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.

Macro Overview — U.S. September Payrolls Top Estimates

In September, U.S. job growth exceeded expectations, with nonfarm payrolls rising by 254,000 — the highest increase in six months — while the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 4.1%. Hourly earnings grew by 4% year-over-year, signaling robust wage growth. This positive payroll report alleviates concerns about a deteriorating labor market, as demand for workers remains strong and layoffs are low. The Federal Reserve is less likely to implement a significant interest-rate cut in November, as Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted that protecting the labor market has influenced recent monetary policy decisions.

The report highlighted gains in leisure, hospitality, healthcare and government sectors, although manufacturing saw job cuts for the second consecutive month. The underemployment rate fell to 7.7%, marking its first decline in nearly a year. Despite some uncertainties, including potential impacts from strikes and Hurricane Helene, analysts suggest that the outlook for a soft landing of the economy has improved. While the participation rate held steady, the prime-age worker rate dropped slightly. Overall, these developments indicate a resilient labor market, potentially influencing future Federal Reserve interest rate decisions.

Weekly Crypto Highlight — AAVE ETF Coming?

Grayscale has initiated the Grayscale Aave Trust, providing investors with exposure to AAVE, the token linked to decentralized lending protocol Aave. As the 44th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, AAVE plays a crucial role in the 

 (DeFi) sector. This trust will operate as a closed-end fund, distinguishing it from Grayscale's existing exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Grayscale has articulated that the Aave protocol seeks to disrupt traditional finance by applying 

, thereby enhancing the efficiency of lending and borrowing processes. Although DeFi protocols inherently carry risks, Aave's established reputation and thorough audits alleviate some investor concerns. Grayscale's expansion into trusts for various cryptocurrencies, including 

, follows recent approvals for Bitcoin and Ethereum Spot ETFs, signaling a broader trend.

Despite minimal prospects for the approval of Solana and XRP Spot ETFs, the introduction of the Aave Trust suggests rising interest from traditional financial institutions in established DeFi protocols. This trend indicates growing recognition of the potential of DeFi within the conventional financial landscape.

Total Bitcoin Spot ETF Flows.Source: CoinGlass, as of Oct 4, 2024

Bitcoin’s price dropped from $66,000, finding support around $60,000, while Bitcoin Spot ETFs experienced outflows early this week. However, BTC has since recovered some losses, rising back to $62,000 as the broader equity market reacted positively to a stronger-than-expected September payroll report.

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Weekly Institutional Insights — Hot September Payroll Reports Reignite Market Sentiment

Inspired by a baby pygmy hippo from Thailand, MOODENG demonstrates how internet culture and its viral phenomena can drive the success of meme coins.

In an unbelievable turn of events, an anonymous trader managed to 

 into a jaw-dropping $7.5 million, all by trading Moo Deng (MOODENG) — the 

 inspired by a viral pygmy hippo from Thailand. Launched on Sep 10, 2024 (exactly two months after the eponymous hippo’s birth), the Moo Deng meme coin has rapidly gained a cult following in the crypto community, proving just how powerful the fusion of internet culture and cryptocurrency can be.

This article dives into the fascinating rise of the Moo Deng meme coin and explores its quirky charm, unique features and prospects in the wild world of cryptocurrencies.

Moo Deng is a meme coin project inspired by a viral pygmy hippo from Thailand. Launched on 

 in September 2024, it quickly captured the attention of the crypto community, reflecting the influence of internet culture on cryptocurrency trends.

Moo Deng, the pudgy three-month-old pygmy hippo, is the unlikely star behind the Moo Deng meme coin project. Born in July 2024 at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, she shot to internet fame thanks to her zookeeper, Atthapon Nundee, who couldn’t resist sharing the calf’s daily antics on social media. It didn’t take long for netizens to fall in love with Moo Deng’s adorable tantrums and playful personality. Fans started creating and sharing their art and memes — and just like that, the chubby hippo became a global sensation.

