Memecoins Surge, Upbit Under Fire for Monopoly Concerns, and More: Oct 11

In today’s whirlwind of crypto news, the major South Korean exchange, Upbit is in the spotlight as local regulators launch a monopoly investigation, headlines today's Daily on Crypto Brew. U.S. Representative Tom Emmer is calling the recent overturn of the Chevron doctrine, which he implies won't have much impact in the crypto space unless Congress steps in. Furthermore, OpenAI has officially fired back at Elon Musk in a legal filing, accusing the tech mogul of harassment. 

The crypto market showed fearful sentiments today as major coins experienced price small decreases. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index decreased from 39 to 32 today leaning more towards the ‘fear’ zone. Bitcoin (BTC) remains volatile this week and has dipped below 60,000 today.

1. Prices (UTC+8 8:00): BTC: $60,319, -0.53%, ETH: $2,386, +0.67%

2. 24-hour Long/Short Ratio: 48.2%/51.8%

3. Yesterday’s Fear and Greed Index: 32 (24 hours ago: 39), indicating fear

Crypto Fear and Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me

Top 24-Hour Performers

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1. US Inflation Surges: September’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed 2.4% year-over-year, outpacing market expectations, while core CPI hit 3.3%, slightly higher than the predicted 3.2%.

2. Jobless Claims Spike: Initial jobless claims in the U.S. reached 258,000 last week, exceeding forecasts and signaling potential shifts in the labor market.

3. Fed Officials Unfazed: Despite rising inflation, several Federal Reserve officials expressed little concern over September’s CPI data. Fed’s Raphael Bostic remains open to the idea of holding off on a rate cut in November.

4. Bitcoin ETF Insight: Glassnode reveals that the cost basis for Bitcoin ETFs from heavyweights like BlackRock and Fidelity ranges between $54,900 and $59,100.

5. Mt. Gox Delay: The long-awaited compensation process for Mt. Gox creditors have been extended by another year, with a new deadline set for October 31, 2025.

6. Puffer Finance Airdrop: Ethereum’s re-staking protocol, Puffer Finance, will release its airdrop, available for claiming on October 14.

7. Fidelity’s Next Move: Fidelity is gearing up to launch a blockchain money market fund, further expanding its presence in the crypto financial space.

Crypto heat map | Source: Coin360 

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) is investigating the country’s largest crypto exchange, Upbit, for potential monopoly practices. During a parliamentary audit, lawmaker Lee Kang-il raised concerns about Upbit’s relationship with online bank K-Bank, pointing out the significant portion of K-Bank's deposits tied to Upbit. This connection, he warned, could pose a bank run risk. FSC Chairman Kim Byung-hwan confirmed the commission's awareness of the issue, stating they would assess Upbit’s dominance under the new Electronic Financial Transaction Act, implemented in mid-September.

Memecoins are experiencing a surge of momentum across multiple blockchains, hinting at the possibility of a memecoin supercycle—a phase marked by explosive price increases driven by speculative trading, social media hype, and community-driven support. One notable example is the Solana-based memecoin MARU, which saw a 120% increase in 24 hours, pushing its value to $0.002663. MARU, inspired by the viral MARU CAT, a Guinness World Record-holding feline, has also gained attention for its charitable donations to the Variety Autism Children’s Project, drawing recognition from Own The Doge, the originator of Dogecoin.

Beyond Solana, memecoins on Ethereum and Sui are also gaining traction. On Ethereum, MOODENG, a memecoin inspired by a viral baby pygmy hippo, surged 480% following a charitable sale of tokens by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. The sale raised $181,000 for anti-airborne disease research, showcasing how celebrity involvement can rapidly influence the memecoin market. Sui has also seen significant activity, with its own meme tokens like Sudeng rising to a $150 million market cap, contributing to the growing belief in a potential memecoin supercycle.

Read more: Top Sui Memecoins to Watch in 2024-25

The Memecoin Supercycle: FOMO, Hype, and Community Engagement

The growing influence of social media, speculative trading, and retail participation are key factors driving this potential memecoin supercycle. Memecoins like MARU thrive in this environment as communities rally around internet jokes and cultural icons. This has led to a surge in interest and trading activity across blockchains like Ethereum, Solana, and SUI, where meme tokens are gaining prominence. Social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit play a pivotal role in spreading awareness, creating viral moments, and encouraging retail traders to jump in on the action.

The rise of MARU is emblematic of how new memecoins can capture the market’s attention through a blend of virality and community engagement, a pattern seen in other tokens like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu during previous memecoin cycles. This dynamic, coupled with speculative trading strategies, helps fuel the rapid appreciation of these tokens, resulting in massive gains for early investors. However, it also brings with it the risks of volatility and short-term sustainability, as market sentiment can shift quickly.

