Flocks of investors experienced and not, swarmed into this new playground looking for easy gains and indeed they saw their accounts increasing week after week as the prices for “cryptos” were on a vertical climb. And then came the sell-off.
Late in 2017, the cryptocurrency market reached a stage where the initial excitement and the scores of newcomers were not enough to keep propelling prices higher. And, across the board, the price of the different tokens collapsed. In a matter of weeks, the price for Bitcoin, the preferred crypto and one of the pioneers of this new economy, dropped close to 70 percent sending chills down the spines of new investors who had been seeing profits pilling up for many months.
“Is this the end?” many asked. The naysayers who had been forced to defend their preference for more mainstream investment instruments were glowing in happiness as their prediction that “cryptos are a bubble waiting to burst” was finally proven right. However, progress only moves forward and when a new tradable asset is found and becomes part of our daily lives it rarely goes away - it has now part of the financial ecosystem.
What's next for this new breed of investment instrument?
In my capacity as a market analyst, my function is to understand what the catalysts are driving this market and devise scenarios on how to profit from it. The first thing we need to understand is that cryptocurrencies are a sentiment-driven market where the direction of the price solely relies on what investors expect for the future.
The traders all sell at the same time, and the bias becomes contagious triggering further declines. However, over the past few months, in trying to provide guidance on the different tokens, I noticed a very interesting phenomenon.
Every time price for cryptos builds some momentum to the upside, and hopes for a new bull market surface, another sell-off is triggered. But there was also one detail in common with all these market moves. I noticed that Bitcoin, the household name for cryptocurrencies, was the one edging higher while the rest of the cryptocurrencies remained trading sideways in consolidation mode.
Breaking to new highs
This was an intriguing piece of data as the divergence in price action between instruments that should normally be perfectly correlated to each other couldn't be easily explained. After the first few times, I further noticed that this divergence in price action - which always had Bitcoin diverging from the rest of the other cryptocurrencies and always BTC trying to move higher – invariably produced the same outcome.
Bitcoin broke to new highs for maybe a day but then led to a coordinated decline among all cryptos began. The BTC move higher always proved to be what we call “a false break,” a move to one direction that proves unreliable and quickly turns around to fall in line with what the rest of the market is doing.
And the crypto market was mirroring this price action. The fact that it was always Bitcoin which led the attempt to change the bearish bias occurred confirmed my train of thought. This was simply because it's the most popular one, the one where most new traders are found, and they still have hopes for a new bull market hence they test the waters.
This established a new notion in my mind that we are now in a seller’s market for, a market where investors have become accustomed to waiting for a new attempt to the upside only to jump on the opportunity to start selling short the instrument and capitalize on the buyers' ruined hopes.
Of course, you can't really “sell short” a crypto though an exchange, but you can easily do this via an online trading platform. One would argue that the idea that crypto prices are affected by what happens on the online trading platforms is not possible as the price of cryptos comes from the exchanges and is not dictated by the buying and selling of derivative instruments like Contracts-for-Difference (CFDs) from the various brokers.
But the same stands true for the Forex market where prices come from the banks but are still affected by the bias among investors: when prices are falling banks are inclined to offer the FX currency on a lower price, fueling further bearish momentum.
Is the market doomed?
Does this mean that we're doomed to see cryptocurrency trading decline as prices struggle to break higher? On the contrary, it creates a perfect opportunity to hunt for profits! Before prices collapsed in December of 2017, we always saw prices rallying, and many traders were hoping for a correction allowing them to enter the market.
You see traders don't think like normal people; they don't see a vertical climb and think “wow, I need to get into this.” They instead hope for a correction that would allow them to enter the market at a lower price and profit from the new leg higher. Exactly what happens now with the only difference that the new legs are usually to the downside at least for now.
Which actually in the world of online platform trading makes no difference as we can easily profit on rallying or declining markets - the wonder of CFDs and derivatives' trading.
My advice if I may offer one? Get involved in this while it lasts - not that it will stop at some point. It's just the direction that might change from a sellers' market to maybe a buyers' market again or maybe a sideways trading environment.
