UST Aftershocks Weigh on Crypto
June 06, 2022
Read Time 10 MIN
Please note that VanEck may have a position(s) in the digital asset(s) described below.
Digital assets struggled through another painful month with Bitcoin falling 16%, Ethereum 30%, the MVIS CryptoCompare Smart Contract Leaders Index down 42%, and the Nasdaq Composite down 4%.
Amidst the rout, Bitcoin’s 30-day correlation with the Nasdaq hit another two-year high of 0.78 in May as investors marked down valuations of most emerging technologies to account for sharply higher bond yields globally and recession fears. Meanwhile, the collapse of LUNA and its UST stablecoin have highlighted continued regulatory and governance risks in the space.
| Digital Asset Market Cap Performance by Sector | |||||
| Digital Asset | Market Cap | 7 Days | 30 days | 90 days | 365 days |
| Bitcoin | $561B | -2.62% | -16.60% | -31.50% | -13.44% |
| Ethereum | $219B | -11.10% | -35.46% | -37.36% | -16.41% |
| Digital Assets Index | Market Cap | 7 Days | 30 days | 90 days | 365 days |
| MVIS CryptoCompare Smart Contract Leaders | $293B | -11.07% | -41.31% | -47.05% | -26.20% |
| MarketVector Centralized Exchanges | $58B | -4.68% | -23.65% | -25.86% | -1.56% |
| MVIS CryptoCompare Infrastructure Application Leaders | $19B | -6.71% | -45.09% | -56.12% | -54.52% |
| MVIS CryptoCompare Decentralized Finance Leaders | $12B | -13.28% | -30.01% | -44.25% | -61.01% |
| MVIS CryptoCompare Media & Entertainment Leaders | $13B | -10.52% | -37.75% | -55.30% | -32.88% |
Source: Bloomberg, Messari, CryptoCompare, MVIS, VanEck research as of 5/31/2022.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Gross returns exclude management fee. Net returns are inclusive of management fee of 1.00%.
Layer 1 Smart Contract Platforms
Crypto’s disappointing performance in May was catalyzed by the collapse in the Terra ecosystem, specifically the UST stablecoin. The run-on-the-bank fears we highlighted in previous blogs materialized and sent shockwaves through the industry leading to $43B of market cap destruction.
Nevertheless, it is notable that in a poll on Twitter in the wake of the collapse by prominent crypto data analyst @gojo_crypto, 81% of respondents replied “yes” to the question of whether a “highly adopted decentralized stablecoin is important for the crypto industry, whether it’s UST or not”. In fact, highlighting this continued strong demand for decentralized stablecoins, TRON stands out as the only major outperformer among “layer 1” tokens, up 14% in May. Market participants have crowded into Tron’s new algorithmic stablecoin USDD, which currently pays 11% on deposits. TRON also launched a $10M incentive fund to attract Terra developers looking to move applications to Tron, and to pay staking rewards. While 11% yields are certainly more sustainable than the 20% that LUNA’s Anchor protocol was paying, we still find the mechanism to be unsustainable and prone to a “run on the bank” during a tricky macro period. We are on the sidelines for now.
Cardano (ADA), a 14% index weight in MVSCLE, was another outperformer in May down only 20% in the month. Although the total value locked (TVL) on Cardano’s decentralized lending and borrowing protocols remains very low in absolute levels, at less than $200M, down 25% in the month, on May 30 the largest stablecoin USDC announced a new bridge enabling the conversion of USDC from the Ethereum network to Cardano. Iagon, the cross-chain bridge protocol powering the integration, plans to add support for additional ERC-20 tokens in the future. These developments come ahead of Cardano’s “Vasil” hard fork public testnet scheduled for early June, which promises faster throughput and an enhanced range of DeFi apps and smart contract functionality. That said, VanEck’s research continues to surface little developer or investor traction for Cardano’s Haskell-based programming environment and we expect the project to struggle to retain talent as the funding environment tightens somewhat.
