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The Top Narratives Driving Crypto Market Growth, Feat. Travis Kling

The halving? Coronavirus and volatility? Fed action? Listeners vote on what's driving crypto growth.

Updated Sep 13, 2021, 12:18 p.m. Published Feb 14, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
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The halving? Coronavirus and volatility? Fed action? Listeners vote on what's driving crypto growth.

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There’s no denying 2020 is off to a roaring start. From prices to volume to social media, sentiment is up, up, up. But what’s driving it? On this special Valentine’s Day episode, @nlw reacts to listeners' votes about which narratives are driving the shift in energy, discussing:

  • The BTC halving
  • Coronavirus and volatility
  • Fed action
  • Central bank digital currency intrigue
  • Ethereum and DeFi
  • Price reflexivity and Lindy effects

The episode finishes with some hot takes on what is driving the markets and what we should be most concerned about and most excited for, with Ikigai Asset Management’s chief investment officer, Travis Kling.

Find past episodes of The Breakdown on CoinDesk. For early access before our regular 3 p.m. Eastern time releases, subscribe with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcasts, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher, RadioPublica, IHeartRadio or RSS.

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KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

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KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.

What to know:

  • KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
  • This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
  • Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
  • Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
  • Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.

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Here’s why bitcoin’s is failing its role as a 'safe haven' versus gold

Here’s why bitcoin’s is failing its role as a 'safe haven'

Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash.

What to know:

  • During recent geopolitical tensions, Bitcoin lost 6.6% of its value, while gold rose 8.6%, demonstrating bitcoin's vulnerability in times of market stress.
  • Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash, contrary to its reputation as a stable digital asset.
  • Gold remains the preferred hedge for short-term risks, while bitcoin is better suited for long-term monetary and geopolitical uncertainties that unfold over years.