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2021 Highlights and 5 Crypto Predictions for 2022

December 01, 2021

Read Time 7 MIN


2021 was a huge year for crypto adoption and breakthroughs, and we expect this momentum to continue through 2022. Here we take a look at five of the biggest stories in the crypto sphere for 2021 and share our top predictions for what we anticipate may be the biggest stories in 2022.

2021 Crypto Highlights: Disruption and the Rise of Crypto Enablers

  1. Fintech and traditional payments embrace blockchain and co-opt crypto solutions.

    It’s widely accepted that the financial services industry is a primary disruption target of blockchain upstarts. We believe blockchain technology is inherently deflationary because it introduces higher degrees of efficiency and transparency, which immediately lower transaction costs. In 2018, Square established itself as an early crypto adopter by allowing users to buy and sell Bitcoin on the app. In 2021, PayPal, Venmo, Mastercard and even Twitter began allowing customers to transact in Bitcoin. As Mexican crypto-remittance firm Bitso illustrates, offering money transfer solutions at a cheap price can lead to immediate market share gains over incumbent financial firms like Western Union.

  2. Blockchain transaction usage and smart contract adoption explode, reaching $3.5T in volume on ETH.

    The Ethereum network is used for a wide variety of applications, from NFT ownership to smart-contracts. 2021 saw massive growth in Ethereum network transactions on the back of widespread proliferation and adoption of Ethereum-based projects (like NFTs). Going forward, we anticipate that smart contract networks like Ethereum and Solana will continue to grow in transaction size and notional value, as the network of participants and use cases continue to grow.

Explosive Growth in 2021: Total Value of Transactions on Ethereum Network

Explosive Growth in 2021: Total Value of Transactions on Ethereum Network

Source: Messari, VanEck. Data as of 9/30/2021.

  1. Bitcoin begins to realize its full potential as a fiat currency disruptor, especially for emerging markets countries.

    Since Bitcoin was launched in 2009, many Bitcoin maximalists have leaned on the idea that Bitcoin is a type of safe haven that may protect investors from the negative effects of monetary and fiscal policies implemented in both developed and emerging markets. Because Bitcoin is decentralized and has a fixed supply, it will not face the inflationary pressures that affect fiat currencies around the globe. From a geopolitical perspective, Bitcoin may provide emerging markets countries a monetary alternative to relying upon unfavorable IMF/World Bank loans, which sometimes exacerbate, not help, the problem.

    In September of 2021, El Salvador officially recognized Bitcoin as legal tender, the first country to do so. Read more about the impact of this in Matthew Sigel’s Dispatch from Bitcoin Beach.

  2. China’s mining crackdown shifts global mining market share to favor U.S. miners.

    China has had a “love/hate” relationship with Bitcoin since the digital currency’s launch in 2009. On one hand, China’s miners controlled a significant portion of global hash-rate, in addition to being one of the main producers of Bitcoin-focused ASIC chips. On the other hand, the Chinese government threatened to ban Bitcoin mining and trading and introduced escalating restrictions on crypto, which culminated in an outright ban on crypto trading, mining and exchanges. While the long-term effects remain to be seen, the short-term effects are obvious. Crypto miners fled the country, and the global mining market share shifted immediately to favor U.S.-based miners. With China exchanges and mining out of the picture, U.S. and other miners face less competition and have more opportunity to grow their portion of the global hash-rate.

  3. Crypto IPOs highlight the massive growth of digital asset businesses, while the market cap of crypto-enablers encroaches on more established industries.

    2021 was a huge year for companies going public in the crypto space. Coinbase made history as the biggest digital asset listing in history, coming to market at twice the valuation of Nasdaq and nearly the size of Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange. Beyond Coinbase, a number of miners and other crypto enablers went public, including Coinshares, Bakkt and Stronghold Digital Mining.

    As a group, the market valuations of crypto enablers as represented by the MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index grew significantly in 2021 on the back of a wave of IPOs and price performance. Crypto enablers are now approaching the market valuation of their spiritual competitors – gold miners!