Among the laggards in the MVSCLE index, Avalanche fell 54% in the month. We have highlighted in previous research that Avalanche’s “subnet” architecture may lead to weakness in gas prices and fees on the network until Avalanche achieves a critical mass. In addition, LUNA’s treasury continues to hold AVAX tokens which the market worries will act as an overhang on price should they come up for sale. We remain optimistic on Avalanche’s long term prospects, but await more clarity on a re-acceleration of fees which have stalled somewhat as we highlighted in recent research.
| Smart Contracts: Best and Worst Performers | |||
| Market Cap | 30 Days | 365 Days | |
| TRON | $7.55B | 14.00% | 5.08% |
| Tezos | $1.87B | -17.94% | -41.55% |
| Cardano | $20.36B | -20.22% | -64.67% |
| Solana | $15.44B | -48.60% | 40.67% |
| NEAR Protocol | $4.11B | -49.60% | 77.66% |
| Avalanche | $7.12B | -54.74% | 46.53% |
Source: Bloomberg, Messari, CryptoCompare, MVIS, VanEck research as of 5/31/2022.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Gross returns exclude management fee. Net returns are inclusive of management fee of 1.00%.
Metaverse
The MVIS CryptoCompare Media and Entertainment Leaders Index (MVMELE) fell 42% in May highlighting the continued underperformance of “metaverse”-exposed assets, both stocks and coins. For example, the Ball Metaverse Index, upon which the largest metaverse equity ETF is based, is now down 42% YTD.
Still, there has been considerable innovation in open-source, on-chain social media applications in recent months. AAVE’s social media project Lens Protocol debuted its first apps on the Polygon blockchain. Lens is a software stack that enables developers to create decentralized competitors to social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. In addition, Robinhood and Gamestop both announced the launch of self-custody wallets by the end of the year. Gamestop had previously announced a plan to launch an NFT marketplace in partnership with Immutable X, a L2 scaling solution for Ethereum. Lastly, in addition to its new $4B blockchain fund, A16z launched a separate $600M fund dedicated to gaming startups with a focus on Web3.
Within gaming, STEPN has seen the most growth in terms of user activity. This “exercise to earn” NFT platform’s monthly active user base doubled from 2.3 to 4.7 million in May despite the macro downtrend. The platform allows users to earn rewards when they walk, jog, or run outside. Users are rewarded with Green Satoshi Token (GST) and Green Metaverse Token (GMT), the project’s utility and governance tokens. Users have to buy a sneaker NFT that tracks usage and can be upgraded by burning GST to boost rewards. STEPN’s daily active user base and daily transaction count grew 23x and 17x respectively from March to May. In an interview with CoinDesk, STEPN Co-Founder, Yawn Rong claimed that 30% of STEPN’s new users have never interacted with a blockchain before. The platform has traction but its tokens are following the “playbook” of the average play-to-earn token, meaning constant sell pressure. GMT lost 60% of its value this month from $2.1B in late April to $740M as of May 30. This decline was due to a high correlation with the broader market and the decision to block users from mainland China. The latter was in response to the crypto-related regulations introduced by the country’s authorities. For such a project to create sustainable value, the user base must coordinate to create a business model that re-invests the accumulated capital. Perhaps this is a media venture or branded exercise gear. We await such a business model from the sidelines.
Other developments:
- Yield Guild Games (YGG), the largest Web3 gaming guild, has released its Community Update for Q1 2022, revealing that total scholarships rose 39% overall to 30K scholars as the guild continues to farm copious amounts of the Axie breeding Smooth Love Potion (SLP) token despite a downturn in the market. The play-to-earn scholarships allow new players to borrow a team of Axie NFTs from the Guild. Their in-game earnings are then split between the player, the community manager and the YGG DAO.
- Solana NFTs heat up as monthly volume and transaction count hit all-time highs in May. Per data from CryptoSlam on May 25, Solana’s secondary market sales generated nearly $24.3M in daily volume, while Ethereum sales added up to $24M during the same span across all of the marketplaces. It’s a modest difference between the platforms, but this is the first known instance of the smaller Solana market overtaking Ethereum in terms of dollar amount generated via sales during a 24-hour span.
| Metaverse: Best and Worst Performers | |||
| Market Cap | 30 Days | 365 Days | |
| Axie Infinity | $1.41B | -25.26% | 380.45% |
| Decentraland | $1.97B | -29.24% | 27.15% |
| Basic Attention Token | $0.61B | -32.27% | -46.83% |
| The Sandbox | $1.76B | -33.07% | 329.32% |
| Enjin Coin | $0.61B | -36.51% | -57.26% |
| Gala | $0.57B | -41.88% | 531.30% |
Source: Bloomberg, Messari, CryptoCompare, MVIS, VanEck research as of 5/31/2022.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Gross returns exclude management fee. Net returns are inclusive of management fee of 1.00%.
