The global cryptocurrency market experienced a slight downturn during the week of October 1–7, 2018, with total market capitalization falling by approximately 1.57% to $218.1 billion. Despite mixed performance across major digital assets, regulatory advancements, institutional interest, and blockchain adoption in public sectors continue to shape long-term sentiment.
According to ChainDD Intelligence data, there were 2,042 active cryptocurrencies as of noon on October 7, 2018. The DDCI (Dedao Digital Currency Index)—a composite index tracking the top 50 exchanges and 50 coins—registered 846.41 by October 7 at 8:00 PM, reflecting a 2.03% decline from the previous week.
Market Performance: Bitcoin Holds Strong, Ripple Takes a Hit
Among major cryptocurrencies, performance was split:
- Bitcoin (BTC): Increased from $6,347.16 to $6,604.63—a modest +0.46% gain.
- Ethereum (ETH): Dropped –1.99%, trading at $225.91.
- EOS: Rose slightly by +1.05%, reaching $5.76.
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH): Fell –3.66%, now at $513.42.
- Litecoin (LTC): Declined –4.26%, priced at $58.11.
Bitcoin maintained its dominance, increasing its market share to 52.42%—up 1.11% week-on-week—with a valuation of around $114.3 billion**. Ethereum followed with a market cap of **$23.1 billion (–1.86%), while Ripple (XRP) saw a significant drop of –16.02%, losing about $3.7 billion in value and falling to **$19.2 billion**.
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The top 30 cryptocurrencies collectively accounted for 92.24% of the total market cap ($201.2 billion), showing a slight decrease in concentration compared to the prior week.
Sector Breakdown and New Listings
Of the top 30 digital assets:
- Public blockchains dominated with 30% share.
- Base currencies (like BTC and ETH) held 23.33%.
- Privacy coins followed at 13.33%.
Only three new cryptocurrencies launched during the week—a sharp 88.9% drop from the previous period—indicating a cooling in new project activity.
Mining and Network Insights
Bitcoin mining activity remained stable:
- 1,011 blocks mined.
- 35 empty blocks recorded (3.46% rate).
- Average miner fees rose to 1.11% of block rewards.
- Top 10 mining pools controlled 83.23% of total hash power.
Global Regulatory and Institutional Trends
1. UK Explores Blockchain for Post-Brexit Trade
UK Chancellor Phillip Hammond suggested blockchain could facilitate seamless cross-border trade between Ireland and the UK after Brexit, highlighting growing governmental interest in decentralized ledger applications.
2. Hong Kong Launches "FPS" Fast Payment System
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) rolled out its "Faster Payment System" (FPS), processing over 50,000 transactions worth more than HK$200 million ($25.5 million) on day one. Integrated into local bank apps, it supports AlipayHK and WeChat Pay HK but remains restricted to Hong Kong users.
3. Venezuela Pushes Petro for International Use
President Nicolás Maduro announced that the state-backed Petro cryptocurrency would be used for international procurement, real estate deals, travel bookings, and more. However, Ethereum core developer Joey Zhou pointed out that Petro’s whitepaper appears to be a near-copy of Dash’s documentation, raising credibility concerns.
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4. U.S. Regulators Clarify Cryptocurrency Oversight
CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo emphasized that the SEC and CFTC regulate crypto from different angles:
- SEC: Focuses on retail investor protection in capital formation markets.
- CFTC: Oversees institutional risk transfer markets.
He dismissed fears of Bitcoin replacing fiat but acknowledged its potential utility in economically unstable regions.
5. India’s Supreme Court to Rule on Crypto Banking Access
India’s top court was expected to decide whether banks can service crypto exchanges—a pivotal moment for the country's digital asset ecosystem. In anticipation, major exchange Zebpay suspended operations.
6. Ukraine Proposes 10-Year Crypto Tax Holiday
MP Yuriy Derevyanko advocated for tax exemption on crypto activities until 2029 to boost innovation, contrasting with another proposal suggesting a flat 5% tax on individual gains starting in 2024.
7. South Korea Calls for ICO Regulation Framework
Min Byung-Doo, chair of South Korea’s National Policy Committee, urged lawmakers to establish clear ICO regulations instead of outright bans, recognizing token sales as viable fundraising tools.