Her viral fame led to the creation of the Moo Deng coin on the 

. This unexpected blend of cuteness and internet virality shows just how wildly influential online culture can be, shaping trends across industries in the most delightful ways.

The Moo Deng project seeks to create a fun, engaging space that draws new users to the Solana blockchain. It’s riding the wave of the viral Moo Dong meme, hoping to spark more interest in 

 (DeFi) and get more people involved in crypto. Beyond that, Moo Deng also strives to provide a platform for community-driven projects and charitable causes, promoting social responsibility among its users. 

The Moo Deng meme coin operates on the Solana blockchain, tapping into the adorable appeal of its namesake pygmy hippo to boost community engagement and investment. Users can easily buy, sell and trade Moo Deng tokens on 

This meme coin thrives on social media trends, with a dedicated fan community sharing memes, images and updates that keep the buzz alive. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies, MOODENG’s value often fluctuates based on online chatter and community excitement, rather than conventional market fundamentals. 

To show their support for the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, where Moo Deng lives, the team behind MOODENG has pledged to donate 100% of the trading fees generated through the Moonshot app to the zoo. In addition, the project has embraced community-driven initiatives, allowing token holders to vote on its proposals and participate in charitable activities. 

As with many meme coins, Moo Deng experiences rapid price swings, often driven by speculative trading and the thrill of community involvement. Just as with 

 before it, the success of Moo Deng hinges upon maintaining momentum in a volatile market where its value is shaped by the whims of investors and the joy of the online community.

MOODENG, the Solana-based native token of the Moo Deng meme coin project, is designed to fuel the Moo Deng community. It acts as a medium of exchange for trading, staking and incentivizing user engagement.

With a fixed total supply of 989,971,791 tokens, MOODENG's scarcity could help drive up demand and boost its value. The token's distribution strategy focuses on community rewards, marketing efforts and liquidity provision, ensuring healthy trading activity and long-term growth. This balanced approach aims to attract new investors intrigued by the project’s unique blend of viral culture and community-driven initiatives.

In just weeks since its launch, Moo Deng (MOODENG) has skyrocketed past a $300 million market capitalization and hit an all-time high of $0.3387 as of Sep 28, 2024 — an incredible 1,146% increase from the week before. This meteoric rise makes it one of the few meme coins to reach such heights in recent times. As of Oct 4, 2024, MOODENG has climbed into the ranks of the top 300 cryptocurrencies by market cap, 

The token's charm comes from the viral fame of its namesake, and this cultural phenomenon has led to substantial trading activity. In the past 24 hours alone (as of Oct 4, 2024), MOODENG's trading volume has reached $104 million.

While meme coins are known for their volatility, Moo Deng’s current value and trading activity show no signs of slowing down — thanks to its unique branding, engaged community and the renewed interest in meme-based cryptocurrencies. An unofficial 

 on X has already attracted over 59,000 followers, highlighting Moo Deng's rising popularity.

Thanks to this adorable little hippo, the Khao Kheow Open Zoo has welcomed a 50% increase in visitors, prompting plans for a 24-hour livestream of Moo Deng to satisfy public demand. Moo Deng’s fame has also spread to her immediate family: her mother, Jona, along with siblings Moo Toon and Moo Waan, now have their own tokens, too.

Looking to trade Moo Deng tokens? Bybit now offers the MOODENGUSDT Perpetual contract. To get started, you’ll first need to create a Bybit account, then fund it with cryptocurrency and navigate to the 

While MOODENG's rapid rise and enthusiastic community support make it an exhilarating prospect, remember that meme coins are speculative by nature and often volatile. Without any intrinsic value, the price of this token is largely swayed by online trends and social media hype, making it a bit of a wild ride. As with all cryptocurrency investments, potential investors should 

Moo Deng’s rise as both a cultural phenomenon and meme coin demonstrates the power of internet culture in shaping new trends. While the token’s growth has been rapid and exciting, its future depends upon continued community support and interest. As with any cryptocurrency, potential investors need to stay informed and consider the risks before getting involved.

