Mar 17, 2025: Our weekly Institutional Insights explores the latest market developments — market performance, industry news, exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows, trending topics, upcoming events and token unlocks — to help you supercharge your crypto trading.

 explores the latest market developments — market performance, industry news, exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows, trending topics, upcoming events and token unlocks — to help you supercharge your crypto trading.

Weekly highlight — consumer sentiment falls

US consumer sentiment has fallen to its lowest level in over two years, reflecting growing concerns about the economic impact of tariffs. According to data from the University of Michigan, the preliminary sentiment index for March 2025 dropped to 57.9 from 64.7 in February, the lowest level since November 2022. This decline was worse than expected by a Bloomberg survey of economists.

Inflation expectations surged, with consumers anticipating a 3.9% annual price increase over the next five to ten years, the highest rate over three decades. Additionally, consumers expect prices to rise by 4.9% over the next year from 4.3%, marking the steepest rise since 2022.

As US president Donald Trump’s tariff policies expand, consumers across the political spectrum increasingly worry that these extra duties will lead to higher costs. Despite recent inflation cooling, ongoing price pressures could lead households to reduce discretionary spending.

The survey also indicated a record low in consumer expectations regarding personal finances, with respondents estimating only a 48.7% chance of stock market gains in the coming year. Joanne Hsu, 

 the University of Michigan, emphasized that uncertainty surrounding economic policies complicates financial planning.

Some analysts warned that declining consumer confidence poses a significant threat to spending, as fears of an economic downturn may deter purchases of major items. Overall, the current conditions gauge and the expectations index fell to their lowest levels in several months, showcasing widespread consumer apprehension.

Weekly crypto highlight — Bitcoin see slight life in the past weekend

Bitcoin rebounded from a four-month low earlier this week alongside other risky assets recovering from recent market turmoil. Economic uncertainties driven by a wave of tariffs from President Trump and the threat of a government shutdown have led to significant sell-offs across various asset classes, including cryptocurrencies.

“As we conclude a week of widespread selling, markets are experiencing a relief rally from oversold conditions,” stated Ravi Doshi, Co-Head of Markets at FalconX. The avoidance of a US government funding shutdown has eased market uncertainty.

On Friday, Bitcoin rose by as much as 6.2%, reaching $85,301, while smaller digital assets surged even more: Solana gained over 9%, Chainlink increased by 13% and XRP rose nearly 8%. Earlier in the week, Bitcoin had dropped to around $77,000, a significant decline from its all-time high of $109,000 in January 2025.

This slump triggered record outflows from Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, and large liquidations in crypto derivatives markets. Crypto markets are bouncing back as macro-driven liquidations seem to be pausing. Analysts suggest that ongoing macroeconomic stability may support crypto prices.

Advanced

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Weekly Institutional Insights: Consumer sentiment falls as crypto recovers from 4-month low

Our weekly crypto derivatives analytics report delves into macro events, the current state of crypto and trading signals from spot trading volume, and futures, options and perpetual contracts.

The ongoing sell-off in risk-on assets has intensified bearish signals in derivatives markets for crypto assets. Funding rates indicate a demand for short exposure, futures prices are trading below spot prices and volatility smiles are showing a strong skew toward OTM puts as traders hedge against further declines. The at-the-money (ATM) volatility term structure has inverted again after a lack of clarity around Trump’s proposed strategic digital asset reserve caused short-dated volatility to fall briefly before last weekend.

Please check out the report’s highlights.

Choppy spot price movements have had an impact on funding rates, with BTC and altcoin rates reacting primarily to spot fluctuations, rather than long-term market views. ETH has sold off more sharply during declines, and hasn’t participated as strongly in relief rallies, resulting in the worst YTD performance among the five tokens in Trump’s proposed digital asset stockpile. This is reflected in funding rates, with ETH perpetual swaps showing strong demand for leveraged short exposure to further downside risk.

Investors continue to protect against further decline

Despite higher realized volatility increasing both short- and long-tenor implied volatility, options trade volumes remain low. Last Friday’s expiration of significant open interest was mostly for downside protection against a deepening sell-off. However, the options market has reverted to an inverted term structure, which had dissipated during last Friday’s White House crypto summit, with strong relative demand for short-dated put contracts.

