It is time to ask ourselves 'are crypto bubbles bursting?'.

The rise of [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) (BTC -0.62%), [Ethereum](/coins/eth) (ETH -1.23%),[ Dogecoin](/coins/doge) (DOGE 4.64%), and some other digital currencies has prepared the way for once-in-a-lifetime profits. For example, when Bitcoin topped $64,800 a token in mid-April, a $155 investment at $1 would have been worth nearly $1 million.

However, cryptocurrency has plummeted in value during the last two weeks. Some could call this a natural retracement following a monster run upward. Still, I'd like to refer to it as a popping bubble.

While many people feel that digital currencies are the best thing since the invention of chocolate, I believe the crypto market is collapsing for several reasons.

## Some Governments Aren't Okay with Cryptocurrency

The crypto bubble is bursting because some countries are concerned about cryptocurrencies undermining their central bank-backed currencies. For example, China sent the cryptocurrency market into a tailspin last week when it announced that its banks and online payment channels would no longer be able to provide any cryptocurrency-related services.

However, it's worth noting that a significant amount of Bitcoin mining occurs in China. In this regard, China is far from alone. For example, Turkey recently passed legislation prohibiting the use of cryptocurrency for payment. Meanwhile, digital currencies are illegal in Bolivia, Ecuador, Nigeria, and Algeria. As a result of this trend, the global use case for cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly unlikely.

## Centralisation is Still an Issue

One of the goals of cryptocurrencies is decentralisation. This was done to ensure that a network is not controlled by a single person or a small group. However, according to BitInfoCharts.com, ownership of Bitcoin and Dogecoin is relatively consolidated. For example, only 2,155 addresses control roughly 42% of all Bitcoin, and only 99 addresses control 66.6% of Dogecoin. As a result, people may recognize that these financial experiments aren't as decentralized as they should be.

## The Real-World Utility is Minimal

A severe drawback of digital currency is that it is practically useless outside of a cryptocurrency exchange. Even though many well-known corporations or organisations have accepted Bitcoin or Dogecoin, the total number of businesses accepting either is still insignificant.

## There is No Entry Barrier

My main issue with cryptocurrency, aside from its lack of utility, is that there is no entry barrier. Anyone with a computer or an innate desire to code can create a blockchain and, possibly, a tethered token. [CoinMarketCap](https://coinmarketcap.com/) claims to have a database of around 10,000 different cryptocurrencies. While many aren't actively traded, the number of potential competitors to Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Ethereum is staggering, with many more on the way. In short, the crypto sector is constantly being diluted by an infinite number of competitors.

## There is No Identifiable Real-World Correlation

Another concern with crypto is that there are no obvious real-world correlations. For example, we know that gold and the US dollar have an inverse relationship. Gold is more likely to rise when the value of the dollar falls. This is a long-term relationship that has formed.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin do not have these correlations. Crypto enthusiasts want to emphasize how crypto is a hedge against inflation. Still, they forget that the value of Bitcoin has fluctuated depending on how quickly or slowly the money supply expanded. Because cryptocurrency has no physical connections, it is fueled by emotion and technical analysis.

## Over Leveraging Can Be Haunting the Crypto Market

Customers at some of the most well-known cryptocurrency exchanges will be able to multiply their account equity by 50 to 125 times. While this level of leverage is common in forex, where currencies move in fractions of a cent, it is absurd for cryptocurrency, which can swing 3% in seconds. According to data from Bybt.com via Bloomberg, approximately 887,000 accounts representing $9.4 billion in total crypto assets were liquidated on May 19 due to leverage-based margin calls. It doesn't take much for the crypto market to go south rapidly because of this tremendous leverage.

## Investors Always Overhype New Tech

Finally, investors usually overestimate new technology uptake. Even though many people are enthusiastic about blockchain, it has been more than a half-decade, and the euphoria has yet to translate into actual enterprise use. Every next big-thing technology, including cryptocurrency, requires time to mature.


Are Crypto Bubbles Bursting? They May Be...

The Black Swan events of December may have knocked Bitcoin, the world’s most popular crypto-currency, down 30% in value this month. But, judging from the resilience of the mining activity around the world, which has experienced a full recovery since the Chinese “_ban_”, the cryptocurrency investment community has further evidence to suggest that digital currencies will continue to rebound from whatever may get thrown at them.

## The 'Mecca' of Crypto-Mining

Once upon a time, China was _the_ mecca of cryptocurrency mining with reliable estimates putting the country’s slice of the global crypto-mining pie at the 65% to 75% mark.  Then, September 2021 happened.  The communist nation with a population of 1.4 billion [essentially banned all cryptocurrency transactions](https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-central-bank-vows-crackdown-cryptocurrency-trading-2021-09-24/), including any mining activity that was happening in the country.  The Chinese ban was thought to be the sound of the death knell for digital currencies, but, again, the cryptocurrency market has shown remarkable “comeback” potential.