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Moo Deng (MOODENG): A Solana-Based Baby Hippo Meme Coin

Grayscale has launched the Grayscale Aave Trust, providing investors with exposure to Aave, a decentralized lending protocol on Ethereum and the 44th largest cryptocurrency by market cap. 

The SPX index was down by 0.17% as the market was impacted by rising oil prices, which surged over 5% following President Biden's support for Israel potentially striking Iran’s oil facilities. Additionally, U.S. labor market data showed signs of cooling, with a rise in jobless claims and fewer planned layoffs. Investors are now awaiting the September jobs report for further insights. Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was down by 0.35%, with Bitcoin rising by 1.40% and Ether dropping by 1.90%, in the past 24 hours.

Today's top performer is STX, which surged 3.6% following Stacks' success of their Bitcoin Builders event after a successful Asia tour and announcing the next Developer Event.

Stacks (STX), launched on January 2021, enhances Bitcoin with smart contracts and decentralized apps as a layer-1 solution, aiming to decentralize the internet and reduce big tech's dominance. It uses the security of Bitcoin to back its ecosystem, allowing for the creation of modular dApps. 

, which introduced thousands to the Stacks Bitcoin Layer 2 ecosystem. They are now seeking input on where to hold their next Bitcoin Builders event globally.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

, providing investors with exposure to Aave, a decentralized lending protocol on Ethereum and the 44th largest cryptocurrency by market cap. The trust operates like a closed-end fund, allowing accredited investors to buy shares that track Aave's price. This follows Grayscale's earlier approvals for Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Aave, a major DeFi protocol, aims to optimize lending and borrowing through blockchain and smart contracts, reducing intermediaries. Grayscale also offers trusts for other cryptocurrencies, including XRP, Bitcoin Cash, and Chainlink.

Yesterday, the total flow for BTC Spot ETFs was -$90.2 million, with no flow for GBTC and a -$90.2 million outflow from non-GBTC funds.

, allowing sENA and rsENA holders to start earning rewards from Ethereal DEX. Ethereal's waitlist is now live, and the first 1,000 users will gain access to an exclusive early user Telegram group.

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Grayscale Launches Aave Trust, Expanding Investor Access to DeFi Lending Protocol

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

The U.S. presidential election is creating a volatility premium for options expiring after Nov 5, 2024. While longer-term volatility smiles have consistently favored out-of-the-money (OTM) calls, short-term options have recently mirrored this trend. This suggests that the decline in spot prices at the end of September hasn’t significantly dampened sentiment in the derivatives markets.

Please check out some of the report’s highlights.

Futures Activities Subdued After Month-End Expiration

Spot price volatility leading up to the Sep 27, 2024 futures expiration resulted in the highest trading volumes in futures contracts in over a month. This surge was primarily focused on BTC contracts, reflecting a trend we've seen throughout much of the market's recent history. The expiration of a substantial quarterly contract at the end of September caused a decline in open interest, as not all traders opted to roll their positions into later expirations. Consequently, futures activity is currently much lower compared to that in perpetual swap markets.

While the expiration of the September contract led to a significant drop in futures open interest, the effect on perpetual swap contract markets was comparatively mild. Although we observed a decline in perpetual open interest at the end of the month, this was likely due to the closure of long positions as spot prices retreated toward the lower end of their recent range. 

This shift halts an upward trend in open interest that had been approaching all-time highs, but it doesn’t indicate a major decline — especially considering the high trading volumes recorded over the last two days of the month.

BTC ATM Implied Volatility Falls Sharply Since Fed Rate Cut

Positioning in BTC options markets continues to be heavily influenced by the U.S. election narrative. This is most evident in the term structure, which indicates significantly higher volatility expectations following the election, while short-term options are trading at much lower levels. The rise in implied volatility for these shorter tenors contrasts with the recent decline in actual volatility, which has reached lows for the month as spot prices remain relatively stable. 

Over the past week, trade volumes have mirrored this shifting sentiment, showing similar activity in both puts and calls. However, neither trade volumes nor open interest levels have surpassed recent figures, reflecting the range-bound nature of BTC spot prices, which remain influenced by broader macroeconomic factors.

