WGMI WEDNESDAYS
Where do we even start? Crypto is crashing. If you’re wondering what this all means for NFTs, then we got you covered. Here’s what we’ll be discussing today:
Some other headlines you might have missed
- How will the FTX implosion affect NFTs?
- Are DeGods and y00ts abandoning Solana for Ethereum?
- Some other headlines you might have missed
Crypto markets shocked by FTX's near-collapse
FTX, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, came within inches of collapse.
FTX and its once-esteemed founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, were all but over… if it wasn’t for an unlikely savior, Binance. In a drama worthy of a Netflix special, Binance’s CEO was culpable for instigating the string of events that would eventually lead to FTX’s implosion.
WTF just happened?
The Binance Vs FTX saga has been covered at great length. Here’s an overly simplified version of how we got here:
- Binance is the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. FTX is (was?) the world’s third largest exchange and was increasingly causing headaches for Binance.
- FTX works closely with regulators, and started talking shit about Binance behind closed door.
Binance’s CEO, CZ, responded by saying Binance was going to dump its $2 billion worth of $FTT. The $FTT price crashed 35%.
- Context 1: $FTT is FTX’s native token.
- Context 2: Binance used to own part of FTX. When Binance sold its share back to FTX, it received A LOT of $FTT as payment.
- Context 3: $FTT is highly illiquid. Alameda Research (the market-making arm of FTX) owned considerable amounts of $FTT which it was even using as collateral for loans. Illiquid + huge dump = down bad.
Concern about the financial health of FTX resulted in a bank run.
- People with holdings in FTX withdrew $6 billion in 72 hours. It was so bad that FTX actually paused withdrawals.
- From nowhere, a wild CZ appeared and announced Binance would “save” FTX by buying it. However, the Binance acquisition is non-binding and subject to due diligence. There are even reports Binance is backing out of the deal. That means the drama (and perhaps the damage) is far from over.
This whole saga could affect our beloved monkey JPEGs in a number of ways:
- General loss of crypto confidence: Many investors lump crypto and NFTs in the same bucket. These events make the crypto industry seem riskier. That means people might be more reluctant to buy (or hold on to) NFTs.
- Solana exodus: Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX were staunch supporters of Solana. Alameda has $1 billion in locked and unlocked Solana (which it will have to sell if it goes insolvent). This has all rekt $SOL, which is down over 40% in the last 24 hours. A prolonged $SOL slump could make NFT traders, creators and developers leave the ecosystem altogether. DeGods and y00ts are already considering migrating to ETH (more on that below).
- Increased NFT marketplace competition: The majority of Magic Eden’s revenues are in Solana. This Solana scare will undoubtedly make Magic Eden double down on its expansion into other blockchains. That will add heat to the already-boiling battle for marketplace domination.
Is DeGods moving to Ethereum?
Solana is down over 40% in the last 24 hours (currently $16 at the time of writing).
The Solana bloodbath has made Frank, the founder of DeGods and y00ts, reconsider his allegiance to the Solana blockchain.
In response to the increasing concerns about Solana’s future, Frank tweeted “Should we just bridge to ETH or what?”. It was since deleted.
Frank clarified that the DeDAO will conduct a “proper discussion session” and a DAO vote on the future of DeGods and y00ts on the Solana blockchain.
Unsurprisingly, Frank’s suggestion to bridge to ETH has upset a number of Solana maxis.
QUICK HITS
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