Celebrity Endorsements and Charitable Contributions: Fuel for the Fire

Another key factor contributing to the recent success of memecoins like MARU is the involvement of high-profile figures and charitable efforts. MARU has gained additional visibility through its partnerships and donations, similar to how Dogecoin benefited from Elon Musk’s tweets. These efforts create a narrative that draws in both crypto enthusiasts and casual investors alike, further driving speculative interest and price momentum.

As the concept of a memecoin supercycle continues to develop, traders are keeping a close eye on these emerging projects across blockchains, ready to capitalize on the next wave of viral growth. However, while the potential for short-term gains is enticing, the inherent risks and volatility in the memecoin market remain a crucial consideration for both new and experienced investors alike.

In the past 72 hours, over 63,000 BTC—valued at nearly $1.83 billion—was sent to crypto exchanges, raising eyebrows across the market. Although high exchange inflows don’t always mean immediate selling pressure, the sheer volume suggests investors could be preparing to liquidate. As Bitcoin struggled this week, falling from $64,000 to $62,000 and breaking below its 200-day exponential moving average, analysts are split on where the price will head next. Some believe Bitcoin could drop below $50,000 before rebounding, while others think a rally above $60,000 is essential to reignite investor interest.

Current BTC price action. Source: TradingView

 The Bitcoin price slump this week has been driven by a combination of macroeconomic factors and internal market movements. After starting the week at over $64,000, Bitcoin experienced a steady decline, falling to around $62,000 by October 7. The downward trend continued, and by October 10, it had slipped below its 200-day exponential moving average (EMA), which is a key technical indicator used to gauge market momentum and trend direction. Breaking below this level is often seen as a bearish signal, indicating that selling pressure could intensify.

Factors Contributing to BTC Price Slump

Bitcoin's price is often influenced by global economic conditions, and this week was no exception. Investors were digesting higher-than-expected inflation data in the U.S., which showed that inflation remains stubbornly high, adding uncertainty about the Federal Reserve’s future monetary policy. Rising inflation typically leads to concerns about potential interest rate hikes, which can reduce liquidity in riskier assets like Bitcoin.

In the United States, jobless claims increased, adding to fears that the economy was indeed slowing, a factor contributing to negative action in the cryptocurrency market. While some look to Bitcoin as an inflation hedge, economic uncertainty makes investors flee to the safety of less volatile assets, at least for the short term.

CryptoQuant's Bitcoin Exchange Inflows Data showed that upwards of 63,000 BTC were sent to crypto exchanges between October 7 and October 9, worth about $1.83 billion. This may be an early warning sign of potential sell-offs as investors always move their holdings from cold storage to exchanges if they decide to sell. The significant increase in inflows brings concerns that further selling pressure might still be upcoming, as there would be additional downward pressure on the price of Bitcoin.

Bitcoin has been caught within a sideways trading range for several months, denying the cryptocurrency an upward trajectory back toward its all-time high of roughly $74,000 reached in March 2024. The more prices do not rise, the less confident some investors will become that a rally could take place anytime soon, which could lead to further sell-offs in the market. Besides, falling below the 200-day EMA will make many traders and institutions turn bearish, which may even further dampen market sentiment.

The possible sale of over 69,000 BTC by the U.S. government-seized in the aftermath of the Silk Road raid-has also added to the bearish ambiance. In such a case, investors are afraid that it would lead to a highly supply-heavy market of Bitcoin, which would push down the price further. While the Bitcoin has not moved, the looming uncertainty continues to affect market sentiment.

Bitcoin exchange inflow. Source: CryptoQuant

In summary, the Bitcoin price slump is being driven by a combination of external economic factors, technical market signals, and concerns over potential large-scale sell-offs. While some analysts believe that Bitcoin could experience further declines before finding a new support level, others are waiting for the price to break above key resistance points to reignite bullish momentum.

Adding to market jitters, the U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for the federal government to sell over 69,000 Bitcoin—seized in the Silk Road raid—after declining to hear a lawsuit that sought to block the sale. This potential influx of BTC into the market has investors on edge, fearing further downward price pressure as the crypto community waits for the government's next move.

The confiscated Silk Road holdings. Source: Arkham Intelligence.

In summary, today’s crypto landscape is shaped by major developments that extend beyond market prices. South Korea's Upbit faces regulatory scrutiny over potential monopolistic practices, raising questions about the power dynamics within the country’s crypto exchange scene. Meanwhile, U.S. Representative Tom Emmer downplays the potential impact of the overturned Chevron doctrine on the crypto industry, emphasizing that real change will only come through legislative action. Lastly, the escalating legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI adds another layer of intrigue, with accusations of harassment and business ethics at the forefront. These unfolding events underscore the crypto industry’s evolving relationship with global regulatory frameworks, institutional power, and the broader tech space, where legal and economic challenges continue to shape its future trajectory. 

Read more: Only 12.7% of Crypto Wallets on Polymarket Make Profits, Satoshi Still a Mystery, BTC Dips, and More: Oct 10