What will remain the same is always the opportunity to profit as this “new economy” has now become a part of our investment ecosystem.
This post was written by Konstantinos Anthis, Head of Market Research at ADS Securities.
Flocks of investors experienced and not, swarmed into this new playground looking for easy gains and indeed they saw their accounts increasing week after week as the prices for “cryptos” were on a vertical climb. And then came the sell-off.
Late in 2017, the cryptocurrency market reached a stage where the initial excitement and the scores of newcomers were not enough to keep propelling prices higher. And, across the board, the price of the different tokens collapsed. In a matter of weeks, the price for Bitcoin, the preferred crypto and one of the pioneers of this new economy, dropped close to 70 percent sending chills down the spines of new investors who had been seeing profits pilling up for many months.
“Is this the end?” many asked. The naysayers who had been forced to defend their preference for more mainstream investment instruments were glowing in happiness as their prediction that “cryptos are a bubble waiting to burst” was finally proven right. However, progress only moves forward and when a new tradable asset is found and becomes part of our daily lives it rarely goes away - it has now part of the financial ecosystem.
What's next for this new breed of investment instrument?
In my capacity as a market analyst, my function is to understand what the catalysts are driving this market and devise scenarios on how to profit from it. The first thing we need to understand is that cryptocurrencies are a sentiment-driven market where the direction of the price solely relies on what investors expect for the future.
The traders all sell at the same time, and the bias becomes contagious triggering further declines. However, over the past few months, in trying to provide guidance on the different tokens, I noticed a very interesting phenomenon.
Every time price for cryptos builds some momentum to the upside, and hopes for a new bull market surface, another sell-off is triggered. But there was also one detail in common with all these market moves. I noticed that Bitcoin, the household name for cryptocurrencies, was the one edging higher while the rest of the cryptocurrencies remained trading sideways in consolidation mode.
Breaking to new highs
This was an intriguing piece of data as the divergence in price action between instruments that should normally be perfectly correlated to each other couldn't be easily explained. After the first few times, I further noticed that this divergence in price action - which always had Bitcoin diverging from the rest of the other cryptocurrencies and always BTC trying to move higher – invariably produced the same outcome.
Bitcoin broke to new highs for maybe a day but then led to a coordinated decline among all cryptos began. The BTC move higher always proved to be what we call “a false break,” a move to one direction that proves unreliable and quickly turns around to fall in line with what the rest of the market is doing.
And the crypto market was mirroring this price action. The fact that it was always Bitcoin which led the attempt to change the bearish bias occurred confirmed my train of thought. This was simply because it's the most popular one, the one where most new traders are found, and they still have hopes for a new bull market hence they test the waters.
This established a new notion in my mind that we are now in a seller’s market for, a market where investors have become accustomed to waiting for a new attempt to the upside only to jump on the opportunity to start selling short the instrument and capitalize on the buyers' ruined hopes.
Of course, you can't really “sell short” a crypto though an exchange, but you can easily do this via an online trading platform. One would argue that the idea that crypto prices are affected by what happens on the online trading platforms is not possible as the price of cryptos comes from the exchanges and is not dictated by the buying and selling of derivative instruments like Contracts-for-Difference (CFDs) from the various brokers.
But the same stands true for the Forex market where prices come from the banks but are still affected by the bias among investors: when prices are falling banks are inclined to offer the FX currency on a lower price, fueling further bearish momentum.
Is the market doomed?
Does this mean that we're doomed to see cryptocurrency trading decline as prices struggle to break higher? On the contrary, it creates a perfect opportunity to hunt for profits! Before prices collapsed in December of 2017, we always saw prices rallying, and many traders were hoping for a correction allowing them to enter the market.
You see traders don't think like normal people; they don't see a vertical climb and think “wow, I need to get into this.” They instead hope for a correction that would allow them to enter the market at a lower price and profit from the new leg higher. Exactly what happens now with the only difference that the new legs are usually to the downside at least for now.
Which actually in the world of online platform trading makes no difference as we can easily profit on rallying or declining markets - the wonder of CFDs and derivatives' trading.
