Events That Shook Crypto Market in 2022

One of the most notable events of the year was the hack of the cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, in which 7,000 Bitcoins, worth over $40 million at the time, were stolen. The incident caused widespread panic and led to a significant drop in the value of Bitcoin and other top cryptocurrencies.

The FTX fraud and Terra Collapse in 2022 were some of the major events as well, which had a significant impact on the cryptocurrency industry, contributing to increased uncertainty and mistrust among investors. The FTX fraud raised concerns over the security of cryptocurrency exchanges and the potential for fraudulent activities, while the Terra Collapse, as a decline in the value of a stablecoin, highlighted the importance of stability and security in the market. Another significant event was the closure of several initial coin offerings (ICOs) due to regulatory crackdowns, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) taking action against companies for conducting illegal securities offerings, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars for investors.

The year also saw a sharp increase in the number of Ponzi schemes and other fraudulent activities in the cryptocurrency market. Many individuals were scammed out of their digital assets, with the total amount lost estimated to be billions of dollars.

The disruption in the cryptocurrency market also had a ripple effect on the global economy. As of January 1, 2022, cryptocurrencies had a market capitalization of more than $2.24 trillion. By June, it had dropped to less than one trillion dollars, when it hovered around $900 billion. This, in turn, led to a decrease in investment and a slowing of innovation in the industry.

During the Russia-Ukraine Havoc in 2022, the cryptocurrency industry saw a significant shift in the two countries. In Ukraine, the Havoc and the economic instability it brought led to an increase in the adoption and use of cryptocurrencies as a means of storing and transferring value, as opposed to the volatile national currency. According to a report by the Ukrainian central bank, the number of cryptocurrency transactions in Ukraine increased through June 2022, where 15.72% of the total population owned crypto compared to the previous year, which was 12.7%.

On the other hand, in Russia, the government’s strict regulations on cryptocurrency activities, coupled with the negative sentiment towards digital assets in the country, led to a decrease in the growth of the market. Furthermore, it was used for illegal activities, such as money laundering and financing of illegal groups, which increased during the Havoc in Russia.

In general, the Russia-Ukraine Havoc in 2022 had a divergent effect on the cryptocurrency industries in both nations.

In 2022, the cryptocurrency market was hit with a major shock when Terra, a highly-touted stablecoin, collapsed. Terra was launched in 2021 to create a stable and decentralized digital currency that could be used for everyday transactions. Its value was pegged to a basket of currencies and commodities, making it less volatile than other cryptocurrencies. However, in 2022, Terra’s value suddenly dropped by over 60% in a single day, causing panic among investors.

The cause of Terra’s collapse was found to be a combination of factors. Firstly, the company behind Terra had been facing financial difficulties and could not meet its obligations to maintain the coin’s value. Secondly, there were several reports of large-scale fraud and mismanagement within the organization. This led to a loss of trust among investors and a rapid sell-off of the coin.

Furthermore, the incident also exposed the vulnerability of decentralized systems, and the importance of proper regulations, and oversight in the cryptocurrency industry. The Terra incident served as a reminder that decentralized systems are not immune to fraud and mismanagement.

In the aftermath of Terra’s collapse, there were several investigations conducted by regulatory authorities, like SEC, to uncover the fraud and mismanagement that led to the collapse. Several individuals were charged and convicted of fraud, money laundering, and other criminal activities. The company behind Terra was also dissolved and the authorities seized its assets.

Thus, the collapse of Terra in 2022 was a major blow to the cryptocurrency industry, causing a significant decrease in value for many digital assets. Moreover, it also led to a reduction in trust and investment in stablecoins, and other decentralized digital currencies.

There was significant financial instability in the cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, in 2022, which affected the market in various ways. The instability was caused by a series of events that led to a loss of confidence among investors, and a sharp decrease during early November, where it lost billions at the time in trading volume on the platform.

One of the key factors that contributed to the instability was the rapid growth of leveraged trading on the platform. FTX was known for its high-leverage trading options, which allowed traders to amplify their returns. However, this also increased the risk of large losses. As a result, many traders lost large sums of money when the market turned against them.

