May’s Crypto Market: Centralized Exchange Declining Volumes Hint at Bigger Changes Ahead

As a researcher with extensive experience in the cryptocurrency market, I find the recent decline in trading volume across centralized exchanges to be a noteworthy development. The drop to $5.27 trillion in May 2024 represents a significant decrease of approximately 20.1% from the previous month, and it follows the muted price activity of Bitcoin after its April Halving.


In May 2024, the cryptocurrency trading volume on centralized exchanges decreased significantly to $5.27 trillion, which represents approximately a 20.1% drop from the prior month. This decline is part of a larger trend as Bitcoin‘s subdued price action following its April Halving event has led to less trading activity.

Crypto Exchange Landscape And Institutional Interest

Based on the CCData reports I’ve analyzed, there has been a deceleration in trading volumes affecting both spot and derivatives markets. Specifically, spot trading saw a decline of 21.6%, amounting to $1.57 trillion. In comparison, the decrease was less pronounced for derivatives at 19.4%, resulting in a total of $3.69 trillion.

May’s Crypto Market: Centralized Exchange Declining Volumes Hint at Bigger Changes Ahead

Although the market as a whole experienced a decrease, the proportion of trading activity in derivatives rose significantly. This growth can be attributed to the SEC’s unexpected approval of spot Ethereum ETFs. As a result, open interest in Ethereum derivative instruments surged by 50.3% to reach $14.0 billion.

As an analyst, I’ve observed some notable shifts in the cryptocurrency market’s spot market share among major exchanges. Bybit managed to reach an unprecedented 7.36% market share, despite experiencing a decrease in trading volume by 12.7%. In contrast, Binance continued to dominate the scene with a robust 34.6% share of the spot market.

/1 Our latest Exchange Review is now live! This monthly report provides readers with insights into #crypto exchange volumes.
In May, the total trading volume of spots and derivatives on centralized exchanges decreased by 20.1% compared to the previous period, reaching a value of $5.27 trillion. The prices of Bitcoin ($BTC) and Ethereum ($ETH) mostly stayed within a narrow range during this timeframe.
— CCData (@CCData_io) June 5, 2024

In the realm of derivatives trading, Binance’s influence expanded to a significant 45.4% market share. Meanwhile, OKX and Bitget made noteworthy strides, controlling respectable shares in the competition.

As an analyst, I’ve observed some intriguing developments at the US Commodity Market Exchange (CME). Although the exchange witnessed a decrease in its overall derivatives volume, there was a notable surge in Ethereum (ETH) futures and options. These products reached new record highs of $20.5 billion for futures and $931 million for options. This upward trend suggests increasing institutional interest, likely fueled by recent regulatory progressions.

In May, the trading market responded to regulatory advancements with heightened activity, particularly following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval of Ethereum spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This announcement briefly ignited increased trading actions.

As a cryptocurrency market analyst, I’ve noticed an intriguing trend based on the latest Bitcoinist report, which references CryptoQuant’s findings. Regulatory approvals often ignite speculative trading among investors, as indicated by substantial withdrawals from prominent exchanges such as Coinbase and Kraken.

Continuous Outflows From Exchanges Signal Bullish Sentiment

As an analyst studying the cryptocurrency market, I’ve noticed some intriguing trends in on-chain data lately. Specifically, there have been notable Bitcoin withdrawals from Coinbase, as indicated by recent reports. This occurrence has happened no less than seven times in 2023, based on a CryptoQuant Quicktake analysis. These significant outflows could potentially be linked to large-scale acquisitions or other substantial transactions.

The “Bitcoin withdrawal volume” figure, reflecting the amount of the cryptocurrency taken out of exchange vaults, signals investors transferring their coins for long-term storage, implying a robustly optimistic market stance.

Coinbase isn’t the only exchange experiencing these transfers; Kraken has similarly witnessed substantial Bitcoin and Ethereum withdrawals, marking the most considerable movements for these cryptocurrencies since 2017.

Kraken: Largest $BTC and $ETH Outflows Since 2017!
“The Bitcoin reserves at Kraken have decreased to a level last seen in 2018, now totaling 122,300 coins. As for Ethereum, this marks the first time Kraken’s reserve has dipped below one million units since early 2016.”
— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) June 3, 2024

Large investors are shifting from frequent buying and selling to long-term asset protection, highlighting a broader trend in the crypto market. These moves indicate a bullish perspective on future price growth and demonstrate investors’ belief in the lasting worth of cryptocurrencies.

May’s Crypto Market: Centralized Exchange Declining Volumes Hint at Bigger Changes Ahead

Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

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2024-06-06 07:12