2 min read
Bitcoin, liquidation wave and other things
In this episode of The Talk, the CoinShares research team—led by James Butterfill, joined by Luke Nolan, Satish Patel, Matt Kimmel, Christopher Bendiksen and Alex Schmidt—analyzes the recent crypto market liquidation and its wider implications. Despite volatility and questions of mismanagement, the team finds that institutional sentiment remains constructive, with renewed inflows into Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.
They explore how the U.S. Federal Reserve’s potential “skinny accounts” could reshape crypto-banking relationships, and they dissect challenges facing Bitcoin treasury companies like MicroStrategy and MetaPlanet amid shifting investor priorities toward AI and mining.
The conversation also covers the rapidly evolving perpetual futures landscape led by Hyperliquid and the regulatory debate over decentralized exchanges operating without KYC. Finally, the analysts turn to prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi—highlighting their valuation surges, and potential to redefine real-time market sentiment and financial forecasting.
Key Takeaways
Exchange resilience: Despite extreme volatility, platforms like Hyperliquid remained solvent and functional, showcasing maturation in DeFi markets.
Institutional conviction: ETF inflows and investor behavior indicate strong long-term faith in major crypto assets.
Treasury stress: Companies holding Bitcoin as a core asset face performance and narrative fatigue; investors are rotating toward AI and mining-linked firms.
Regulation & access: U.S. “skinny accounts” could mark a key shift for crypto-banking integration, while DEXs still operate in regulatory grey zones.
Prediction markets’ rise: Platforms like Polymarket and Calci combine decentralized finance with real-world forecasting, potentially bridging crypto with mainstream data and betting markets.