Infrastructure Applications
The MVIS CryptoCompare Infrastructure Applications Leaders index (MVIALE) fell 40% in May. REN was the biggest loser in the category down 55%. Filecoin, the second biggest loser in the category, fell 53%. Filecoin is a decentralized data storage network built by Protocol Labs that allows users to sell their excess storage on an open platform. It acts as the incentive and security layer for IPFS (InterPlanetary File System), a peer-to-peer network for storing and sharing data files. In May, defense contractor Lockheed Martin and the Filecoin Foundation announced a partnership to make an open-source blockchain network accessible in space at an event hosted by the Filecoin Foundation on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting. According to Joe Landon, VP of advanced programs development at Lockheed, the cooperation is meant to prepare for a future when “we’ll have one satellite refueling another…a transaction that takes place entirely in space that doesn’t really have a nexus back on Earth. Decentralization makes sense for that,” he explained.
In aggregate, the infrastructure category is now the worst performing sector over the last one-year, down 78%, as the scaling solutions and decentralized cloud computing protocols that characterize the space are not yet producing much cash flow for investors.
| Infrastructure: Best and Worst Performers | |||
| Market Cap | 30 Days | 365 Days | |
| Quant Network | $0.86B | -26.59% | 64.31% |
| OMG Network | $0.38B | -29.54% | -58.89% |
| VeChain | $2.10B | -32.58% | -74.05% |
| Polygon | $5.22B | -40.16% | -64.86% |
| Filecoin | $1.69B | -47.27% | -89.00% |
| Ren | $0.16B | -49.27% | -72.13% |
Source: Bloomberg, Messari, CryptoCompare, MVIS, VanEck research as of 5/31/2022.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Gross returns exclude management fee. Net returns are inclusive of management fee of 1.00%.
DeFi
The MVIS CryptoCompare DeFi Leaders Index fell 23% in May. DeFi TVL (total value locked) fell 42% to $110B as of 5/31/2022. Here again, TRON is in an awkward spotlight with a 33% increase in its TVL currently at $5.68B. Most (if not all) of the influx went to “JustLend”, a lending and borrowing protocol on TRON offering 11% on USDD with a similar mechanism to the Anchor protocol on Terra, which eventually proved unsustainable. While the 11% yield (previously 30%) is a more realistic level, we question the durability given that Bitcoin futures have recently tipped into backwardation and DeFi yields have fallen more generally to well below 11%.
Still, despite the token rout, we note that overall DeFi trading volumes across all decentralized exchanges still surpassed $115B in May, 12.5% of the volumes on centralized exchanges, up from 10.7% in April.
| DeFi: Best and Worst Performers | |||
| Market Cap | 30 Days | 365 Days | |
| Maker | $1.30B | -8.87% | -63.23% |
| Uniswap | $4.04B | -19.79% | -79.80% |
| Aave | $1.59B | -20.62% | -69.57% |
| Serum | $0.29B | -41.13% | -76.38% |
| yearn.finance | $0.30B | -51.80% | -82.52% |
| Perpetual Protocol | $0.10B | -56.98% | -83.68% |
Source: Bloomberg, Messari, CryptoCompare, MVIS, VanEck research as of 5/31/2022.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Gross returns exclude management fee. Net returns are inclusive of management fee of 1.00%.
| Total Value Locked (TVL) Growth | |||||
| DeFi TVL (billions) | 7 Days | 30 Days | 90 Days | 365 Days | |
| ETH | $71.87 | 0.06% | -34.75% | -33.86% | -7.37% |
| TRON | $6.02 | 12.25% | 40.37% | 40.98% | 145.87% |
| SOL | $4.02 | -3.89% | -33.16% | -45.19% | 403.48% |
| AVAX | $4.08 | -6.15% | -53.36% | -61.56% | 1616.90% |
| Others | $54.99 | 3.89% | -67.33% | -62.82% | 0.05% |
| Biggest Winner: TRON | $6.02 | 12.25% | 40.37% | 40.98% | 145.87% |
| Biggest Loser: LUNA | $0.05 | -66.85% | -99.82% | -99.77% | -98.23% |
Source: Bloomberg, Messari, CryptoCompare, MVIS, VanEck research as of 5/31/2022.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Gross returns exclude management fee. Net returns are inclusive of management fee of 1.00%.
Exchange Tokens
Overall, exchange tokens fell 49% this month. KuCoin was the best performer in the category down only 5%. Earlier this month, KuCoin raised $150 million in pre-Series B funding at a valuation of $10 billion. The round, which was led by Jump Crypto, also saw participation from Circle Ventures, IDG Capital and Matrix Partners. KuCoin will use the funds to expand its product offerings, going beyond its current centralized trading services and increasing its presence in the broader Web3 market, by building out crypto wallets, as well as DeFi and NFT platforms, through its investment arms like KuCoin Labs and KuCoin Ventures.
