Investors Flock to US Money Market Funds Amid Banking Crisis

As the global banking crisis continues to fuel concerns among investors, the popularity of US money market funds is surging. According to Emerging Portfolio Fund Research (EPFR) data obtained by the Financial Times, more than $286 billion has been invested in these funds so far in March. The inflows are the highest seen in a month since the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The top beneficiaries of this trend are Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Fidelity. The figures show that Goldman Sachs’ money funds have grown by 13%, receiving $52 billion in investment. JPMorgan’s funds have seen inflows of nearly $46 billion, while Fidelity has enjoyed nearly $37 billion in investment. These funds are offering their best yields in years, as the US Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates in a bid to curb inflation.

Money market funds are a popular choice for investors during uncertain times because they offer high liquidity and low risk. The current crisis in the banking sector has only served to amplify these qualities. The fear of liquidity constraints and potential bank failures has caused many investors to seek out safer investments, and US money market funds are delivering the kind of stability that investors crave.

In the seven days leading up to March 22, total money market fund assets increased by $117.42 billion to $5.13 trillion, according to a report from the Investment Company Institute. Government funds increased by $131.84 billion, while prime funds decreased by $10.83 billion. Tax-exempt money market funds shrank by $3.61 billion.

The influx of cash into money market funds is driven by fears surrounding the health of the financial system. Banks in the US and Europe are facing liquidity constraints as monetary policy tightens, and investors are wary of the potential risks associated with these developments.

For example, on March 24, shares of Deutsche Bank dropped due to an increase in the cost of insuring against its potential default risk. The bank’s five-year credit default swaps (CDS) climbed 19 basis points from the previous day, closing at 222 bps, according to Reuters, citing S&P Global Market Intelligence data. Meanwhile, in the US, there is still uncertainty surrounding regional banks, as insurance on default for financial services firms Charles Schwab and Capital One soared last week. The latest data shows that credit default swaps jumped over 80% to 103 bps as of March 20.

The surge in popularity of money market funds underscores the ongoing concerns of investors in the face of a global banking crisis. With interest rates continuing to rise, and fears of liquidity constraints and bank failures mounting, it seems likely that this trend will continue in the months ahead.

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Banking crisis could push cryptocurrency regulation into gray area

The world has been facing a banking crisis that has caused a great deal of uncertainty and market anxiety. According to Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire, this could lead to increased regulatory ambiguity in the cryptocurrency market. Allaire expressed his concerns in a Twitter thread on March 23, discussing the aftermath of the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the general exposure of the financial system in the United States.

Allaire’s concerns are not unfounded, as the US banking system has faced several challenges in recent years, including the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. The collapse of SVB, a bank that primarily serves the technology sector, has only added to the worries about the stability of the financial system in the country.

As a result of the ongoing banking crisis, investors and businesses are becoming increasingly interested in cryptocurrencies as an alternative to traditional banking. However, the lack of clear regulation in the cryptocurrency market can lead to further uncertainty and risk.

Allaire believes that the current market dynamics could push the cryptocurrency market into a gray area in terms of regulation, as governments and financial regulators struggle to keep up with the rapid growth of cryptocurrencies. This could potentially lead to greater regulatory ambiguity and more risk for investors and businesses.

Circle is a cryptocurrency company that issues the USD Coin (USDC), a stablecoin that is pegged to the US dollar. The company has been actively advocating for more regulatory clarity in the cryptocurrency market to help promote growth and adoption.

In conclusion, the ongoing global banking crisis could have a significant impact on the regulation of cryptocurrencies. The lack of clear regulatory guidelines could create more uncertainty and risk for investors and businesses, making it essential for governments and financial regulators to act quickly to provide clarity and stability to the market.

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Cryptocurrency Firms Deny Exposure to Troubled US Banks

In recent years, the cryptocurrency industry has seen significant growth, with new exchanges, wallets, and other services popping up almost daily. However, the industry has also faced numerous challenges, including regulatory scrutiny, hacking attacks, and volatile market conditions.

The ongoing banking crisis in the United States is the latest challenge facing the industry. Several major U.S. banks, including Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank, have been dissolved due to financial difficulties, leaving customers and partners uncertain about the safety of their funds.

To address these concerns, major cryptocurrency firms have taken to social media to assure their users that they have no exposure to the troubled banks and that their funds are safe and accessible.

Tether, the operator of the largest stablecoin by market capitalization, with a market value of $73 billion, was one of the first companies to deny exposure to SVB and other troubled U.S. banks. Tether’s chief technology officer, Paolo Ardoino, took to Twitter to announce that the stablecoin company has zero exposure to Signature Bank.

Similarly, Kris Marszalek, CEO of major cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com, provided similar statements on the company being unaffected by the ongoing issues in U.S. banking.

Other major exchanges, including Gemini and BitMEX, have also denied any exposure to the dissolved U.S. banks.

Despite having a partnership with Signature, Winklevoss brothers-founded Gemini exchange has zero customer funds and zero Gemini dollar (GUSD) funds held at the bank, the firm announced on March 13.

BitMEX exchange also took to Twitter on March 13 to announce that the company had “no direct exposure” to Silvergate, SVB, or Signature, and that all user funds continue to be safe and accessible 24/7/365.

Exchanges like Binance and Kraken have partly denied exposure to the dissolved banks, with Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao stating that Binance does not have assets at Silvergate, and former Kraken CEO Jesse Powell also denying exposure to SVB.

Bitcoin mining firm Argo Blockchain issued a statement on March 13, declaring that the company has no direct or indirect exposure to SVB and Silvergate Bank. However, the company said that one of Argo’s subsidiaries holds a “portion of its operating funds in cash deposits” at Signature, which the company stated were secure and not at risk.

A number of other firms, including Animoca Brands, Abra, and Alchemy Pay, have partly denied exposure to the troubled U.S. banks, stating that they had no assets at SBV and Silvergate.

Some companies, like crypto custodian BitGo, declared that it holds no assets at SVB while being “not impacted” by issues at Silvergate, USD Coin, and Signature Bank.

In conclusion, the ongoing banking crisis in the United States has raised concerns among customers and partners of dissolved U.S. banks. However, major cryptocurrency firms have taken proactive measures to address these concerns and assure their users that their funds are safe and accessible despite the ongoing issues in the U.S. banking system. The response from the industry demonstrates its resilience and commitment to providing reliable and secure financial services to its users.

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