My advice if I may offer one? Get involved in this while it lasts - not that it will stop at some point. It's just the direction that might change from a sellers' market to maybe a buyers' market again or maybe a sideways trading environment.
What will remain the same is always the opportunity to profit as this “new economy” has now become a part of our investment ecosystem.
This post was written by Konstantinos Anthis, Head of Market Research at ADS Securities.
As event contracts are set for ‘super-cycle’ growth in volumes and recognition, retail brokers simply can’t stay behind. But can regulated entities integrate a product that is awfully similar to betting?
Join builders across the ecosystemto gain insight into the industry's current and future stance on prediction markets.
Attendees will walk away with:
Better understanding of how the CME, Plus500, and prediction platforms collaborate
Assessment of 2026’s expected volumes and new ‘event’ areas ripe for contracts
Cross-industry understanding of different strategies by brokers (co-opt, partner, buy)
As event contracts are set for ‘super-cycle’ growth in volumes and recognition, retail brokers simply can’t stay behind. But can regulated entities integrate a product that is awfully similar to betting?
Join builders across the ecosystemto gain insight into the industry's current and future stance on prediction markets.
Attendees will walk away with:
Better understanding of how the CME, Plus500, and prediction platforms collaborate
Assessment of 2026’s expected volumes and new ‘event’ areas ripe for contracts
Cross-industry understanding of different strategies by brokers (co-opt, partner, buy)
As event contracts are set for ‘super-cycle’ growth in volumes and recognition, retail brokers simply can’t stay behind. But can regulated entities integrate a product that is awfully similar to betting?
Join builders across the ecosystemto gain insight into the industry's current and future stance on prediction markets.
Attendees will walk away with:
Better understanding of how the CME, Plus500, and prediction platforms collaborate
Assessment of 2026’s expected volumes and new ‘event’ areas ripe for contracts
Cross-industry understanding of different strategies by brokers (co-opt, partner, buy)
As event contracts are set for ‘super-cycle’ growth in volumes and recognition, retail brokers simply can’t stay behind. But can regulated entities integrate a product that is awfully similar to betting?
Join builders across the ecosystemto gain insight into the industry's current and future stance on prediction markets.
Attendees will walk away with:
Better understanding of how the CME, Plus500, and prediction platforms collaborate
Assessment of 2026’s expected volumes and new ‘event’ areas ripe for contracts
Cross-industry understanding of different strategies by brokers (co-opt, partner, buy)
Precious Insights: APAC's Bullion Market amid Record Volatility
Precious Insights: APAC's Bullion Market amid Record Volatility
Precious Insights: APAC's Bullion Market amid Record Volatility
Precious Insights: APAC's Bullion Market amid Record Volatility
Precious Insights: APAC's Bullion Market amid Record Volatility
Precious Insights: APAC's Bullion Market amid Record Volatility
The precious metals rally has challenged how brokers and LPs think about hedging, pricing, and physical delivery. But with regional banks eyeing physical gold retail and bullion brokers across Southeast Asia harnessing new tech, volatility is not only in 'safe havens'.
This session gathers practitioners from across the bullion ecosystem to unpack what the rally means on the ground in APAC.
Attendees will walk away with:
Insight into the physical market dynamics driving retail demand across Southeast Asia, from central bank buying to store-of-value purchases
Understanding of Singapore's distinct role as APAC's bullion gateway, and competition near and far
Perspective on operational challenges unique to APAC: kilogram pricing, local delivery, and bridging CFD and physical bullion infrastructure
The precious metals rally has challenged how brokers and LPs think about hedging, pricing, and physical delivery. But with regional banks eyeing physical gold retail and bullion brokers across Southeast Asia harnessing new tech, volatility is not only in 'safe havens'.
This session gathers practitioners from across the bullion ecosystem to unpack what the rally means on the ground in APAC.