Open interest in Solana (SOL) options declined at the end of February, with over $5M in calls and more than $3M in puts expiring and most positions not rolled over. Despite SOL trading 44% below its January ATH, most new positions are in calls. However, this new positioning is disappointingly weak, given SOL's inclusion in Trump’s crypto reserve announcement alongside BTC, ETH, XRP and ADA.

Beginner

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Bybit X Block Scholes crypto derivatives analytics report (Mar 14, 2025): Investors hedge further declines

BinaryX has rebranded to Four, uniting GameFi, IGOs, and MemeFi under one ecosystem. With BNX now FORM, Four continues to innovate in blockchain gaming."

Having launched in May 2021, BinaryX, which started out as a 

 (DeFi) platform, has continued to evolve and adapt to the rapidly changing blockchain landscape. However, in the spirit of adaptability and innovation, the platform switched to 

, focusing its attention on play-to-earn (P2E) games.

As a GameFi platform, BinaryX has also created an 

 (IGO) launchpad from which developers can launch GameFi projects.

Now, BinaryX has rebranded to Four in order to align with the mission of its 

 product, a launch platform for the meme coin ecosystem.

Let's learn more about BinaryX and the way it continues to shape the crypto market with innovative products and adaptable business models.

 hub for the development of GameFi projects, includes an IGO launchpad to facilitate developers in launching games. 

BinaryX began in 2021 as a decentralized derivative trading system that featured the use of 

. But in 2022, the BinaryX team gradually evolved its project into a GameFi platform in order to adapt to the increased demand for P2E games. Its aim is to make web3 games more accessible and approachable to the vast community of gamers.

BinaryX also developed an IGO launchpad to serve as a comprehensive hub for gaming developers to launch their GameFi projects, and for investors to receive early access to promising new play-to-earn games. Furthermore, the BinaryX team announced the incorporation of a 

 (DAO) into its GameFi ecosystem so that its community of token holders could participate in voting on governance matters.

In February 2025, BinaryX rebranded to Four in order to align with its latest product, Four.meme, which was launched in July 2024. Following the rebrand, its native token, BNX, would now become FORM to reflect the project's commitment to innovation and adaptability.

As one of the top web3 platforms on BNB Chain, BinaryX has continued to innovate and experiment with different business models to adapt to the blockchain landscape's fast-paced nature. To this end, BinaryX has the following diverse products under its wing.

BinaryX launched its Initial Game Offering (IGO) launchpad in May 2022 as a dedicated platform to support blockchain gaming projects. The launchpad helps game developers secure funding for decentralized video games. They also get a platform on which to build communities and accelerate their web3 game development.

By leveraging BinaryX’s expertise in GameFi and its existing user base, projects gain exposure to a vast community of crypto gamers. The platform offers early access to promising blockchain games, allowing investors to participate in token sales and 

 presales. BNX holders can use their tokens to vote for games' listings on the BinaryX platform, and they also receive rewards, such as game tokens and NFT 

Some notable games launched on the BinaryX IGO launchpad include 

. These games showcase BinaryX’s commitment to innovation in GameFi, integrating play-to-earn mechanics, NFTs and decentralized governance to help create immersive gaming ecosystems.

BinaryX's GameFi trading platform is a marketplace designed for seamlessly trading blockchain gaming assets, including NFTs, in-game tokens and virtual items. Launched to support the growing GameFi ecosystem, the platform enables gamers and investors to buy, sell, trade and auction assets from BinaryX-powered games in a secure and efficient manner.

 and DeFi principles, BinaryX ensures transparent transactions with minimal fees, and enhances liquidity for in-game assets while empowering players to maximize their earnings.

The BinaryX GameFi trading platform supports transactions involving 

In January 2022, BinaryX launched the BinaryX DAO, a first for a GameFi project, through which BNX token holders can participate in the project's community governance, determine airdrop and dividend ratios, and submit proposals on how to improve the BinaryX ecosystem.

