Crypto market losing its decentralization?

[Ben Graham]

As traders remain on edge—particularly awaiting the market's reaction to the US House of Representatives' approval to end the 42-day government shutdown—tech billionaire and early investor in PayPal and Facebook, Peter Thiel, has stirred debate with his latest remarks on Bitcoin. In a recent interview, Thiel stated that Bitcoin has effectively been co-opted by large financial institutions and the state.

According to Thiel, the ideological foundation of cryptocurrencies—decentralization—has been permanently lost. "Today, BTC is convenient even for the FBI, which tells you everything about how institutionalized it has become," he said.

Thiel admitted he still holds some cryptocurrencies in his portfolio but confessed he no longer sees Bitcoin as a tool of freedom. "It seems we didn't get a revolution—we got a BlackRock ETF instead," he remarked pointedly.

Thiel's statement has unsurprisingly sparked heated discussions within the crypto community. On one hand, the growing influence of regulators and the entry of major financial players such as BlackRock undeniably reflect Bitcoin's acceptance within traditional finance. This trend could bring lower volatility and greater price stability, making BTC more appealing to institutional investors. On the other hand, it contradicts Bitcoin's original vision—a peer-to-peer digital currency beyond the reach of centralized control.

However, Thiel's assessment should not be taken too literally. Even amid institutionalization, Bitcoin retains key aspects of decentralization. The blockchain remains public, transparent, and cryptographically secure. While mining power is concentrated among several major pools, these entities are still geographically distributed and, in theory, subject to market competition. Thus, although the ecosystem has evolved, Bitcoin's foundational decentralized architecture remains intact to a degree.

Trading recommendations

Bitcoin (BTC)

From a technical viewpoint, buyers are now aiming for a return to $105,300, which would open a direct path toward $107,900, followed by the next resistance at $111,300. The ultimate bullish target lies near $113,500—a breakout above this level could signal the early stages of a renewed bull market. In the event of a decline, strong buying interest is expected around $102,400. A drop below this support zone could quickly push BTC toward $99,400, with a deeper downside target at $95,900.

Ethereum (ETH)

For Ethereum, a firm hold above $3,529 paves the way for a move toward $3,664, with an extended upside target at $3,818. A breakout beyond this level would reinforce bullish sentiment and attract renewed buying interest. Conversely, if ETH falls back, buyers are expected to reemerge near $3,390. A break below this level could trigger a correction toward $3,279, with the final bearish target near $3,181.

Chart indicators

• Red indicators represent support and resistance levels, where a slowdown or active price increase is expected.
• Green represents the 50-day moving average.
• Blue indicates the 100-day moving average.
• Light green signifies the 200-day moving average.

Crossovers or tests of the moving averages usually halt or set the market's momentum.

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company - www.instaforex.com