Attendees will walk away with:
Insight into the physical market dynamics driving retail demand across Southeast Asia, from central bank buying to store-of-value purchases
Understanding of Singapore's distinct role as APAC's bullion gateway, and competition near and far
Perspective on operational challenges unique to APAC: kilogram pricing, local delivery, and bridging CFD and physical bullion infrastructure
The precious metals rally has challenged how brokers and LPs think about hedging, pricing, and physical delivery. But with regional banks eyeing physical gold retail and bullion brokers across Southeast Asia harnessing new tech, volatility is not only in 'safe havens'.
This session gathers practitioners from across the bullion ecosystem to unpack what the rally means on the ground in APAC.
Attendees will walk away with:
Insight into the physical market dynamics driving retail demand across Southeast Asia, from central bank buying to store-of-value purchases
Understanding of Singapore's distinct role as APAC's bullion gateway, and competition near and far
Perspective on operational challenges unique to APAC: kilogram pricing, local delivery, and bridging CFD and physical bullion infrastructure
The precious metals rally has challenged how brokers and LPs think about hedging, pricing, and physical delivery. But with regional banks eyeing physical gold retail and bullion brokers across Southeast Asia harnessing new tech, volatility is not only in 'safe havens'.
This session gathers practitioners from across the bullion ecosystem to unpack what the rally means on the ground in APAC.
Attendees will walk away with:
Insight into the physical market dynamics driving retail demand across Southeast Asia, from central bank buying to store-of-value purchases
Understanding of Singapore's distinct role as APAC's bullion gateway, and competition near and far
Perspective on operational challenges unique to APAC: kilogram pricing, local delivery, and bridging CFD and physical bullion infrastructure
The precious metals rally has challenged how brokers and LPs think about hedging, pricing, and physical delivery. But with regional banks eyeing physical gold retail and bullion brokers across Southeast Asia harnessing new tech, volatility is not only in 'safe havens'.
This session gathers practitioners from across the bullion ecosystem to unpack what the rally means on the ground in APAC.
Attendees will walk away with:
Insight into the physical market dynamics driving retail demand across Southeast Asia, from central bank buying to store-of-value purchases
Understanding of Singapore's distinct role as APAC's bullion gateway, and competition near and far
Perspective on operational challenges unique to APAC: kilogram pricing, local delivery, and bridging CFD and physical bullion infrastructure
The precious metals rally has challenged how brokers and LPs think about hedging, pricing, and physical delivery. But with regional banks eyeing physical gold retail and bullion brokers across Southeast Asia harnessing new tech, volatility is not only in 'safe havens'.
This session gathers practitioners from across the bullion ecosystem to unpack what the rally means on the ground in APAC.
Attendees will walk away with:
Insight into the physical market dynamics driving retail demand across Southeast Asia, from central bank buying to store-of-value purchases
Understanding of Singapore's distinct role as APAC's bullion gateway, and competition near and far
Perspective on operational challenges unique to APAC: kilogram pricing, local delivery, and bridging CFD and physical bullion infrastructure
License to Fill: Market Liquidity amid Global Turmoil
License to Fill: Market Liquidity amid Global Turmoil
License to Fill: Market Liquidity amid Global Turmoil
License to Fill: Market Liquidity amid Global Turmoil
License to Fill: Market Liquidity amid Global Turmoil
License to Fill: Market Liquidity amid Global Turmoil
Asian markets bear unique characteristics, from connectivity to asset preference. The Singapore Summit will connect global executives and local experts across the liquidity chain to discuss volatility fluctuations, diversification vs over-reliance on single assets, and the role of trust and liquidity relationships in an increasingly automated sphere.
Asian markets bear unique characteristics, from connectivity to asset preference. The Singapore Summit will connect global executives and local experts across the liquidity chain to discuss volatility fluctuations, diversification vs over-reliance on single assets, and the role of trust and liquidity relationships in an increasingly automated sphere.
Asian markets bear unique characteristics, from connectivity to asset preference. The Singapore Summit will connect global executives and local experts across the liquidity chain to discuss volatility fluctuations, diversification vs over-reliance on single assets, and the role of trust and liquidity relationships in an increasingly automated sphere.
Asian markets bear unique characteristics, from connectivity to asset preference. The Singapore Summit will connect global executives and local experts across the liquidity chain to discuss volatility fluctuations, diversification vs over-reliance on single assets, and the role of trust and liquidity relationships in an increasingly automated sphere.
