations surged 71.65 per cent to US$277,780,000 within 24 hours, with long positions accounting for an overwhelming 92 per cent of that total. This created a destructive feedback loop of forced selling into weak order books, which accelerated the decline past key moving averages.

If Bitcoin manages to defend its support at US$73,000, near the 78.6 per cent Fibonacci retracement, it may enter a period of consolidation and attempt to reclaim US$74,200. A break below the recent swing low of US$72,500 would risk a deeper retest of the psychological US$70,000 boundary. For bullish momentum to fully return, buyers must reclaim the previous swing high of $75,278.

Ethereum mirrored this bearish sentiment almost perfectly, dropping 0.59 per cent over 24 hours to US$2,010.32. Just like Bitcoin, Ethereum was heavily impacted by institutional capital flight, with United States spot Ether exchange-traded funds recording US$67,000,000 in net outflows. Ethereum faced unique structural pressure from its derivatives market. Even as the price declined, open interest in Ether futures hit a record high of 16,390,000 ETH, signalling that aggressive traders were adding leveraged short positions.

This aggressive shorting fueled a painful cascade of $241,000,000 in long liquidations, breaking the price below the psychological $2,000 support level. Ethereum has now entered a critical demand zone between the 78.6 per cent Fibonacci retracement at $2,064 and the March swing low near $1,900. The 4-hour relative strength index stands at 30.94, suggesting heavily oversold conditions that could support a short-term relief bounce toward $2,070, but the overall structure remains fragile. Traders are closely watching the upcoming $8,000,000,000 Deribit options expiry for further volatility.

While equity benchmarks bask in the glow of lower oil prices and breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, beneath the surface, professional investors are quietly preparing for potential turbulence.

We are not “max pain” yet.

Source:
 

