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Ethereum slides further as billions of dollars drained from the DeFi ecosystem

With the total value locked (TVL) across the Ethereum network recently dropping substantially, more sell-offs loom large on the horizon.

  • Ethreum’s 12-month losses have now surpassed those of Bitcoin’s, currently standing at -50%.
  • ETH’s total valuation has dipped to AUD$185B, with the altcoin’s market share also down to 14%.
  • Analysts believe that the altcoin could slip to AUD$1,200 or as low as AUD$600 in the near term.

The ongoing sell-off has resulted in Ethereum plunging below its all-important AUD$1,450 psychological threshold yesterday, albeit briefly. The altcoin is currently down -26% over the past week and is trading at AUD$1,543.

ETH scaled as low as AUD$1,400 recently, its lowest price level in over 18 months. The currency has lost approximately 80% of its value after soaring to its all-time high of AUD$7,000 last November. The decline coincides with the Federal Reserve’s decision to hike interest rates by 75 basis points, a move that has spurred the crypto and equities sectors into a bear market.

As more quantitative easing (QE) measures may be on the horizon, analysts have pointed out that the Federal Reserve (alongside many other central banks) have barely even started with their inflation curbing efforts, with a pundit highlighting: “The Federal Reserve has barely started raising rates. And for the record, they haven’t sold anything on their balance sheet either. There is bound to be more downside coming from that.”

How to buy Ethereum

Ethereum’s future looks bleak

The last couple of days have seen investors and traders anxiously follow Ethereum’s price action since a dip below AUD$1,430 (US$1,000) could result in forced liquidations of massively leveraged bets. Two prominent crypto lending platforms – Babel Finance and Celsius Network – recently halted withdrawals, citing current market volatility as a reason for the same.

Major crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital – which owned US$10B worth of assets as of May – failed to prove that it had enough collateral to cover its soured bets. The firm now faces potential insolvency, a development that comes just a few weeks after the collapse of Terra, an algorithmic stablecoin project worth $40B during its heyday.

These changes have resulted in large amounts of capital exiting the Ethereum ecosystem, with the TVL within the network dwindling by over US$120B over the past 45 days. Some analysts believe the ongoing downturn may be good for ETH in the long run, adding:

“The deleveraging event that is underground is observably painful and is akin to a form of mini-financial crisis. However, with this pain comes the opportunity to flush excessive out leverage and allow for a healthier rebuild on the other side.”

Where will Ethereum finally bottom out?

The Federal Reserve’s increasingly stringent monetary policies and the DeFi market’s current downturn suggests that Ethereum may continue to remain in a bear market for the foreseeable future. Pundits believe that for any trend reversal to come to fruition, Ethereum must regain its US$1,000 psychological support. Failure to do so could result in the token slipping to AUD$1,200 (US$830).

The currency could also fall all the way down to AUD$600 (US$420) if its corrections mirror the ones recorded back in 2018 when ETH lost more than 90% of its value.

Disclosure: The author owns a range of cryptocurrencies at the time of writing.

Trying to get a handle on the markets? Cut through the noise with our overview of the best cryptos to buy right now, explore some strategies for how to trade crypto or see if there’s a better platform for you with our guide to the best crypto exchanges.

Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators’ websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.

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