Crypto Enablers Approach Gold Miners Market Cap

Crypto Enablers Approach Gold Miners Market Cap

Source: Factset, VanEck. Data as of 10/31/2021. Please see index definitions below.

2022 Crypto Predictions: More IPOs, More Use Cases, More Adoption

  1. In 2022, even more crypto-intensive businesses will go public.

    We believe that there is a deep pipeline of crypto-enabling companies preparing to go public, and that 2022 will continue the trend set by newly listed companies in 2021. There are a wide range of businesses that crypto companies can participate in – from exchanges to digital asset miners to payment companies. As the crypto market continues to grow and develop, we anticipate the market to grow with new listings, and also shift as companies win and lose market share.

Digital Asset Companies at the Forefront of the Digital Transformation

Digital Asset Companies at the Forefront of the Digital Transformation
  1. NFT (non-fungible token) hits mainstream culture with millions of users, and the next major use cases to emerge will be sports ticketing, loyalty points and esports.

    NFTs had a breakout year in 2021, but we believe the best is yet to come. In our view, two things are holding back NFTs from even wider adoption than what has already taken place. The first is that the user interface (UI) for NFT platforms needs to become more accessible for non-crypto natives to participate. NBA’s TopShot was a great example of an NFT project that made it easy for non-crypto natives to purchase an NFT. The second stepping stone to widespread adoption is use cases that go beyond merely holding an item in a digital wallet. While there have been some outside-the-box applications coming to market, we believe that sports ticketing, loyalty points and esports will emerge as the next big areas where NFTs will make a splash. The smart-contract optionality that the NFT platform provides will entice participation because more features, like premium seat lotteries, will drive higher engagement and adoption from fans.

  2. ETH undergoes major software upgrade that moves it away from energy intensive mining and increases network capacity.

    Bitcoin and Ethereum both utilize a “proof of work” (PoW) mechanism to verify information recorded on the blockchain and prevent certain types of attacks. In 2022, Ethereum plans to shift from “proof of work” to “proof of stake” (PoS), which will dramatically alter the landscape for Ethereum-focused miners. Instead of expending energy solving computationally intensive problems (PoW), proof of stake will provide better energy efficiency, an increase to network capacity, lower barriers to entry and stronger immunity to centralization for the Ethereum blockchain. One of the main drawbacks of the proposed upgrade is that Ethereum mining will no longer be profitable, meaning miners focused on Ethereum will need to move on to greener pastures.

  3. BTC continues to mature in terms of broader institutional ownership and adoption, as another emerging markets country may declare BTC as legal tender (El Salvador 2.0).

    As the broader digital asset market grows, we anticipate that more companies will adopt Bitcoin as a balance sheet asset and potential revenue generator from mining operations. As evidenced by El Salvador, certain emerging markets countries may also find Bitcoin useful as a monetary tool, and a potential option for avoiding some of the negative side-effects of relying solely on the IMF/World Bank for debt assistance.

  4. ESG capital and investors find BTC as an accelerant of green energy adoption and financial inclusion.

    Unfortunately, misguided and ill-informed ESG concerns continue to plague the cryptocurrency industry, specifically concerns surrounding the energy usage required to mine Bitcoin. While the debate continues, we believe that crypto miners will continue to lead the way in terms of green energy adoption and financial inclusion. Riot Blockchain, a leading U.S. Bitcoin miner, is already a fierce advocate and proponent of the Bitcoin mining industry as a force for good in the conversation around sustainable energy usage. Stronghold Digital Mining, which listed in Q4 of 2021, is another ESG-focused Bitcoin mining company, which utilizes coal mining refuse (coal mining by-product) to generate the power used to mine Bitcoin. We anticipate that sustainability-focused mining companies will continue to grow their market share.

DAPP: Invest in Digital Transformation

The VanEck Digital Transformation ETF (DAPP) seeks to track the MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index and provides exposure to the companies involved in the digital transformation of the global economy. DAPP’s underlying index only invests in digital transformation companies, and does not invest in actual digital assets like cryptocurrencies, or cryptocurrency investment vehicles. The index is designed to provide pure-play exposure to the companies that are actively participating in the digital transformation, which may benefit from the structural long-term growth of digital assets.