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

Dollar weakness isn’t just a trend. It is reshaping global asset flows

Dollar weakness isn’t just a trend. It is reshaping global asset flows
Investors are navigating a landscape defined by uncertainty, muted risk appetite, and a growing divergence between headline optimism and underlying fragility. The Federal Reserve’s first policy decision of 2026 looms large, scheduled for 3AM Singapore time on Thursday, and markets have already begun pricing in cautious expectations.
This tension is underscored by a sharp drop in consumer confidence, which tumbled to 84.5 in January from 94.2 in December, the lowest reading since 2014. Such a precipitous decline suggests that households are increasingly wary of economic conditions, possibly anticipating labor market softness or broader financial instability. Compounding this unease is the rising probability of a partial US government shutdown, fueled by political friction in Minnesota, adding another layer of near-term volatility to an already fragile outlook.
Despite these headwinds, the baseline economic forecast remains cautiously optimistic. Real GDP growth for 2026 is projected at 1.7 per cent, supported by a confluence of fiscal stimulus, accommodative monetary settings, and regulatory frameworks designed to cushion against recessionary forces. This resilience appears unevenly distributed. The equity market’s mixed performance on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones down 0.83 per cent while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose 0.41 per cent and 0.91 per cent respectively, mirrors this dichotomy. A steep selloff in health insurers offset gains driven by anticipation around megacap earnings, revealing how sector-specific dynamics can override broad market narratives. In this context, overreliance on a narrow set of tech giants becomes a strategic vulnerability. Diversification into the S&P Equal Weighted or Low Volatility Index offers a more balanced exposure, while selective allocations to cyclicals like financials and industrials and defensives such as targeted healthcare segments can hedge against both slowdowns and unexpected rallies.
Fixed income markets reflect similar caution. Treasury yields moved in opposite directions on Tuesday, with the 10-year yield edging up two basis points to 4.23 per cent while the two-year yield dropped more than two basis points to 3.57 per cent. This flattening of the yield curve hints at investor skepticism about near-term growth prospects, even as longer-term inflation expectations remain anchored.
The recommendation to extend duration and accumulate high-quality fixed income, particularly in developed and emerging market investment grade, aligns with a defensive posture that anticipates further monetary easing. With two rate cuts still expected in the second and third quarters of 2026, bond investors are positioning for a pivot that will likely be triggered by labour market deterioration, even if delayed data obscures the full picture for now.
Currency markets tell perhaps the most compelling story of shifting power dynamics. The US Dollar Index plunged 1.28 per cent to close at 95.80, its weakest level in nearly four years. President Trump’s public indifference to the dollar’s slide only reinforced market perceptions that US policymakers may tolerate or even welcome a weaker greenback to support exports and ease debt burdens.
The euro surged to its highest level against the dollar since June 2021, while the yen rallied sharply, closing 1.27 per cent lower against the dollar at 152.19, buoyed by speculation of coordinated rate checks between Washington and Tokyo. This broad-based dollar weakness is not merely a technical development. It reshapes global capital flows and redefines asset attractiveness. For risk assets priced in dollars, including commodities and crypto, a falling DXY lowers entry barriers for foreign investors and amplifies returns when converted back into stronger currencies.
Speaking of commodities, Brent crude jumped 3.02 per cent to 67.57 dollars per barrel following a winter storm that paralyzed US Gulf Coast exports, illustrating oil’s persistent sensitivity to supply shocks. The structural outlook remains cautious, given ample global inventories and tepid demand signals. Gold, meanwhile, soared 2.4 per cent to a record 5,136.47 dollars per ounce, cementing its role as the ultimate hedge amid geopolitical strain and economic ambiguity. The metal’s ascent underscores a flight to safety that extends beyond traditional bonds, especially as correlations between gold and the total crypto market cap reach a striking plus 0.84. This unusual alignment suggests that both assets are increasingly viewed through the same lens, as alternatives to fiat systems perceived as unstable or manipulated.
In Asia, regional equities responded positively to the dollar’s retreat and improved global risk tone. South Korea’s Kospi led with a 2.7 per cent gain, powered by memory chip stocks, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Japan’s Nikkei added 1.4 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively. These moves highlight how emerging and developed Asian markets benefit disproportionately from dollar depreciation and liquidity expansion.
Against this backdrop, the crypto market’s modest 0.77 per cent rise over the past 24 hours and 0.92 per cent weekly gain appears understated but meaningful. The move is not driven by speculative frenzy but by two converging fundamentals. First, a PayPal survey released on January 28, revealed that 39 per cent of US merchants now accept cryptocurrency, with 84 per cent expecting mainstream adoption within five years. This is not just optimism. It is evidence of infrastructure maturing beyond trading platforms and into real commerce. Second, the dollar’s collapse below 96 creates a historically bullish macro setup for Bitcoin and other digital assets. When the DXY weakens, crypto often thrives, not as a tech stock proxy, but as a non-sovereign store of value.
The surge in perpetuals trading volume by 16.08 per cent and the turn to positive funding rates signal that speculators are returning, but this time with a foundation of utility and macro support. The question now is whether sustained merchant adoption can offset structural pressures like shrinking stablecoin supplies. If real-world usage continues to grow while the dollar remains under pressure, crypto may transition from a volatile satellite asset to a core component of diversified portfolios. The current moment, quiet as it seems, could mark the beginning of that shift.

 

Source: https://e27.co/dollar-weakness-isnt-just-a-trend-it-is-reshaping-global-asset-flows-20260128/

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

Trump’s Davos reversal sparks massive relief rally in global stocks, cryptocurrencies

Trump’s Davos reversal sparks massive relief rally in global stocks, cryptocurrencies

I see a powerful reversal in global markets today, driven by a sudden calming of geopolitical waters that had only recently threatened to boil over. The primary catalyst was American President Donald Trump stepping back from the brink of a trade conflict with Europe. This immediate de-escalation saw a massive rotation back into riskier assets, effectively erasing the previous session’s sharp sell-off and highlighting just how sensitive modern markets are to political rhetoric.

My observation is that we live in an era in which a single statement from a world leader can swing billions of dollars in value in mere hours. The abandonment of tariff threats, framed around a supposed framework deal over Greenland at the World Economic Forum in Davos, instantly surged investor appetite for risk. This dynamic makes market stability a fragile thing, tethered closely to the whims of political negotiation.