Among laggards, Celsius (CEL) fell 60% in May as market participants anticipated fallout from Terra’s collapse, given that Celsius had offered among the highest interest rates on borrowed crypto among larger centralized exchanges. Indeed Celsius’ total customer assets fell from $16.9B on May 6 to $11.8B on May 17, according to the company’s website. CEO Alex Mashinsky tried to reassure the market on May 11, tweeting that “Celsius has not experienced any significant losses,” but the market remained in “sell first, ask questions later” mode throughout May. CEL market cap is down from a peak of $3B in Summer 2001 to $326M as of May 31.
| Exchange Tokens: Best and Worst Performers | |||
| Market Cap | 30 Days | 365 Days | |
| KuCoin Token | $1.64B | -5.10% | 124.45% |
| BNB | $52.09B | -18.03% | -9.59% |
| Huobi Token | $1.10B | -24.46% | -53.64% |
| FTX Token | $3.92B | -26.30% | -15.43% |
| Cronos | $4.73B | -40.26% | 49.47% |
| Celsius Network | $0.20B | -59.84% | -88.47% |
Source: Bloomberg, Messari, CryptoCompare, MVIS, VanEck research as of 5/31/2022.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Gross returns exclude management fee. Net returns are inclusive of management fee of 1.00%.
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All data sourced from Bloomberg, Messari, CryptoCompare, MVIS, VanEck research as of 5/31/2022.
Index Definitions
Index returns assume reinvestment of all income and do not reflect any management fees or brokerage expenses associated with fund returns. Returns for actual fund investors may differ from what is shown because of differences in timing, the amount invested and fees and expenses. You cannot invest directly in an index.
MVIS CryptoCompare Smart Contract Leaders Index: designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid smart contract assets, and is an investable subset of MVIS CryptoCompare Smart Contract Index.
MVIS CryptoCompare Infrastructure Application Leaders Index: Designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid infrastructure application assets, and is an investable subset of MVIS CryptoCompare Infrastructure Application Index.
MVIS CryptoCompare Decentralized Finance Leaders Index: Designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid decentralized finance assets, and is an investable subset of MVIS CryptoCompare Decentralized Finance Index.
MVIS CryptoCompare Media & Entertainment Leaders Index: designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid media & entertainment assets, and is an investable subset of MVIS CryptoCompare Media & Entertainment Index.
The MarketVector™ Centralized Exchanges Index (MVCEX) is designed to track the performance of assets classified as 'Centralized Exchanges'.
Nasdaq Composite Index: measures all Nasdaq domestic and international based common type stocks listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market.
Coin Definitions
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, without a central bank or single administrator, that can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for intermediaries.
Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain with smart contract functionality. Ether is the native cryptocurrency of the platform. Amongst cryptocurrencies, Ether is second only to Bitcoin in market capitalization.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies the value of which is pegged, or tied, to that of another currency, commodity or financial instrument.
Cardano is a public blockchain platform. It is open-source and decentralized, with consensus achieved using proof of stake. It can facilitate peer-to-peer transactions with its internal cryptocurrency, Ada.
Solana is a public blockchain platform. It is open-source and decentralized, with consensus achieved using proof of stake and proof of history. Its internal cryptocurrency is SOL.
Polkadot is a sharded heterogeneous multi-chain architecture which enables external networks as well as customized layer one "parachains" to communicate, creating an interconnected internet of blockchains.
Algorand is a blockchain-based cryptocurrency platform that aims to be secure, scalable, and decentralized. The Algorand platform supports smart contract functionality, and its consensus algorithm is based on proof-of-stake principles and a Byzantine Agreement protocol.
The Internet Computer is the world's first blockchain that runs at web speed and serves content on the web, with unbounded capacity.
Tezos is a decentralized, open-source proof of stake blockchain network that can execute peer-to-peer transactions and serve as a platform for deploying smart contracts.
Fantom is a fast, high-throughput open-source smart contract platform for digital assets and dApps.
EOS is a blockchain-based platform that enables the development of business applications, or DApps. EOS supports secure access and authentication, permissioning, data hosting, usage management, and communication between the DApps and the Internet. EOS.IO is the system architecture.
Avalanche is an open-source platform for launching decentralized finance applications and enterprise blockchain deployments in one interoperable, scalable ecosystem.