Asian markets bear unique characteristics, from connectivity to asset preference. The Singapore Summit will connect global executives and local experts across the liquidity chain to discuss volatility fluctuations, diversification vs over-reliance on single assets, and the role of trust and liquidity relationships in an increasingly automated sphere.
Asian markets bear unique characteristics, from connectivity to asset preference. The Singapore Summit will connect global executives and local experts across the liquidity chain to discuss volatility fluctuations, diversification vs over-reliance on single assets, and the role of trust and liquidity relationships in an increasingly automated sphere.
Regional Focus: Thailand, Vietnam
Regional Focus: Thailand, Vietnam
Regional Focus: Thailand, Vietnam
Regional Focus: Thailand, Vietnam
Regional Focus: Thailand, Vietnam
Regional Focus: Thailand, Vietnam
Bangkok is consolidating as Southeast Asia's broker hub for CLMV access, while Vietnam's trading volumes have made it harder to ignore from any regional headquarters. Most brokers know both exist. Fewer have tested what operating there actually requires.
This session gathers practitioners with on-the-ground experience in both markets to examine what it takes to build and run operations in Thailand and Vietnam.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of setup requirements in both markets: entity structures, timelines, and what first-time operators tend to get wrong
Understanding of the offshore broker model and how compliant operators work within domestic restrictions in each jurisdiction
Insight into talent acquisition, client onboarding, and distribution in markets where language, culture, and acquisition channels don't follow standard APAC assumptions
Perspective on adjacent Southeast Asian markets worth monitoring for the next regional move
Bangkok is consolidating as Southeast Asia's broker hub for CLMV access, while Vietnam's trading volumes have made it harder to ignore from any regional headquarters. Most brokers know both exist. Fewer have tested what operating there actually requires.
This session gathers practitioners with on-the-ground experience in both markets to examine what it takes to build and run operations in Thailand and Vietnam.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of setup requirements in both markets: entity structures, timelines, and what first-time operators tend to get wrong
Understanding of the offshore broker model and how compliant operators work within domestic restrictions in each jurisdiction
Insight into talent acquisition, client onboarding, and distribution in markets where language, culture, and acquisition channels don't follow standard APAC assumptions
Perspective on adjacent Southeast Asian markets worth monitoring for the next regional move
Bangkok is consolidating as Southeast Asia's broker hub for CLMV access, while Vietnam's trading volumes have made it harder to ignore from any regional headquarters. Most brokers know both exist. Fewer have tested what operating there actually requires.
This session gathers practitioners with on-the-ground experience in both markets to examine what it takes to build and run operations in Thailand and Vietnam.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of setup requirements in both markets: entity structures, timelines, and what first-time operators tend to get wrong
Understanding of the offshore broker model and how compliant operators work within domestic restrictions in each jurisdiction
Insight into talent acquisition, client onboarding, and distribution in markets where language, culture, and acquisition channels don't follow standard APAC assumptions
Perspective on adjacent Southeast Asian markets worth monitoring for the next regional move
Bangkok is consolidating as Southeast Asia's broker hub for CLMV access, while Vietnam's trading volumes have made it harder to ignore from any regional headquarters. Most brokers know both exist. Fewer have tested what operating there actually requires.
This session gathers practitioners with on-the-ground experience in both markets to examine what it takes to build and run operations in Thailand and Vietnam.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of setup requirements in both markets: entity structures, timelines, and what first-time operators tend to get wrong
Understanding of the offshore broker model and how compliant operators work within domestic restrictions in each jurisdiction
Insight into talent acquisition, client onboarding, and distribution in markets where language, culture, and acquisition channels don't follow standard APAC assumptions
Perspective on adjacent Southeast Asian markets worth monitoring for the next regional move
Bangkok is consolidating as Southeast Asia's broker hub for CLMV access, while Vietnam's trading volumes have made it harder to ignore from any regional headquarters. Most brokers know both exist. Fewer have tested what operating there actually requires.
