The recent failures of Signature, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), and Silvergate have sent shockwaves throughout the crypto sector. These banks were known for being friendly towards crypto companies and were key players in providing banking services to the industry. However, their collapses have left the crypto sector vulnerable and exposed.
The federal government’s decision to backstop deposits in Signature and SVB has given some confidence to the market, resulting in a small rally in cryptocurrency prices. However, the instability in the stablecoin market has caused concern. Stablecoins, which are supposed to maintain a set price, can drop below their pegged value during unusual financial conditions. The collapse of TerraUSD in May 2022 was the start of problems in the stablecoin sector, and regulators have been paying closer attention in recent weeks. The loss of peg by USDC, the second-most liquid U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, has added to the instability in the sector.
The failures of Silvergate and Signature are also likely to impact the liquidity of bitcoin and the crypto market as a whole. The Silvergate Exchange Network and Signature’s Signet were both real-time payment platforms that crypto customers relied on. The shutdown of these services will make it more difficult for firms to get fiat in on the weekend and will affect the fiat settlement for bitcoin trades between trading counterparties in the U.S.
The closures of these crypto-friendly banks have left the industry with few options for liquidity. Many are now turning to other banks that cater to startups, such as Mercury and Axos. Circle, one of the largest issuers of stablecoins, has already stated that it is shifting its assets to BNY Mellon following the collapse of Signature bank.
In the long run, the closures of these banks could present problems for the crypto sector. The industry will be strapped for liquidity until new banks step in, and there is concern that this could lead to further instability in the market. However, some believe that the closures could lead to the emergence of new challenger banks that cater specifically to the crypto industry.
Overall, the recent failures of Signature, SVB, and Silvergate have highlighted the vulnerability of the crypto sector. The collapse of these crypto-friendly banks has left the industry with a shortage of liquidity and has caused instability in the stablecoin market. However, there is hope that new banks will step in to fill the void and that the industry will continue to thrive in the long run.
Marine Corps Veteran-turned-national-tv-personality Eric Mitchell is a world leading expert in sports media, regularly appearing on the world’s largest outlets from BBC, MSNBC, Fox News, Bloomberg, CNN and more. His signature blend of snark and industry expertise landed him columns at none other than RollingStone, GritDaily, PopWrapped, Disrupt — and most recently — Editor in Chief at NFT Today Magazine. When he’s not making media appearances or running his empire at LifeFlip Media, he can be found entertaining his thousands of loyal followers on social media through his authentic filter-free content.