It was revealed that FTX CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), and his crew were involved in mishandling customer funds for their own gain, through insider trading and market manipulation, leading to further harm to FTX’s reputation and the cryptocurrency industry. The misuse of funds resulted in a loss of trust among investors, and a decrease in trading volume, damaging the stability of the market. The situation was made worse by the inadequate risk management systems of the platform, which resulted in the liquidation of several large traders’ positions and a domino effect of cascading liquidations that amplified the market downturn. 

Furthermore, FTX faced increased scrutiny and regulatory pressure from authorities. The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) investigated the platform’s business practices and found several violations of regulations. This led to heavy fines and penalties for FTX, and several executives were charged with fraud and insider trading.

Digital currencies became mainstream in 2022 as governments around the world took a more active role in regulating the cryptocurrency market. The United Kingdom, Brazil, and The United Arab Emirates were among the countries that led the way in this regard, in 2022.

In the United Kingdom, the government introduced regulations that aimed to increase transparency and security in the cryptocurrency market. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued guidelines for businesses operating in the sector, requiring them to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations. Additionally, the government also set up a task force to investigate the potential benefits and risks of issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

The Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) created a regulatory framework for digital currencies, with a focus on anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) measures. The BCB also partnered with several commercial banks to launch a pilot program that aimed to increase the use of digital currencies among merchants and consumers.

In The United Arab Emirates, the government actively promoted the use of digital currencies and blockchain technology. The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) issued guidance on the use of digital currencies and created a regulatory framework for them. Additionally, the government also launched a digital version of its currency, the UAE dirham, which aimed to increase the use of cryptocurrencies in cross-border transactions.

In 2022, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) saw a significant resurgence in popularity as a fundraising method for startups and projects.

One of the major factors that drove the popularity of ICOs in 2022 was the increasing mainstream adoption of blockchain technology and digital assets. Many companies and industries began to explore and invest in blockchain technology, creating more opportunities for startups and projects to raise funds through ICOs. Additionally, regulatory bodies began to develop more crypto-friendly policies and regulations, increasing investor confidence and trust in the ICO market.

Another trend that contributed to the rising popularity of ICOs in 2022 was the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) projects. According to a report by Chainalysis, the DeFi market reached $1.5 trillion by the end of 2022, and many of these projects raised funds through ICOs to finance their development and expansion.

Additionally, the development of more sophisticated and secure platforms for conducting ICOs and the emergence of Security Token Offerings (STOs), which were considered a regulated form of ICOs compliant with securities laws, also contributed to the rising popularity of ICOs in 2022.

The current state of cryptocurrency is a rapidly changing landscape. Despite recent regulatory actions, such as the SEC’s legal action against FTX, the sector continues to expand and attract new investors. AAA-grade games such as Illuvium, Cryptokitties, and Axie Infinity are continuing to develop and draw in new users, while platforms like Uniswap, Balancer, and Compound are becoming increasingly popular.

The growing demand for cryptocurrency, combined with recent developments, like the introduction of Ethereum 2.0, is creating a new wave of optimism and promise for the future of the industry. Despite the volatile nature of the market and recent regulatory actions, the cryptocurrency sector is continuing to prove its potential for growth and innovation. 

2022 was a historical year for the crypto industry, marked by several challenges and a decline in the value of most cryptocurrencies. However, despite these setbacks, the crypto market continues to evolve and grow.

The crypto industry is still in its early stages of development, and we expect to see the development of more secure and sophisticated platforms for crypto transactions, as well as greater mainstream adoption of blockchain technology and digital assets. As more countries implement clear and consistent regulations for the crypto industry, we believe that it will attract more institutional investors and drive the growth of the crypto market.

It’s worth noting that the crypto market is known for its volatility, with fluctuations in its value. For example, the price of Bitcoin increased by 1% in December 2022, ending the year above $16,500, while Ethereum (ETH) prices declined by 1.4% to close the year at $1,199. As such, we always advise caution when investing in cryptocurrencies, and to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions.

In conclusion, 2022 was a challenging year for the crypto industry, but the future looks bright and promising. At dappGambl, we are confident in the potential of the crypto market and believe that it will continue to mature and grow in the coming years.