APT Trades Little Changed, Undeperforms Wider Crypto Market Rally

The UAE has enacted a new financial law that integrates cryptocurrency and blockchain technology into traditional finance, placing them under the supervision of the Central Bank. This decree aims to solidify the UAE's position as a global leader in the cryptocurrency sector.

Nasdaq ISE has filed to elevate the option limits for BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) to top-tier status, reflecting a surge in IBIT options activity and a shift of open interest towards U.S. regulated venues. This move comes amid a backdrop of fluctuating investor sentiment in the cryptocurrency market.

Bitcoin has recently reversed its downward trend, surpassing the $90,000 mark just ahead of Thanksgiving, a notable shift from the typical pre-holiday price declines observed in previous years. This rebound follows a period of volatility, where Bitcoin's price had dipped significantly earlier in the week.

U.S. Bank has selected the XLM network to conduct a pilot program for programmable digital currency, resulting in a 2.6% increase in XLM's value to $0.25. This initiative marks a significant step in the bank's exploration of digital assets and stablecoin issuance on the Stellar network.

Hedera's native token, HBAR, has risen by 1% to surpass the critical resistance level of $0.143, driven by institutional accumulation as the launch of futures approaches. This increase follows a period of volatility where HBAR faced significant downward pressure, including a recent drop below $0.1373.

The decentralized finance (DeFi) sector has experienced a notable decline, with a total value locked dropping by $55 billion since October. Despite this downturn, the underlying fundamentals of DeFi protocols remain robust, as evidenced by increasing activity on decentralized exchanges (DEXs).

S&P Global Ratings has downgraded Tether's USDT, citing the increasing vulnerability of the stablecoin due to its rising exposure to Bitcoin, which has been experiencing significant price declines. This downgrade reflects concerns about the stability of USDT's dollar peg amid a volatile cryptocurrency market.

In the latest Crypto Long & Short Newsletter, Martin Gaspar analyzes the current state of decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens following the market's significant downturn post 10/10, highlighting potential opportunities amid dislocations. Investor sentiment is characterized by confusion and humility as the market grapples with ongoing volatility.