Case in point: BinaryX's community participated in voting for/against the platform's rebranding to Four during a community vote that was held from Sep 21–23, 2024.

The BinaryX Treasury serves as the financial backbone of the BinaryX ecosystem, supporting the development and sustainability of its GameFi projects. Some sources of assets used to fund the treasury include initial capital injection by the BNX team, income from gaming activities, income from the IGO launchpad and profit from external investment.

Profits in the BinaryX Treasury are used to reward BNX stakers, incentivize BinaryX sidechain node providers and finance strategic investments in third-party projects.

BNX is the native token for the BinaryX platform. Its original maximum supply of 2.1 billion tokens was adjusted to 580 million after a community vote in late July 2024.

Distribution of the 580 million BNX tokens is as follows:

Following BinaryX's rebranding to Four, BNX will change to FORM, and holders will be allowed to exchange to the new token at a ratio of 1:1 (details to follow at a later date).

BinaryX has integrated a multi-token model. Apart from BNX, the other two tokens associated with the platform are as follows:

BinaryX officially rebranded to Four on Feb 21, 2025, following an overwhelming vote via its DAO, marking a significant transformation in its vision for GameFi and DeFi innovation. This shift comes with a revamped website, which will serve as a hub for the GameFi platform, IGO launchpad and Four.meme, a new addition to Four’s expanding ecosystem.

Following the rebranding, a 1:1 token migration from BNX to FORM is necessary in order to enhance the token's identity and align with the project's new direction. FORM remains on the BNB Chain, ensuring smooth compatibility with existing infrastructure.

 (CEXs) won’t need to do anything — the token swap to FORM will take place automatically. BinaryX will liaise with these exchanges to switch from the BNX contract address to the one for FORM.

 (DEXs), cold wallets and self-custody wallets will need to carry out a manual token swap based on a converter provided by BinaryX. To carry out this token swap, you’ll need to do the following:

 landing page (link will be provided at a later date).

4. Sign to authenticate your transaction to receive the FORM tokens.

5. Add the new FORM contract address into your wallet to see the new tokens.

You can buy BNX as a USDT Perpetual contract (

) on the Bybit trading platform. However, the BNXUSDT contract will be delisted on Mar 17, 2025, 9AM UTC, so make sure to close your open positions and cancel your active orders for BNXUSDT as soon as possible.

Over the years, BinaryX has consistently demonstrated strong performance. The rebranding of BinaryX to Four marks a bold step forward in its mission to impact the web3 space. This transformation reflects the project’s commitment to expanding its ecosystem, enhancing token identity and integrating innovative elements, such as Four.meme, alongside its GameFi platform and IGO launchpad.

By adapting to the evolving crypto landscape, Four is positioning itself as a comprehensive hub for web3 and gaming enthusiasts so that it can offer a seamless experience for gamers, investors and meme culture participants. The introduction of the FORM token ensures a more cohesive and recognizable branding, reinforcing Four’s long-term vision. Thanks to the smooth migration process from BNX to FORM, users can continue participating in the ecosystem while benefiting from enhanced liquidity and utility.

Four remains dedicated to GameFi innovation, supporting successful blockchain games such as 

, all of which feature play-to-earn mechanics, NFTs and decentralized governance. The revamped platform is designed to foster a dynamic gaming economy, support new game launches and provide a secure environment for trading digital assets. With its rebranding and expanded offerings, Four is set to lead the next wave of blockchain gaming and DeFi innovation, uniting gamers, developers and investors in a vibrant web3 ecosystem.

Intermediate

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From BinaryX to Four: A unified hub for GameFi, IGOs and MemeFi

Learn about the benefits of using Bybit Pay and the step-by-step instructions to get started with Bybit Pay now.

Traditional financial systems and blockchain-based ecosystems have long operated in silos, creating friction for users and businesses alike. 

 is a new payment solution that’s been designed from the ground up to solve this issue to make cryptocurrency transactions seamless for any users.

With the aim of mainstreaming crypto payment options, Bybit Pay has already begun partnering with traditional payment solution providers, enabling users to transact with cryptocurrencies through existing infrastructure. For example, with its recent 

, Brazilian users can now shop by using cryptocurrencies in a quick and effortless manner. 