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Bybit X Block Scholes Crypto Derivatives Analytics Report (Oct 2, 2024): Positive Sentiment Persists Following Recent Decline in Spot Prices

Blockchain

The Ordinal inscriptions market is much younger and still less liquid than the NFT market, but inscriptions are quickly gaining the attention of creators and traders as a viable NFT alternative.

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 immutably and permanently recorded on the world’s largest and probably most secure blockchain 

 (BTC) network? This question might force many NFT enthusiasts to pause and think a bit. But one person didn’t hesitate much before shelling out $450,000 in bitcoins in December 2023 for the right to own an Ordinal inscription — a unique digital artifact based on Bitcoin’s own implementation of NFT functionality. As of mid-February 2024, this stands as the most expensive Ordinal inscription sale in the brief history of 

Ordinal inscriptions, which allow you to attach pieces of data or media to individual satoshis, the smallest units in a BTC coin, have made it possible for creators to own unique, non-fungible assets on the Bitcoin chain. And unlike standard NFTs, which are typically based on blockchains like 

 (AVAX), Ordinal inscriptions/Bitcoin NFTs don’t require any 

Since their introduction in early 2023, Ordinal inscriptions have attracted both considerable interest and controversy in the Bitcoin community. However, one thing is certain — this niche is growing by leaps and bounds, and it may soon become a serious rival to the standard, smart contract–powered NFT ecosystem. 

What attracts people to Ordinal inscriptions on Bitcoin? And how are they different from NFTs on other blockchains? In this article, we’ll take a look at both Ordinal inscription technology and standard NFTs, and detail their key differences.

Ordinal inscriptions are digital assets created on the Bitcoin blockchain via attaching data such as images and videos to an individual 

 They’re as immutable as Bitcoin itself, as they’re made and stored directly on-chain. This innovative feature allows crypto artists to embed creative content onto Bitcoin and establish direct ownership and proof of the authenticity of their artwork.

The Bitcoin blockchain, lacking any smart contract capabilities, has never featured the classic NFT functionality available on Ethereum and other smart contract chains. In December 2022, blockchain developer Casey Rodarmor ingeniously noted that every single satoshi — the smallest unit in a BTC coin – can be uniquely traced on the Bitcoin network, according to the chronological order in which it’s been mined. For example, the very first satoshi in the first mined block has the Ordinal number 0, the second satoshi in that block has the Ordinal number 1, and so on.

Rodarmor didn’t stop at this observation. He realized that pieces of data — e.g., text, images, programming code or video — can be attached (or inscribed, per his chosen terminology) to a satoshi. The satoshi then becomes an identifiable, trackable and unique token with a piece of custom content inscribed into it, essentially an NFT-like asset.

In January 2023, Rodarmor launched the Bitcoin Ordinals protocol, which combined Ordinal theory and inscription methodology to facilitate the creation of unique NFT-like tokens on the Bitcoin network.

Media that can be inscribed onto an Ordinal NFT cannot exceed 4 MB, the limitation imposed by Bitcoin’s standard block size. In June 2023, Rodarmor introduced the concept of recursive inscriptions — a way of chaining Ordinal inscriptions that essentially removes the 4 MB size cap. Recursive inscriptions allow you to carry over data from previously created inscription tokens into a new inscription. By chaining together multiple inscription tokens in this manner, you can theoretically inscribe enormous amounts of media onto your Ordinal NFTs.

Since their introduction, Bitcoin Ordinals have been growing in popularity — and it hasn’t taken long for other blockchains to join the race. Throughout 2023, many other chains have implemented their own variations of 

 on Ethereum, Solinscriptions on Solana and Arbscriptions on Arbitrum (ARB).

 (NFTs) are unique crypto tokens that reside on a blockchain and are typically used to certify ownership of a digital artwork.

 The actual artwork — be it an image, animation or video — is usually stored off-chain, while the NFT itself contains metadata confirming the ownership and other vital details.

