What Increased Regulation Means for the Future of Virtual Currencies?

What do recent developments signify for coins that prioritize user privacy as the clamor for government regulation for cryptocurrencies gets louder? Governments and regulators worldwide have emphasized how useful bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are to criminals. 

Their focus is anticipated to increase cryptocurrency transparency so that users, including businesses and consumers, feel at ease when they invest or carry out transactions. While this may be good news for institutional and commercial investors, privacy-focused coins that have improved or, in some cases, doubled down on bitcoin’s privacy features may view it as a negative.

Chants of Regulation

As legislators in Washington, D.C., and around the world work to create rules and legislation that will make bitcoin safer for investors and less appealing to hackers, expect continuous discussions on cryptocurrency regulation. According to U.S. government officials, stablecoin regulation is crucial, particularly in light of the most recent Terra Luna meltdown.

Due to the fall of the cryptocurrency markets, which also caused a decline in the related cryptocurrency Luna, the stablecoin TerraUSD (UST) depegged from the dollar in May. As a result, a lot of investors from Terra and Luna watched their money go quickly.

Within a few weeks of Terra’s debacle, the cryptocurrency market crumbled once more.Numerous cryptocurrency companies announced layoffs and stopped withdrawals to save costs as a result of the poor market conditions. Since then, other companies, including Celsius and Three Arrows Capital, have filed for bankruptcy.

The snowball effect has given federal officials additional justification to push for crypto legislation.

Precarious Trade Dynamics

Traders or investors can purchase and sell using cryptocurrencies without banks or brokerages. Without these middlemen, peer-to-peer bitcoin transactions can occur on exchanges like FTX and its counterpart Binance. Instead, a set of validators—often referred to as miners—consensually authenticate transactions. 

This is known as “mining,” and it is accomplished using the proof-of-work (PoW) algorithm, which Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies utilize. However, Binance and its competitors employ the same “limit order book” approach as any conventional exchange, including the New York Stock Exchange, to manage these transactions. 

This indicates that buyers and sellers are matched centrally, with market makers providing liquidity and charging dealers for transactions. Recent developments in the crypto sector have been, in some ways, made worse by this type of arrangement. In order to complete the books of its sister firm, it employed exchange-issued tokens (FTT). 

This raises the possibility of being exposed to a market crash. 

Implications for the Future of Virtual Currencies

Greater Stability and Security

Although the idea of regulating cryptocurrencies can be controversial, many experts think it will be good for both investors and the industry as a whole. The notoriously volatile bitcoin industry may become more stable with more regulation. It might also protect long-term investors and put an end to fraud inside the crypto ecosystem if it strikes the right balance.

Emergence of Alternate Exchange Models

Cryptocurrency is not tightly regulated, in contrast to traditional financial markets, but this appears to be changing in light of FTX’s recent struggles and this year’s events. It is now even more clear how important it is to create additional official frameworks for the bitcoin industry. 

Similar to many decentralized exchanges, Uniswap, which debuted in 2018, offers a governance token called UNI that allows individual users to vote in decisions regarding the exchange’s operation. No centralized entity, in theory, is permitted to influence system choices made by holders of these currencies. 

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Real-Time Observation of Crypto Assets

Monitoring cryptocurrency exchange assets in real-time rather than depending on yearly reports with flagrant mistakes would be one approach to avoid a repeat of the FTX catastrophe. This is currently doable. “Proof of reserves” may be given by an impartial third party. 

This would alert potential systemic breakdowns caused by unforeseen activities, including using exchange reserves to lend to crypto companies, as was the case with FTX.

Greater Informed Decision-making

Financial regulators might also create a suitable framework for evaluating cryptocurrency risks. Independent audits and stress tests of the data on the chain should be a part of this. Regulations could be implemented to limit the use of an exchange’s tokens for lending money to cryptocurrency businesses. 

More client protection might stop exchanges from halting withdrawals, denying traders access to funds held by troubled exchanges.

Final Thoughts

Ebbs and flows will continue as integral parts of an ever-growing process. Crashes create lessons, and the industry moves on. Regulation of virtual currencies is a hot topic and will continue to do so. One can safely assume that newer exchange models will emerge to eradicate existing crypto concerns.