In this article, we’ll explain the benefits of using Bybit Pay and provide step-by-step instructions for new users who want to get started with the platform.

With more than 60 million users on the Bybit platform, Bybit Pay empowers merchants with access to the global network of its vast user base. Meanwhile, users benefit from a seamless integration with web3 wallets that makes paying with crypto as easy as paying with fiat currency. The platform also offers collateralized payment tools that allow users to borrow against their NFT and crypto holdings. 

Through these innovative features, Bybit Pay blends the ease of traditional finance with the flexibility of cryptocurrencies, creating an ecosystem that benefits both users and merchants.

Bybit Pay can be accessed using the Bybit App on mobile and desktop. 

While filling in the form, make sure that the information you enter matches the information you’ve already provided during 

: As of now, only verified users in Brazil can make transactions using a Pix QR code.

Since the Pix integration, Brazilian users can use Bybit Pay wherever Pix is accepted. This opens up a vast network of offline establishments in the country, since Pix is Brazil’s leading instant payment system provider. 

In addition to offline establishments, Bybit Pay can also be used with a number of e-commerce providers for online shopping using cryptocurrencies. Bybit Pay will be available to users from other regions soon.

With the launch of Bybit Pay, Bybit is integrating crypto payments with traditional payment services providers — and vastly expanding the number of places where cryptocurrencies can be used.

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How to use Bybit Pay for effortless payments

Investing

Trading

Bitcoin

It's wise to invest in an asset that hedges against inflation. Find out which is the better store of value as we compare Bitcoin vs. gold.

Since it was created in 2009 by the pseudonymous 

, Bitcoin has skyrocketed in price, garnering worldwide attention. Since April 2021, Bitcoin’s 

 has crossed the $1 trillion mark. This has resulted in many investors turning to the popular cryptocurrency as a store of value when comparing Bitcoin vs. gold.

Traditionally, investors and commodity traders have stored their wealth either in property, stocks, bonds or gold. Gold has generally been a safe hedge against rising prices over extended periods, but digital currencies are a new asset increasingly viewed as a store of value, in addition to being a means of day-to-day transactions. Bitcoin has accordingly gained a reputation as “digital gold.” 

Let’s look at the two most prominent options today as we compare Bitcoin vs. gold, and how they stack up against each other when it comes to preserving their value — and your wealth — over the long term.

 is an asset that can be reposited and retrieved without losing its value over time.

Using this definition, it’s evident that fiat money is a poor store of value. Cash is helpful as a day-to-day medium of exchange and a way to keep short-term liquidity, but it doesn’t hold its value well over time. 

There have been over 50 recorded episodes of 

 in different monetary systems worldwide. Hyperinflation occurs when money loses value at a rapid rate, about 50% per month. It’s characterized by a sharp increase in the cost of goods and services and a corresponding loss of purchasing power. While hyperinflation is rare in developed countries, inflation itself is quite common. 

Inflation is a standard tool used by governments around the world to control the supply of money. Governments slightly devalue their currencies each year as a way of incentivizing people to increase spending or investment, in the hope this will stimulate economic growth by creating more jobs. 

This means that your money loses value over time, so storing your wealth in an asset that maintains value is the only way to keep up. That’s why people invest in stocks, bonds, real estate and other assets that are likely to appreciate or retain their value over time. 

However, even though they’re preferable to cash, these investment vehicles pass through boom and bust cycles. To make matters worse, their price movements are correlated — so that market conditions which affect one are likely to affect others. 

Therefore, an asset that is immune to market vagaries is essential. This is where the Bitcoin vs. gold argument comes in. For thousands of years, gold has been the world’s primary store of value. It has outlived the monetary systems of countless empires and city states, many of which no longer exist.

Investors typically switch to assets like gold and Bitcoin in times of market turbulence since they don’t move with the rest of the market. In fact, their value usually grows in adverse market conditions as investors move their funds over in bulk. When measuring Bitcoin vs. gold, investors consider them “safe havens” because of its stability. Even if investors don’t make significant gains, they’re confident of retaining the value of their wealth.