Metadata associated with an NFT includes detailed information such as the artwork's title, the artist's name, a description, the unique identifier, the date of mint and potentially other relevant details (for instance, edition number or properties specific to the blockchain where it's hosted). The process of minting an NFT requires using smart contracts and paying 

NFTs experienced a boom in 2021. The most expensive NFT, "The Merge", sold for a whopping $91.8 million. Other famously 

 include Beeple's "Everydays: the First 5000 Days", which fetched $69.44 million, and "CryptoPunk #5822", which sold for $23.7 million.

Differences Between Ordinal Inscriptions and NFTs

Ordinal inscriptions and standard NFTs used on smart contract chains share one fundamental commonality — both are used to facilitate the creation of, and trade in, uniquely identifiable, non-fungible crypto tokens. Yet their resemblances end pretty much there. Behind their similar façades, Ordinal inscriptions and NFTs are actually very distinct technologies. Let's take a closer look at the critical differences between them.

The most apparent technical difference between Ordinal inscriptions and NFTs concerns the use of smart contract technology. NFTs require smart contracts. Without these, NFTs can’t be minted or transferred. In contrast, though often referred to as Bitcoin NFTs, Ordinal inscriptions don't use smart contracts at all. In fact, they couldn’t, given the Bitcoin network’s lack of smart contract functionality. Rodarmor's ingenuity lies in being able to implement NFT-like functionality on Bitcoin without the need for any smart contracts whatsoever.

Ordinal inscriptions store all the media or artwork inscribed onto a satoshi token right on the Bitcoin chain. In contrast, most NFTs store only the metadata associated with the artwork on-chain. The actual media is stored off-chain, often on centralized platforms such as Google Drive, Dropbox or other Web 2.0 cloud solutions.

Options also exist to store your NFT-related digital assets on decentralized storage platforms, such as the 

 (AR). However, even in these cases, the NFT token typically resides on a different platform from the one on which its artwork is hosted. For example, many NFTs are stored on Ethereum or Solana, while their associated artwork is kept on IPFS.

Essentially, an NFT token residing on a blockchain serves only as a pointer or reference to the media it describes. This is the typical implementation of NFT technology, and stems largely from the fact that most blockchains don’t have the optimal technical environment for storing anything other than small-size data.

There are ways to store your NFT and all the media associated with it fully on-chain. Some platforms even facilitate the process of creating 

 for users. However, file size limits and transaction efficiency are still limited in these cases. As of early 2024, the most common way of creating and storing NFTs involves the use of off-chain storage environments.

As of mid-February 2024, the costs of inscribing a satoshi on Bitcoin are significantly higher than the costs of minting an NFT, perhaps aside from NFTs on Ethereum, a chain known for its scandalously high fees.

Most creators use third-party platforms like 

 to inscribe Ordinal tokens. These platforms make it easy to handle the whole inscription process without requiring the user to dive deep into technicalities. While technically adept users can inscribe directly on the chain without the use of third parties, the technical details of the process are far from trivial. 

With that in mind, we’ve calculated how much it would cost to inscribe a token for a typical non-technical user via the OrdinalsBot platform, one of the most popular and affordable services for Ordinal inscriptions. Using the platform’s interface, we first submitted a tiny 9 KB image file to be inscribed, and requested the most affordable (lowest priority) setting, which takes several days to complete the whole inscription process. We received a quote of $11. When we asked for the normal priority, which takes one hour to process an inscription, the price rose to $23.

However, 9 KB is hopelessly small for any serious image-based artwork, so we decided to use a more realistically sized image of 300 KB, still not a large file by any stretch. This is when the costs exploded! On the economy setting, which takes several days to process, the quote we received was $179, while the normal priority (one hour to process) was $529.

Even on Ethereum, well-known for its high transaction fees, the typical cost to mint an NFT is between $50 and $200, somewhat lower than the cost of getting an Ordinal inscription on Bitcoin. Moreover, most other NFT-capable chains feature minting costs that are orders of magnitude lower than the amounts above. For instance, minting on 

 (POL) will set you back by just a few cents, while creating a Solana-based NFT normally costs $2–$4 these days.

