Crypto Trading Activity Declines: Centralized Exchanges See 20.1% Drop in May

As a researcher with extensive experience in the cryptocurrency market, I find the recent decline in trading volume on centralized exchanges intriguing. The data from CCData’s Exchange Review report indicates a significant drop of 20.1% in total trading volume last month to $5.27 trillion, with spot trading volumes falling 21.6% and derivatives trading volumes declining 19.4%.


As a researcher studying the cryptocurrency market, I’ve observed a significant decrease of 20.1% in the total trading volume on centralized exchanges during the past month, amounting to approximately $5.27 trillion. Despite this reduction, major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have largely remained within their price ranges. However, an unexpected surge in volatility occurred following the recent SEC approval of spot Ether exchange-traded funds in the United States.

Based on the most recent Exchange Review from CCData, trading volume for spot markets on centralized platforms decreased by 21.6% to reach $1.57 trillion last month. This marks the second successive decrease in trading activity.

As an analyst, I’ve observed a noteworthy decrease in derivatives trading volumes. Specifically, they dropped by 19.4%, amounting to $3.69 trillion. This decline was smaller than some may have anticipated, yet it significantly increased the market dominance of derivatives products. In fact, this level of market control has reached its highest point since December 2023.

As a researcher studying the cryptocurrency market, I’ve discovered an intriguing trend: the significant expansion of the derivatives market share. This growth can be traced back to a sudden surge in trader interest following the SEC’s unexpected approval of spot Ethereum ETFs. According to CryptoGlobe’s reports, this development resulted in an impressive 20% increase in Ethereum’s price within a day. In response to this regulatory shift, traders have flocked to derivatives markets to seize the opportunities presented by this exciting turn of events.

In May, the report indicates a significant increase of 30.5% in open interest on centralized exchanges, reaching a total of $55.2 billion. Notably, the top three derivatives trading platforms, Binance, OKX, and Bitget, experienced individual growths: Binance by 33.2%, OKX with 22.1%, and Bitget recording the highest rise at 39.2%.

In May, the open interest on derivatives exchanges surged by 30.5% to reach a total of $55.2 billion. Among the top three exchanges – Binance, OKX, and Bitget – open interest grew by 33.2% ($21.3bn), 22.1% ($7.26bn), and 39.2% ($9.74bn) respectively.

— CCData (@CCData_io) June 5, 2024

The Commodity Market Exchange (CME) experienced a substantial increase of 59.3% in Ethereum futures open interest, reaching $1.25 billion. This surge was accompanied by heightened optimism towards Ethereum as the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization following the unexpected SEC approval of Ether spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).

The approval led to a significant increase in Ethereum options trading and ETH futures contracts. The volume for options trading reached an unprecedented high of $931 million, while the value of ETH futures contracts increased by 37.5% to $20.5 billion. In contrast, overall derivatives volumes on the CME decreased by 7.42% to $115 billion during the same month.

The report from CCData reveals a significant surge of approximately 50.3% in open interest for Ethereum-related instruments, reaching a total value of $14 billion. It’s worth noting that there has been a noticeable increase in Ethereum hoarding by whales. As per an assessment from CryptoQuant, over $3 billion worth of Ethereum (around 800,000 ETH) has recently been withdrawn from centralized cryptocurrency exchanges within the last week.

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed some intriguing movements in the Ethereum market lately. Institutions gearing up for the launch of a spot Ethereum Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) in the US could be the driving force behind the recent outflows from centralized exchanges. They might be stockpiling Ethereum to meet potential demand from investors once the ETF becomes available, making this an exciting time for those keeping a close eye on the Ethereum space.

According to IntoTheBlock, a leading cryptocurrency intelligence company, there has been a significant increase in whale activity in the second-largest cryptocurrency market. Currently, approximately 41% of its entire circulating supply is held by wallets containing over 1% of the total amount. This figure was at 36% only at the start of the year.

Per the firm, the trend highlights the increasing confidence in ETH among large holders.

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2024-06-07 01:09