Before even comparing Bitcoin vs. gold, it’s important to understand why gold holds so much appeal among long time investors. Money has been used as a medium of exchange since human civilization realized the limitations of the barter system. Various materials have been used as currencies, including bones, sticks, 

, livestock, metal and paper. Only gold has maintained its value and appeal over the ages. The first signs of gold coins in history go as far back as 500 B.C.

Humans have valued gold because of its unique properties and beautiful appearance. They see the precious metal as a means of passing on and preserving their wealth from generation to generation. Since gold is an inert metal, it doesn’t oxidize (rust) or react with other elements. Its versatility also means gold can be melted and worked into coins.

Throughout modern history, many countries have adopted the gold standard monetary system, with the U.S. following suit in 1879. The term “gold standard” refers to a monetary system in which the value of paper money is backed by gold that’s stored in the government’s possession. 

While this system is effective in fighting inflation and deflation, it limits the ability of governments to freely print their own currencies. This has become an issue for governments attempting to fund wars. The U.S. started moving away from the gold standard in 1933. In 1971, in order to avoid an inevitable run on gold reserves, the Nixon administration halted convertibility, meaning that other countries could no longer redeem their dollars for gold. By 1973, the government scrapped the gold standard altogether. 

Eventually, the U.S. dollar became the world reserve currency, and many global currencies pegged their exchange rates to it, rather than gold. 

Why is gold held in such high regard as a store of value? Throughout history, gold has retained its value as insurance against uncertain times. Characteristics that enhance its tremendous value include durability, scarcity, portability, convertibility — and emotional appeal since shiny objects tend to be more appealing. 

Gold also has practical uses. It’s been used for making jewelry since antiquity and, more recently, manufacturing electronic components. The supply is low, steady and predictable, since gold must be mined from the ground and processed. Therefore, gold has little correlation to other asset classes, such as stocks and currencies. 

Investors who are wary of stock market swings have found comfort in gold. Precious metals have been helpful as a hedge in market corrections. Even if its value doesn’t rise, it tends to remain static while other assets decline. These factors contribute to the long-standing popularity of gold as a solid safe-haven asset. 

Now, Bitcoin is threatening to steal gold’s shine as the premium store of value. But how does this digital asset measure up to the original store of value in our comparison of Bitcoin vs. gold?

Unlike gold, which is used primarily to make jewelry, coins and some electronic components, 

 doesn’t have industrial uses per se. However, it can be accepted as a means of exchange. 

Bitcoin is inherently a store of value — because it’s durable and scarce. The overall supply of Bitcoin is limited to 21 million, and there will never be more than that amount. 

Also, Bitcoin is a decentralized digital asset that operates without being controlled by central banks or governments, relying on a global network of nodes and miners who make this possible. This gives Bitcoin users some level of privacy and increases its security. An ideal store of value should function as a means of exchange so that it can be converted as needed. Bitcoin can be exchanged because it’s fungible, portable, divisible and widely adopted.

Now that both assets have been discussed let’s compare Bitcoin vs. gold side by side.

It’s tough to avoid the comparisons between Bitcoin and gold as their similarities are striking. They both make a good store of value and a safe haven in a sea of market turbulence. Here, we compare Bitcoin vs. gold by examining the factors that give them their value.

The primary characteristic of a good store of value when measuring Bitcoin vs. gold is scarcity. If an asset is easy to obtain or simply abundant, then it’s easy to increase its amount. However, as a result, the price plummets, making it a poor store of value. On the other hand, when supply of an asset is limited, increasing demand increases the asset’s price, retaining and growing its value.

Scarcity is one of gold’s key properties, giving it an edge over other metals and materials as a store of value. It’s relatively rare, expensive, and labor-intensive to mine and process. Accordingly, it isn’t easy to increase the supply of gold. So when demand for gold rises, it isn’t easy to increase the supply and fill the market need. Compared to other metals such as silver and copper, which are more abundant and easier to mine, gold is rarer, which has made it the dominant store of value over the ages.