The NFT market is much older and more established — and features higher liquidity levels — as compared to the nascent Ordinal inscriptions market. The first NFT was minted back in 2014, and by 2017, the 

blockchain game had led to an explosion of interest in NFTs. By 2021, the NFT niche was a multibillion-dollar market, and an essential subcategory of the broader crypto market. 

While the NFT market has declined from its heyday of 2021, it still features considerable trade volumes. In fact, in the last 30 days to Feb 18, 2024, total NFT sales were slightly over $1 billion.

On the other hand, the Ordinal inscriptions market has recently celebrated its first anniversary. And yet, its market already features trading volumes similar to those found in the NFT sphere. In January 2024, the total trading volume of the Ordinals market was 

, quite a number for such a new area. While the price of inscriptions may not have quite reached that of NFTs at their peak, the high

st inscription sale price was already recorded at 10.4 BTC (around $450,000 at the time of sale in December 2023) for a Bitcoin inscription from the 

Being fully on-chain, Bitcoin Ordinals arguably feature a higher security level than that of NFTs, most of which have their actual artwork stored off-chain. The blockchain's built-in cryptographic security mechanism and decentralization play a crucial role in protecting on-chain assets, including Ordinal inscription tokens.

In contrast, NFTs often rely on centralized Web 2.0 platforms that might be more vulnerable to security hacks than blockchains. Moreover, Bitcoin — the home of Ordinals — is often cited as one of the industry's most secure (if not 

 most secure) decentralized blockchain networks.

Ordinal inscriptions are a fledgling technology, with a market that’s still in initial development. Among the pioneering platforms where you can trade inscriptions is the 

 and similar inscription tokens from various other blockchains.

The Bybit Inscription Marketplace also facilitates a trade in inscribable, fungible cryptocurrencies, fungible cryptos based on the same inscription technology as their non-fungible counterparts (Ordinal inscriptions). On Bitcoin, they’re based on the 

 that leverages the Ordinals protocol to facilitate the launch of fungible and inscribable crypto assets. The Bybit Inscription Marketplace features a variety of 

, as well as similar tokens from other blockchain platforms.

Since NFTs are a much more mature technology than Ordinal inscriptions, they’re available on a broader variety of centralized and decentralized platforms. Some 

 include OpenSea, Rarible and SuperRare, among many others.

Bybit is also among the leading providers in the NFT market, with two marketplaces for NFT-focused trade — 

 — to cover the needs of all segments of NFT creators and traders. Both marketplaces allow you to list and trade NFTs. Meanwhile, NFT Pro offers a couple of additional, innovative features, one of which is the ability to aggregate NFT data and offers from different external marketplaces. Moreover, NFT Pro allows you to synchronize your bids with all aggregated marketplaces.

Ordinal inscriptions have brought the concept of NFTs to the Bitcoin chain, albeit in a unique way that’s not based on smart contracts. Now, you can have your unique artwork represented on the world’s first, largest and arguably most secure blockchain — a privilege that wasn’t available to NFT enthusiasts in the past. For digital collectible investors, there are also opportunities in the Bitcoin NFT niche. The Ordinal inscription market, although relatively new and lacking the volumes seen in the NFT market, is growing fast, and with a less developed market come unique opportunities for returns.

NFTs also continue to be a thriving area of the crypto market. Although their trade volumes are down, compared to the days of the 2021 NFT mania, the NFT concept isn’t going anywhere. Perhaps the emergence of Bitcoin Ordinal inscriptions was something that the NFT market needed in order to experience another spike in interest from creators and traders alike. People are talking NFTs again — and this time, it’s thanks to Ordinal inscriptions.

 or trader who’s interested in digital collectibles, when you’re choosing between standard NFTs and Bitcoin Ordinal inscriptions, take into account that there are some fundamental differences between the two. Sometimes, it pays to try both so you can compare and contrast what works better for your individual needs.

Ordinal Inscriptions vs NFTs: How Are They Different?

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