Binance Smart Chain is a blockchain network built for running smart contract-based applications.
TRON is a multi-purpose smart contract platform that enables the creation and deployment of decentralized applications.
Terra is an algorithmically-governed, seigniorage share style stablecoin platform to which a collection of fiat-pegged tokens and a stabilizing cryptoasset, Luna, are native.
Aave is a decentralized finance protocol that allows people to lend and borrow crypto. Lenders earn interest by depositing digital assets into specially created liquidity pools. Borrowers can then use their crypto as collateral to take out a flash loan using this liquidity.
An investment in the strategy is subject to risks which include, among others, regulatory, general investment and trading, opaque spot market, digital assets, digital asset exchanges, investing through DEXes, stablecoin, OTC transactions, valuation and liquidity, cryptocurrencies lending, digital asset lending and borrowing, DeFi lending of digital assets, digital asset lending programs offered by certain CeFi and DeFi exchanges, rebasing of digital assets, credit, credit market illiquidity, third party wallet providers, loss of private key, volatility and speculative nature of digital assets trading, digital asset network protocols and software, digital asset network malicious actors, forks and airdrops, digital asset miners ceasing operations, cybersecurity, computer malware and viruses, data loss, incorrect transfer of digital assets, initial coin/pre-sale initial coin offering, synthetic investments, options, futures, forwards, lack of blockchain company operating history, blockchain company failure, short selling, leverage, limited diversification, non-U.S. securities, and counterparty risks.
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All data sourced from Bloomberg, Messari, CryptoCompare, MVIS, VanEck research as of 5/31/2022.
Index Definitions
Index returns assume reinvestment of all income and do not reflect any management fees or brokerage expenses associated with fund returns. Returns for actual fund investors may differ from what is shown because of differences in timing, the amount invested and fees and expenses. You cannot invest directly in an index.
MVIS CryptoCompare Smart Contract Leaders Index: designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid smart contract assets, and is an investable subset of MVIS CryptoCompare Smart Contract Index.
MVIS CryptoCompare Infrastructure Application Leaders Index: Designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid infrastructure application assets, and is an investable subset of MVIS CryptoCompare Infrastructure Application Index.
MVIS CryptoCompare Decentralized Finance Leaders Index: Designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid decentralized finance assets, and is an investable subset of MVIS CryptoCompare Decentralized Finance Index.
MVIS CryptoCompare Media & Entertainment Leaders Index: designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid media & entertainment assets, and is an investable subset of MVIS CryptoCompare Media & Entertainment Index.
The MarketVector™ Centralized Exchanges Index (MVCEX) is designed to track the performance of assets classified as 'Centralized Exchanges'.
Nasdaq Composite Index: measures all Nasdaq domestic and international based common type stocks listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market.
Coin Definitions
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, without a central bank or single administrator, that can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for intermediaries.
Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain with smart contract functionality. Ether is the native cryptocurrency of the platform. Amongst cryptocurrencies, Ether is second only to Bitcoin in market capitalization.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies the value of which is pegged, or tied, to that of another currency, commodity or financial instrument.
Cardano is a public blockchain platform. It is open-source and decentralized, with consensus achieved using proof of stake. It can facilitate peer-to-peer transactions with its internal cryptocurrency, Ada.
Solana is a public blockchain platform. It is open-source and decentralized, with consensus achieved using proof of stake and proof of history. Its internal cryptocurrency is SOL.
Polkadot is a sharded heterogeneous multi-chain architecture which enables external networks as well as customized layer one "parachains" to communicate, creating an interconnected internet of blockchains.
Algorand is a blockchain-based cryptocurrency platform that aims to be secure, scalable, and decentralized. The Algorand platform supports smart contract functionality, and its consensus algorithm is based on proof-of-stake principles and a Byzantine Agreement protocol.
The Internet Computer is the world's first blockchain that runs at web speed and serves content on the web, with unbounded capacity.
Tezos is a decentralized, open-source proof of stake blockchain network that can execute peer-to-peer transactions and serve as a platform for deploying smart contracts.
Fantom is a fast, high-throughput open-source smart contract platform for digital assets and dApps.
EOS is a blockchain-based platform that enables the development of business applications, or DApps. EOS supports secure access and authentication, permissioning, data hosting, usage management, and communication between the DApps and the Internet. EOS.IO is the system architecture.
Avalanche is an open-source platform for launching decentralized finance applications and enterprise blockchain deployments in one interoperable, scalable ecosystem.