But you know what’s even scarcer than gold? Bitcoin. While gold is relatively scarce, Bitcoin is absolutely scarce. Only 21,000,000 Bitcoin will ever be in existence, and no new one will be mined after 2140. Even though gold has been mined for centuries, the earth still holds metal to be mined.

For scarcity, Bitcoin has a fixed supply, and so it’s a better store of value than gold.

Fungibility describes the quality of being mutually interchangeable and uniform, which is a characteristic of a good store of value. This quality facilitates exchange because fungibility means all equivalent units of the asset have equal value and can be exchanged across diverse markets and locations.

A Mercedes and a Jeep are both cars, but they cannot be directly exchanged because each vehicle has a set of distinct and unique features that affect its value. However, gold is generally fungible — an ounce of pure gold holds the same value as an ounce of pure gold anywhere. But in some cases, gold is non-fungible. 

Gold with impurities isn’t worth the same as pure gold. It’s not very straightforward for anyone to easily test gold purity, and there’s the added hassle of using the same measurement standards worldwide. 

On the other hand, in the Bitcoin vs. gold argument, Bitcoin is always fungible. One Bitcoin is the same as any other Bitcoin and, even more importantly, cannot be counterfeited. In summary, Bitcoin is more fungible than gold.

A store of value should be easy to split into smaller units for a more accurate transfer of value. This is where gold falters. Gold is a dense metal, so a small amount still represents a large amount of value. This makes it hard to transfer smaller units of value, even with small gold coins. 

This is why paper money became necessary: it made gold easier to divide into smaller, more exchangeable units. However, paper money no longer represents gold, so the divisibility problem with gold remains. Also, dividing gold requires physical effort — melting, weighing, assaying, and minting new coins.

Conversely, Bitcoin has no such problems. Bitcoin can literally be divided infinitely. A millionth of a Bitcoin is called a Satoshi. Therefore, regardless of how valuable Bitcoin becomes, it will still be possible to use it and buy a pint of your favorite lager. In this aspect of the divisibility of Bitcoin vs. gold, Bitcoin is the clear winner.

When considering Bitcoin vs. gold, one of the key considerations should be the store of value’s portability. Gold is a dense metal and heavy to carry around. Transporting a large amount is expensive, making it inconvenient for long-distance trade. Cross-border regulations concerning gold make it somewhat impractical for international trade.

Bitcoin, in contrast, has no portability issues. As a purely digital asset, Bitcoin, no matter the value, can be stored in a thumb-sized drive or even online, and accessed anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

Transferring Bitcoin is fast and inexpensive. You can safely move an enormous value of Bitcoin in minutes for less than a dollar. This ultimately makes Bitcoin infinitely more portable than gold.

Society must accept an asset for it to be a good store of value. This is important, because people tend to value things that have been considered valuable for a long time. Gold has been considered valuable since ancient times by virtually every human civilization, and thus has a great appeal as a store of value. Additionally, gold has practical applications, as it’s used in coinage, jewelry and electronics.

In this regard of comparing Bitcoin vs. gold, gold is far superior to Bitcoin. Bitcoin has been around for little more than a decade, and while it’s gained an impressive level of adoption in a short period, it’s still far behind gold. Many investors and the general public see Bitcoin as a niche that has yet to be fully understood.

 of around $11 trillion, whereas Bitcoin’s market cap is $500 million. Clearly, gold is more adopted globally than Bitcoin. However, Bitcoin is fast gaining popularity.

The idea of a decentralized currency that isn’t under anyone’s control doesn’t sit well with central banks and governments worldwide. This has led to unfavorable government policies regarding Bitcoin, ranging from strict regulation to outright bans in some places.

No such threat hovers over the legitimacy of gold, making it the clear winner in this aspect of the Bitcoin vs. gold debate.

With governments printing money and devaluing currencies, gold and Bitcoin are excellent hedges against runaway inflation rates. Gold has been in use for centuries, and is still a good store of value and a reliable safe-haven asset. However, Bitcoin is the new kid on the block, demonstrating improved scarcity, divisibility and transferability. This ultimately positions Bitcoin as the better store of value when comparing Bitcoin vs. gold.

Bitcoin vs. Gold: Which Is a Better Store of Value?

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