BitMEX CEO warns that Ethereum Merge could cause high volatility
The Ethereum Merge is one the most anticipated events within the crypto space for this year. Crypto firms are always on the lookout to spot any issues that might arise as the new upgraded Ethereum network becomes operational.
Alexander Hoptner (CEO of BitMEX crypto exchange) spoke to Cointelegraph about how the trading platform is preparing the Merge. He also discussed institutional adoption potential after the transition from proof of stake (PoS) and his thoughts on Bitcoin ( BTC and Ether ( ETH).
Hoptner explained that, aside from making sure all boxes are checked on company preparations for big events ahead of them, it is important to be attentive to what could happen and ensure that the services they provide are functioning properly. He explained:
“You must be just, let’s call it, awake and watch what happens. There is a possibility of high volatility. You need to ensure that your services are available. […] We do not expect major disruptions other than volatility.”
BitMEX’s executive said that a fork would be successful if it was supported by a strong community. Hoptner pointed out that forks are at risk if there isn’t enough support from miners.
The issue of institutional adoption following the Merge was another topic discussed during the interview. The BitMEX CEO feels that PoS Ethereum is better for organizations than major players who are increasing their services to institutional players. This is because it addresses the main environmental narrative with which institutions are most concerned. He stated:
“I am certain that this will push for institutional adoption as well as mass market adoption, because […]nerally, the current generation pays close to the efficiency, environmental development.”
He also pointed out that large financial institutions are already experimenting with crypto, primarily BTC and ETH. Hoptner stated that many institutions already offer 1% to 22% crypto in their portfolios and that he expects this trend to continue.
Related: ETH Merge – CoinGecko founder shares his strategy for forked tokens
Contrary to popular belief that the market is at the moment, BitMEX CEO shared his team’s belief that the current market conditions are not bearish. Instead, he believes that there is a small correction in traditional finance. He stated that:
“Beforehand it was extremely overheated on the market. We were too fond of money, and this is now a minor correction. However, we are extremely bullish about Bitcoin and ETH, particularly for proof-of stake.
Hoptner is positive that the Ethereum Merge is a positive step in the industry and reiterated his team’s belief in the value of ETH. He also stated that Ethereum has a strong community and ETH could eventually surpass BTC. He stated that he believes it could surpass Bitcoin in relative growth.
The Ethereum Merge is one of the most anticipated events in the crypto space this year....
Block wallet addresses that are deemed at-risk using the DeFi platform Oasis
A new Discord post from Thursday’s community states that decentralized financing (DeFi) platform Oasis.app has announced that only sanctioned addresses can access the application. Due to the new terms of service, wallets that have been flagged as high-risk are no longer allowed to use Oasis.app for managing positions or withdrawing funds. These users will need to interact with Oasis.app directly or use another service.
Gabriel, a member of Oasis.app, explained the decision:
“We recently had to revise the Terms of Service of the Oasis.app front end to ensure compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. Oasis.app now has updated Terms of Service in accordance with the most recent regulations. Oasis.app functionality will not be accessible to any sanctioned addresses.
Oasis raised a $6 million Series B in 2020 and has since grown to be a well-known platform for DeFi borrowing and lending. In the last 30 days, $4.6 billion worth transactions were processed by Oasis and $3.42 billion has been managed in deposits.
It is unclear at the time of publication which tools Oasis uses to identify wallets that are high-risk. Similar to Oasis’s decentralized exchange (DEX), Uniswap has recently begun to block wallets allegedly linked to illicit activities using TRM Labs data. TRM Labs assists entities in investigating and detecting crypto-related financial crimes through on-chain analysis. Oasis has received mostly negative feedback about their new measure. One Discord user, Eagles#2541, claims:
“I am actually just interfacing with Oasis using an account that has been exposed to Tornado Cash. I cannot reproduce the problem that others are experiencing, so it is likely that the team is incompetent or has used a wide net with arbitrary holes.
It appears https://t.co/S7tb5tREIC, following Uniswap, has started sending all your data to TRM Labs. This is what happens when you are connected to an address that they don’t like. There is no way to close positions in the UI. pic.twitter.com/n2ocN8jQTq
— banteg
August 11, 2022
According to a new community Discord post on Thursday, decentralized finance (DeFi) platform Oasis.app says that...