Binance Smart Chain is a blockchain network built for running smart contract-based applications.
TRON is a multi-purpose smart contract platform that enables the creation and deployment of decentralized applications.
Terra is an algorithmically-governed, seigniorage share style stablecoin platform to which a collection of fiat-pegged tokens and a stabilizing cryptoasset, Luna, are native.
Aave is a decentralized finance protocol that allows people to lend and borrow crypto. Lenders earn interest by depositing digital assets into specially created liquidity pools. Borrowers can then use their crypto as collateral to take out a flash loan using this liquidity.
An investment in the strategy is subject to risks which include, among others, regulatory, general investment and trading, opaque spot market, digital assets, digital asset exchanges, investing through DEXes, stablecoin, OTC transactions, valuation and liquidity, cryptocurrencies lending, digital asset lending and borrowing, DeFi lending of digital assets, digital asset lending programs offered by certain CeFi and DeFi exchanges, rebasing of digital assets, credit, credit market illiquidity, third party wallet providers, loss of private key, volatility and speculative nature of digital assets trading, digital asset network protocols and software, digital asset network malicious actors, forks and airdrops, digital asset miners ceasing operations, cybersecurity, computer malware and viruses, data loss, incorrect transfer of digital assets, initial coin/pre-sale initial coin offering, synthetic investments, options, futures, forwards, lack of blockchain company operating history, blockchain company failure, short selling, leverage, limited diversification, non-U.S. securities, and counterparty risks.
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This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the cryptocurrencies mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are valid as of the date of this communication and subject to change without notice. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck.
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The MVIS CryptoCompare Smart Contract Leaders Index (MVSCLE) is designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid smart contract assets, and is an investable subset of MVIS CryptoCompare Smart Contract Index. The MVIS CryptoCompare Ethereum Index (MVETH) covers the performance of a digital assets portfolio which invests in Ethereum. The MVIS CryptoCompare Bitcoin Index (MVBTC) measures the performance of a digital assets portfolio which invests in Bitcoin. The Nasdaq Composite Index measures all Nasdaq domestic and international based common type stocks listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market.
Cryptocurrency is a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, or a store of value, but it does not have legal tender status. Cryptocurrencies are sometimes exchanged for U.S. dollars or other currencies around the world, but they are not generally backed or supported by any government or central bank. Their value is completely derived by market forces of supply and demand, and they are more volatile than traditional currencies. The value of cryptocurrency may be derived from the continued willingness of market participants to exchange fiat currency for cryptocurrency, which may result in the potential for permanent and total loss of value of a particular cryptocurrency should the market for that cryptocurrency disappear. Cryptocurrencies are not covered by either FDIC or SIPC insurance. Legislative and regulatory changes or actions at the state, federal, or international level may adversely affect the use, transfer, exchange, and value of cryptocurrency.
Investing in cryptocurrencies comes with a number of risks, including volatile market price swings or flash crashes, market manipulation, and cybersecurity risks. In addition, cryptocurrency markets and exchanges are not regulated with the same controls or customer protections available in equity, option, futures, or foreign exchange investing. There is no assurance that a person who accepts a cryptocurrency as payment today will continue to do so in the future.
Investors should conduct extensive research into the legitimacy of each individual cryptocurrency, including its platform, before investing. The features, functions, characteristics, operation, use and other properties of the specific cryptocurrency may be complex, technical, or difficult to understand or evaluate. The cryptocurrency may be vulnerable to attacks on the security, integrity or operation, including attacks using computing power sufficient to overwhelm the normal operation of the cryptocurrency’s blockchain or other underlying technology. Some cryptocurrency transactions will be deemed to be made when recorded on a public ledger, which is not necessarily the date or time that a transaction may have been initiated.
- Investors must have the financial ability, sophistication and willingness to bear the risks of an investment and a potential total loss of their entire investment in cryptocurrency.
- An investment in cryptocurrency is not suitable or desirable for all investors.
- Cryptocurrency has limited operating history or performance.
- Fees and expenses associated with a cryptocurrency investment may be substantial.
There may be risks posed by the lack of regulation for cryptocurrencies and any future regulatory developments could affect the viability and expansion of the use of cryptocurrencies.
Investors should conduct extensive research before investing in cryptocurrencies. Information provided by Van Eck is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as financial, tax or legal advice. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell an interest in cryptocurrencies.
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All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest. As with any investment strategy, there is no guarantee that investment objectives will be met and investors may lose money. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
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