By: Isha Das
On the current crypto landscape, the recently launched layer-1 blockchain, Monad, has come under scrutiny from Arthur Hayes, the former CEO of BitMEX. Hayes has expressed significant concerns about Monad's potential to become another ill-fated project heavily influenced by venture capital exuberance rather than genuine user adoption. Highlighted during a discussion on Altcoin Daily, Hayes characterized Monad as a "high FDV, low-float VC coin," a label pointing to the disparity between its Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV) and the circulating supply, which he argues poses risks to retail traders.
Hayes outlined that projects with substantial gaps between their FDV and circulating supply are prone to initial price surges, leading to extended selloffs as insider tokens become unlocked. The underlying issue, as per Hayes, lies in the temporary pumps experienced by new cryptocurrencies. These do not guarantee long-term viability or user case development when the market value is predominantly fueled by venture capital instead of organic growth. Such dynamics typically make these tokens susceptible to drastic valuation drops, potentially as severe as 99% losses.
Simultaneously, speculation and concerns surrounding Monad's operations have surfaced, with recent price slides attributed to profit-taking and alleged spoofed transactions. Amid these pressures, Monad's token has faced downward pricing trends, which have compounded concerns over its market sustainability. Despite a nominal increase in on-chain activities, the viability of Monad's offering remains under question, echoing Hayes's apprehensions about its investment risk-laden nature.
Arthur Hayes’s warning and the ongoing issues faced by Monad serve as an essential reminder to investors about the volatility in cryptocurrency markets. The need for diligent project evaluations cannot be overstated, particularly when FDVs do not align with circulating supply realities. Discovering projects with sustainable growth and genuine use cases is vital for minimizing risk exposure, especially within the rapidly evolving crypto ecosystem. For more insights on evaluating cryptocurrency projects, regard resources on Blockchain.com or Coinbase.