Investors appear to have remained concerned amid Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao’s $50 million lawsuit settlement and Binance’s $4.3 billion settlement that sent ripples through the cryptocurrency world. In contrast to recent market sentiment, Matrixport analyst Markus Thielen believes this result is a boon for Binance and predicts its continued dominance over the next 2-3 years.
Additionally, Thielen foresees an increase in supported exchanges and sees this deal as a catalyst for the long-awaited approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF in the United States.
Binance deal will raise expectations for Bitcoin ETFs
Markus Thielen of Matrixport emphasizes the regulatory impact of the Binance deal and claims that the cleanup of the industry by US agencies positions Bitcoin as a safe haven asset. Meanwhile, the expected increase in supported exchanges, along with increased scrutiny, sets the stage for the long-awaited approval of a Bitcoin spot ETF.
Notably, Thielen states in a recent interview with CNBC that the deal dramatically increases the likelihood of a Bitcoin spot ETF next year, marking a fundamental shift from unregulated to regulated exchanges in the crypto landscape.
As the industry adapts to a more regulated environment, institutions are expected to take center stage in 2024, with Bitcoin potentially becoming a focal point in investors’ portfolios. Meanwhile, the future, marked by regulatory hurdles and institutional adoption, promises transformative developments in the crypto space.
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Legal turmoil on Binance
According to recent reports, Binance CEO CZ agreed to pay a fine of $50 million, while Binance faces a payment of $4.3 billion. On the contrary, Matrixport analyst Markus Thielen sees this as a favorable outcome, suggesting that with CZ’s resignation and the smaller-than-feared fine of around $10 billion. Furthermore, he predicts that Binance is poised to maintain its status as one of the top three cryptocurrency exchanges in the near future.
The settlement, which addresses money laundering violations and other charges totaling $898 million, includes agreements with FinCEN, OFAC and CFTC, of which $1.8 billion will go to these agencies. Although CZ is banned from operating a business for three years, the possibility of a “clean” return to Binance remains open.