The recent rebound in global cryptocurrency mining was declared by measuring what’s referred to as the [_hashrate_](https://www.yahoo.com/now/hash-rate-cryptocurrency-calculated-172307967.html#:~:text=The%20hash%20rate%20is%20the,part%20of%20the%20mining%20operation.), a term that’s used to describe the computational power of all the mining activity taking place on the bitcoin network.  Specifically, it refers to the amount of computing power per second that the cryptocurrency mining process requires.

Getting back to China, once the ban was announced last summer the cryptocurrency market may have plummeted, but the miners simply folded up their tents, packed their gear, and took their operations to countries that demonstrated a more amiable attitude towards digital currencies.  For example, the United States has been a big beneficiary of the Chinese ban – The US is a provider of plentiful, inexpensive electricity and even Kazakstan, where electricity is _even less_ expensive saw a huge migration in cryptocurrency miners.

Cryptocurrency mining has certainly received its fair share of press, especially now that the effects of the Chinese ban have been eclipsed by the market’s recent global mining activity, so it’s worth taking a moment to understand what cryptocurrency mining really is.

## What is cryptocurrency mining?

Most of society believes the cryptocurrency mining process is just a way of creating new coins.  That’s true, but there’s more involved.  Crypto mining is deemed successful once miners have validated cryptocurrency transactions on a blockchain network and then successfully add them to a distributed ledger.  Most importantly, the mining process prevents the “[double-spending](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/double-spending-problem-crypto)” of digital currency.  In the most basic sense, cryptocurrency mining is the process of solving very complicated mathematical puzzles.  If you can solve them fast enough, you’re rewarded with a coin.  However, cryptocurrency miners that solve these puzzles slower than their competition _don’t_.  It’s a process called “[proof of work](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/proof-work.asp#:~:text=Proof%20of%20work%20(PoW)%20is,transactions%20and%20mining%20new%20tokens.).”

The most remarkable thing about this story is that a global superpower instituted a countrywide ban of cryptocurrency transactions, and less than six months later the cryptocurrency market is making a “chest thumping” statement with a full recovery.


China Crypto Ban Brushed Off as Mining Recovers

Cryptocurrency investment communities are holding their breath as they await confirmation of the news, is it true?  There is no denying that crypto-investors are being tantalised with recent reports. Such reports suggest that China may be in the midst of reconsidering its current [bitcoin](/coins/btc) ban and other cryptocurrencies.  Such an event could trigger monumental gains in cryptocurrency. It could also set further ablaze a market that’s already been on a serious bull-run.

## Bitcoin Banned in September

In a move that smacked of suspicion right from the moment it was announced back in September, Chinese regulators had prohibited all cryptocurrency mining activities. The country cited concerns that speculative trading was “disturbing economic and financial order \[and\] breeding illegal and criminal activity." This is according to a People’s Bank of China statement.  In simpler terms, cryptocurrencies were a financial component of the communist regime’s economy that Beijing discovered was impossible to control with any amount of precision. Ironically, decentralisation is a deliberate concept of Bitcoin and one of its foundational principles.   

But the coup de grâce of September didn’t come out of the blue.  Beijing had been taking steps to impose legal restrictions on a wide array of cryptocurrency activities dating back to 2013.  Despite the Chinese government’s efforts, their crypto industry continued to thrive.

In fact, the Chinese ban has done little in terms of weakening the mainstream adoption of Bitcoin and other digital assets. The move was especially pivotal in catapulting the US to the top of the world’s crypto mining nations.  Even GOP lawmakers suddenly saw the benefit of making the U.S. a _global_ cryptocurrency hub after China's recent ban.  Since then, the value of bitcoin has doubled in price. Because of this, the Chinese government is likely experiencing second thoughts.

## Speculation Continues

For now, China has willingly forfeited “pole position” in the crypto-race.  Perhaps now they see that the most prudent _economic_ course of action is a return to the crypto-verse, even if it means doing so at much higher prices.  The speculation is continuing on social media. Reports are conflicting in terms of whether or not the country’s National Development and Reform Commission is _really_ seeking public opinion on the inclusion of crypto mining in its list of “phased-out” industries.

China hasn’t turned its back entirely on digital currencies though.  The communist regime has been doing some experimentation with a digital form of currency that converts to their own official currency, the yuan.  China conducted some tests on [the digital state-backed version](https://www.db.com/news/detail/20210714-digital-yuan-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work) of the yuan, in April of 2021. It doesn’t require an internet connection to make transactions and the functionality has been compared to Apple Pay.  If successful, the digital currency is expected to evolve as one of the communist nation’s primary payment methods.