Meanwhile, seven licensed exchanges retained their “high-risk” status amid ongoing legal reviews—highlighting regulatory caution.
8. U.S., EU, and Israel Advance Blockchain Policy
- The U.S. House introduced the Blockchain Promotion Act to define blockchain via a federal working group.
- The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) pledged over €1 million to monitor crypto and fintech risks in 2019.
- Israel’s Securities Authority began using blockchain (via Yael system) to enhance cybersecurity in regulatory communications.
Industry Adoption and Innovation
Blockchain in Energy and Land Registry
- Uganda partnered with CleanPath and Wala to launch DALA—a blockchain-based digital currency for buying renewable energy.
- The UK Land Registry teamed up with Methods to pilot land registration on R3’s Corda blockchain.
Corporate Giants Embrace Blockchain
- Deloitte identified five key barriers to adoption: speed, interoperability, cost, regulation, and collaboration—but noted progress is accelerating.
- Accenture found that 88% of semiconductor executives plan to integrate blockchain within three years—the highest among industries surveyed.
- American Bankers Association projected the blockchain market could reach $7 billion, benefiting cloud leaders like Microsoft and Amazon.
Major Developments in Exchanges and Investments
SEC Sets Deadline for Bitcoin ETF Decisions
The U.S. SEC set October 26, 2018, as the deadline for public comments on nine pending Bitcoin ETF applications—including filings from ProShares, Direxion, and GraniteShares linked to NYSE Arca and Cboe. While no approval had been issued yet, this marked a critical step toward regulated crypto investment products.
Institutional Moves Signal Growing Legitimacy
- TD Ameritrade invested in ErisX, a regulated platform offering crypto futures and spot trading.
- Gemini secured comprehensive insurance coverage for custodied assets through Aon, with USD deposits FDIC-insured.
- Coinbase was reportedly nearing an $800 million valuation after talks with Tiger Global for a $500 million investment.
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Emerging Use Cases and Challenges
Alibaba Files Patent for Admin-Controlled Blockchain
The Chinese tech giant filed a patent allowing administrators to freeze accounts or halt smart contracts—highlighting tensions between decentralization ideals and real-world compliance needs.
Facebook Data Sold in Crypto on Dark Web
Following a breach affecting 50 million users, stolen Facebook profiles were listed on Dream Market darknet marketplace for $3–$12 each, payable in cryptocurrency—underscoring privacy risks in the digital age.
Japan Nears ICO Legalization
Japan’s Financial Services Agency acknowledged crypto’s financing function during a regulatory meeting—marking a major step toward formalizing ICOs in one of Asia’s most mature crypto markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did the global crypto market fall despite Bitcoin rising?
A: While Bitcoin showed resilience (+0.46%), broader market weakness—especially Ripple’s steep drop (-16%) and declining altcoin valuations—pulled overall capitalization down by 1.57%.
Q: Are Bitcoin ETFs likely to be approved soon?
A: The SEC’s October 26 deadline for public feedback signaled serious consideration, but no immediate approval was expected. Regulatory caution around market manipulation remains a key hurdle.
Q: How is blockchain being used outside finance?
A: Governments are adopting blockchain for land registries (UK), identity systems (Uganda), cross-border payments (Hong Kong), and supply chain tracking (India’s pharma sector).
Q: Is Petro a legitimate cryptocurrency?
A: Experts have questioned Petro’s legitimacy due to allegations of whitepaper plagiarism from Dash and lack of transparent backing—despite claims of being asset-backed.
Q: What are the biggest barriers to enterprise blockchain adoption?
A: Deloitte identified slow transaction speeds, poor interoperability, high costs, unclear regulation, and insufficient cross-industry cooperation as primary obstacles.
Q: Which companies are leading blockchain integration?
A: Accenture’s survey showed semiconductor firms leading adoption intent; meanwhile, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alibaba are investing heavily in infrastructure and patents.
This week underscored a pivotal shift: while price volatility persists, structural developments in regulation, institutional investment, and real-world use cases are laying the foundation for long-term growth in the digital asset ecosystem.
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