US stock markets ended the day sharply higher, with every major index gaining over 1.1 per cent. The rally was broad and decisive. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ascended 588.64 points, a 1.21 per cent gain, to close at 49,077.23. The S&P 500 advanced 78.76 points, or 1.16 per cent, ending at 6,875.62. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite also jumped, adding 270.50 points, a 1.18 per cent rise, to reach 23,224.83. This momentum was not confined to American shores, as Asian markets also registered gains, signalling a global response to eased tensions.

Simultaneously, a potent dose of AI optimism fueled specific sectors. NVIDIA Corp. Chief Executive Jensen Huang’s statements at Davos, emphasising the critical need for multi-trillion-dollar investments in global AI infrastructure, provided a significant boost to chip stocks and related suppliers. This confluence of geopolitical relief and technological foresight created a strong bullish environment for equities.

The shift in sentiment profoundly impacted commodity markets. Safe-haven demand for gold evaporated as the fear gauge dropped, pushing the spot price down nearly one per cent to around US$4,793.63 per ounce. This followed a record peak in the previous session, perfectly illustrating gold’s traditional role as a crisis hedge. Meanwhile, crude oil prices, specifically West Texas Intermediate, edged up slightly to US$60.76 a barrel, a modest rise likely tied to broader economic optimism rather than supply-side concerns.

In the currency and bond markets, moves were more subdued but still reflected the risk-on mood. The euro was largely unchanged against the dollar, trading at US$1.1685. The Japanese yen fell slightly to 158.47 per dollar, a classic sign of receding risk aversion. The yield on 10-year Treasuries advanced one basis point to 4.25 per cent, indicating slightly less demand for the safety of government debt. Investors are now keenly awaiting today’s American economic data releases, including Final GDP and Initial Jobless Claims figures, which could provide the next impetus for market movement.

The cryptocurrency market presented a fascinating, slightly divergent narrative. The broader crypto market rose 0.82 per cent over the last 24 hours, driven by unique internal dynamics involving institutional developments and derivatives activity, even as headline cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Ether edged lower in the daily market snapshot, with Bitcoin trading around US$89,926.23. My view here is that the crypto market is maturing, developing drivers that are not always perfectly correlated with traditional finance’s daily movements.

The underlying strength in crypto stems from smart money accumulation. On-chain data reveals a clear divergence: Bitcoin whales, holding over 1,000 BTC, accumulated during a recent dip to US$89.4K, while smaller retail wallets sold off. This signals long-term confidence among major players, who see current levels as undervalued. The result was a 49 per cent fall in 24-hour Bitcoin liquidations to US$184.5 million, significantly reducing forced selling pressure and indicating robust underlying support.

Institutional milestones provided further bullish impetus. BitGo priced its initial public offering at US$18 per share, becoming the first major crypto custody firm to go public. This landmark event, coupled with F/m Investments’ filing to tokenise a Treasury exchange-traded fund on-chain, signals maturing infrastructure and regulatory progress. These developments attract traditional capital; indeed, TradFi inflows via ETFs remained stable, with assets under management totalling US$120.7 billion.

The derivatives market is where things get truly dynamic, if a little risky. Perpetual volume spiked 36 per cent to a massive US$1.32 trillion, with average funding rates rising 85 per cent weekly. Short-term traders are clearly leveraging bullish bets. However, open interest fell four per cent, suggesting some profit-taking after recent rallies. High funding rates, around +0.0037 per cent, also increase the inherent volatility risk, underscoring the need for careful management of this momentum.

In conclusion, today’s market activity is a powerful combination of global political relief and targeted sectoral optimism. The crypto uptick reflects strategic whale buying and institutional validation. While technical indicators show the market remains in a state of ‘Fear,’ as indicated by a CMC Index of 34, these underlying factors point toward cautious optimism prevailing.

All eyes are now on Bitcoin’s reaction as it tests the critical US$90K psychological level and on the forthcoming SEC decisions on F/m’s innovative tokenised ETF. The landscape remains complex, but for today, the bulls are firmly in control.

 

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