Why China _really_ banned cryptocurrencies in the first place is still a subject of debate.  Perhaps China sees Bitcoin for what it truly is and became frightened by its power.  A resourceful tool against a government that wants total control over its citizens.



What Does China’s Ban on Crypto Really Mean?

Is China Considering Abolishing its Ban on Bitcoin?

The United States is now the number one Bitcoin mining location after China announced plans to restrict cryptocurrency activity in the nation.

Bitfury, a US-based mining company, has recently opened a mining facility after receiving $80 million in funding from an international investor. Bitfury will be setting up its mining center in Georgia and is expected to provide over 100 jobs for Georgian citizens with salaries around $50,000 a year.

## Georgia Becomes Mining Hub

Georgia is known for being one of the friendliest countries in the world for Bitcoin miners and miners from all over the world have been flocking to set up mining centres in Georgia.

This move comes after China announced its plans to crackdown on cryptocurrency activity within the nation's borders. Mining centres are now expected to be set up in parts of the world that are more crypto-friendly, with Georgia being one of them.

More [Business news](/news/category/crypto-business-news).

US Top Location for Mining After China's Crackdown

In an effort to be ‘maximally compliant with regulatory requirements’ the world’s second largest [Ethereum](/coins/eth) mining pool announced today that all operations are to halt at the end of the month.

Hangzhou based SparkPool released the information yesterday confirming all activities were to cease by Thursday 30th September.

This announcement closely follows Friday’s decision that all new users were banned from registering with SparkPool with immediate effect.

## SparkPool Contribute 22% of Hash Rate

Since its inception in 2016, SparkPool has evolved to become the world’s second largest Ethereum  mining operation by hash rate closely behind industry behemoth Ethermine. SparkPool currently contribute 22% of the entire Ethereum blockchain hash rate with a whopping 142 terra-hash per second.

SparkPool’s announcement follows a call from the State Council of China in May this year for local authorities to crack down on crypto mining activities and, while this had been somewhat of a success, a number of stealth mining operations have been slowly resuming work over the last few months.

## China's Decision May Have an Impact

Many people believe the announcement was heavily influenced by the Chinese Central Government’s recent decision to declare all crypto related activity illegal with immediate effect (Thursday 23rd September).

Following the initial country wide clampdown in May this year, Bitcoin miners Poolin and BIT Mining have been looking for new premises and had ear marked North America and Central Asia as possible new sites.

While SparkPool could also have circumnavigated the ban by taking their mining operation overseas they evidently have chosen not to.

Global mining outfit, Huobi, declared on Sunday September 26th that all China based users will be unable to access their services by the end of the year.

The news did not come as a huge surprise to many industry leaders as China continue to crackdown on the cryptocurrency eco-system within the country. Consequently, SparkPool seem to have made the decision with the purpose of protecting client assets.  
  
The impact on Ethereum network performance and price is yet to be seen.

Many proponents view the China ban as bullish for crypto as pushback from China has historically been good for the rest of the Western world. In 2009, China banned Facebook and YouTube from its shores closely followed Google and Wikipedia. All went on to see massive success in other markets.  
  
SparkPool have not released any further information regarding their future plans at this point however given Ethereum’s continued port to a Proof of Stake non-mining mechanism SparkPool’s decision may be rather telling.



Ethereum’s Second Largest Mining Operation to Close

China’s umpteenth cryptocurrency ban was followed by a customary dip in the price of Bitcoin and altcoins as Bitcoin fell by over $2,000 (£1,460) following the announcement made by China’s central bank on 24th September 2021. The People’s Bank of China deemed “virtual currency-related business activities” as “illegal financial activities”.

China has been trying to completely ban crypto-related activities since 2013 but to no avail. That said, the Chinese government has ramped up its crackdown in 2021, making a series of announcements in May, June and September. That said, what does the latest ban really mean?

## The future of crypto in China

While crypto trading has been banned in China since 2019, foreign exchanges have continued to offer their services to citizens. By deeming crypto services as illegal, the government has all but sealed China’s withdrawal from the market – Huobi and Binance have commenced market withdrawal measures already.

The government believes crypto-related activities are a threat to “the safety of people’s assets”. While the market has already recovered from the ban, with whales buying the dip and adding 80,000 BTC to their wallets, the reality behind China’s latest ban is to eradicate the use of uncontrollable crypto assets and promote the use of their CBDC, the Digital Yuan.

China is not against crypto – the government seeks complete control over the use of crypto in the country. The government is in the advanced stages of CBDC implementation and will be a global leader once fully integrated into the financial system. While other countries (like the Bahamas) have launched CBDCs already, China will be seen as a giant in the sphere.

The United States is far behind in implementing CBDC technology and in the long run, China may have an upper hand in global financial infrastructure – 81 countries are considering the possibility of implementing their centralised cryptocurrency.

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