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With the end of 2018 fast approaching, one can say that it has been a disappointing year for Bitcoin so far and the crypto market as a whole regarding prices. After a series of dips in recent weeks, the coin is now valued at $3,371.17, way below its January 6, 2018, high when it traded near $20,000. This means that Bitcoin has already lost more than 80% of its value this year.
But despite the crypto market’s falling value, many investors remain confident that the downtrend could still be reversed. One factor that could end the market’s decline and perhaps even push it toward an upward trajectory is the entry of Bakkt, which will launch its Bitcoin futures trading service by January 24, 2018.
Bakkt’s Potential
Writing for Weiss Cryptocurrency Ratings, DLT expert and cryptoanalyst Dr. Bruce Ng believes that Bakkt’s scalable crypto trading platform which is specifically geared for institutional investors will have a tremendous impact on the space when it goes live next year.
Bruce Ng wrote:
“It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Bakkt will NOT open the floodgates for large institutions to buy crypto. And the consequences are potentially far-reaching.”
Among Ng’s prediction is that with Bakkt’s services, institutional volume in the Bitcoin futures niche could grow by leaps and bounds. In addition, its regulated custody service for Bitcoin storage is especially enticing and could potentially lure existing institutional investors that are currently operating in the “opaque OTC markets.” It could also spur the entry of new institutional investors as it will solve custodial issues that have been hindering some institutional clients from investing into the space.
Bruce Ng also believes that Bakkt might even help resolve issues that caused SEC’s rejections for crypto ETF applications. The regulator’s main concern is that there is “no trusted price information and over-reliance on futures markets,” issues that, according to Ng, could be resolved with Bakkt’s presence.
The Potential Downside
But of course, not everyone is looking forward to Bakkt’s entry. In fact, some investors fear the deluge of institutional money as it could bring with it some rather nasty scenarios.
Bruce Ng explained:
“They worry Wall Street could someday control cryptocurrencies by adding a lot of leverage to the game. They fear high-risk crypto derivatives — the same kind stuff that helped aggravate the 2008 debt crisis that, in turn, gave rise to the invention of Bitcoin. Bitcoin, they argue, was supposed to be a part of the solution — not a new part of the same old problem.”
Another worry is that institutions, with their very deep pockets, might be tempted to manipulate the prices of Bitcoin and other cryptos using derivatives. One concern is that institutions will use their “Bitcoin stored in custody to leverage other investments.”
Bakkt responded to these concerns by saying that “there will be no leverage, commingling or rehypothecation.” Being backed by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) which owns NYSE, The Clearing Corporation, and SME among others, Bakkt’s reputation and credibility are unquestionable. In addition, its partnerships with several big names in the business scene such as Microsoft, Starbucks, and the Boston Consulting Group suggest that it is serious in its commitment and that its assurance is not to be taken lightly.
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