This session gathers practitioners with on-the-ground experience in both markets to examine what it takes to build and run operations in Thailand and Vietnam.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of setup requirements in both markets: entity structures, timelines, and what first-time operators tend to get wrong
Understanding of the offshore broker model and how compliant operators work within domestic restrictions in each jurisdiction
Insight into talent acquisition, client onboarding, and distribution in markets where language, culture, and acquisition channels don't follow standard APAC assumptions
Perspective on adjacent Southeast Asian markets worth monitoring for the next regional move
Bangkok is consolidating as Southeast Asia's broker hub for CLMV access, while Vietnam's trading volumes have made it harder to ignore from any regional headquarters. Most brokers know both exist. Fewer have tested what operating there actually requires.
This session gathers practitioners with on-the-ground experience in both markets to examine what it takes to build and run operations in Thailand and Vietnam.
Attendees will walk away with:
A clear view of setup requirements in both markets: entity structures, timelines, and what first-time operators tend to get wrong
Understanding of the offshore broker model and how compliant operators work within domestic restrictions in each jurisdiction
Insight into talent acquisition, client onboarding, and distribution in markets where language, culture, and acquisition channels don't follow standard APAC assumptions
Perspective on adjacent Southeast Asian markets worth monitoring for the next regional move
Join The Club: What Premium Clients Want
Join The Club: What Premium Clients Want
Join The Club: What Premium Clients Want
Join The Club: What Premium Clients Want
Join The Club: What Premium Clients Want
Join The Club: What Premium Clients Want
High-net-worth traders account for an outsized portion of revenues for various retail brokers.
This session will gather heads of premium, acquisition, and product experts to reveal how they build their client base in Asia.
Attendees will walk away with:
Understanding of how brokers view premium clients (beyond deposit size).
Insight into which services, products, and benefits increase trust and LTV.
Examples of offerings that scale without inflating cost or operational burden.
Lessons from leading brokers on growing premium segments and what’s next.
High-net-worth traders account for an outsized portion of revenues for various retail brokers.
This session will gather heads of premium, acquisition, and product experts to reveal how they build their client base in Asia.
Attendees will walk away with:
Understanding of how brokers view premium clients (beyond deposit size).
Insight into which services, products, and benefits increase trust and LTV.
Examples of offerings that scale without inflating cost or operational burden.
Lessons from leading brokers on growing premium segments and what’s next.
High-net-worth traders account for an outsized portion of revenues for various retail brokers.
This session will gather heads of premium, acquisition, and product experts to reveal how they build their client base in Asia.
Attendees will walk away with:
Understanding of how brokers view premium clients (beyond deposit size).
Insight into which services, products, and benefits increase trust and LTV.
Examples of offerings that scale without inflating cost or operational burden.
Lessons from leading brokers on growing premium segments and what’s next.
High-net-worth traders account for an outsized portion of revenues for various retail brokers.
This session will gather heads of premium, acquisition, and product experts to reveal how they build their client base in Asia.
Attendees will walk away with:
Understanding of how brokers view premium clients (beyond deposit size).
Insight into which services, products, and benefits increase trust and LTV.
Examples of offerings that scale without inflating cost or operational burden.
Lessons from leading brokers on growing premium segments and what’s next.
High-net-worth traders account for an outsized portion of revenues for various retail brokers.
This session will gather heads of premium, acquisition, and product experts to reveal how they build their client base in Asia.
Attendees will walk away with:
Understanding of how brokers view premium clients (beyond deposit size).
Insight into which services, products, and benefits increase trust and LTV.
Examples of offerings that scale without inflating cost or operational burden.
Lessons from leading brokers on growing premium segments and what’s next.
High-net-worth traders account for an outsized portion of revenues for various retail brokers.
This session will gather heads of premium, acquisition, and product experts to reveal how they build their client base in Asia.
Attendees will walk away with:
Understanding of how brokers view premium clients (beyond deposit size).
Insight into which services, products, and benefits increase trust and LTV.
Examples of offerings that scale without inflating cost or operational burden.
Lessons from leading brokers on growing premium segments and what’s next.