To receive more Thematic Investing and Digital Assets insights, sign up in our subscription center.

Related Topics

DISCLOSURES

The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), an employee of the advisor, but not necessarily those of VanEck. The cryptocurrencies discussed in this material may not be appropriate for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any cryptocurrencies, or to participate in any trading strategy.

Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are valid as of the date of this communication and subject to change without notice. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data.

MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index: intends to track the largest and most liquid companies in the digital assets segment.

NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (GDMNTR) is intended to track the overall performance of companies involved in the gold mining industry.

The Fund will not invest in digital assets (including cryptocurrencies) (i) directly or (ii) indirectly through the use of digital asset derivatives. The Fund also will not invest in initial coin offerings. Therefore the Fund is not expected to track the price movement of any digital asset.

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Therefore, you should consider carefully various risks before investing in the Fund, each of which could significantly and adversely affect the value of an investment in the Fund.

An investment in the Fund may be subject to risks which include, among others, risks related to investing in digital transformation companies, investing in equity securities, Canadian issuers, small- and medium-capitalization companies, information technology and financials sectors, foreign securities, market, operational, index tracking, authorized participant concentration, new fund, absence of prior active market, trading issues, passive management, fund shares trading, premium/discount and liquidity of fund shares, non-diversified and concentration risks which may make these investments volatile in price or difficult to trade. Small- and medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks.

The technology relating to digital assets, including blockchain, is new and developing and the risks associated with digital assets may not fully emerge until the technology is widely used. Digital asset technologies are used by companies to optimize their business practices, whether by using the technology within their business or operating business lines involved in the operation of the technology. The cryptographic keys necessary to transact a digital asset may be subject to theft, loss, or destruction, which could adversely affect a company’s business or operations if it were dependent on the digital asset. There may be risks posed by the lack of regulation for digital assets and any future regulatory developments could affect the viability and expansion of the use of digital assets.

Cryptocurrency is a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, or a store of value, but it does not have legal tender status. Cryptocurrencies are sometimes exchanged for U.S. dollars or other currencies around the world, but they are not generally backed or supported by any government or central bank. Their value is completely derived by market forces of supply and demand, and they are more volatile than traditional currencies. The value of cryptocurrency may be derived from the continued willingness of market participants to exchange fiat currency for cryptocurrency, which may result in the potential for permanent and total loss of value of a particular cryptocurrency should the market for that cryptocurrency disappear. Cryptocurrencies are not covered by either FDIC or SIPC insurance.

Investing in cryptocurrencies comes with a number of risks, including volatile market price swings or flash crashes, market manipulation, and cybersecurity risks. In addition, cryptocurrency markets and exchanges are not regulated with the same controls or customer protections available in equity, option, futures, or foreign exchange investing. There is no assurance that a person who accepts a cryptocurrency as payment today will continue to do so in the future.

The features, functions, characteristics, operation, use and other properties of the specific cryptocurrency may be complex, technical, or difficult to understand or evaluate. The cryptocurrency may be vulnerable to attacks on the security, integrity or operation, including attacks using computing power sufficient to overwhelm the normal operation of the cryptocurrency’s blockchain or other underlying technology. Some cryptocurrency transactions will be deemed to be made when recorded on a public ledger, which is not necessarily the date or time that a transaction may have been initiated.

  • Investors must have the financial ability, sophistication and willingness to bear the risks of an investment and a potential total loss of their entire investment in cryptocurrency.
  • An investment in cryptocurrency is not suitable or desirable for all investors.
  • Cryptocurrency has limited operating history or performance.
  • Fees and expenses associated with a cryptocurrency investment may be substantial.

There may be risks posed by the lack of regulation for cryptocurrencies and any future regulatory developments could affect the viability and expansion of the use of cryptocurrencies. Investors should conduct extensive research before investing in cryptocurrencies. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Information provided by Van Eck is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as financial, tax or legal advice. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell an interest in cryptocurrencies.

Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contains this and other information, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.

DISCLOSURES

The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), an employee of the advisor, but not necessarily those of VanEck. The cryptocurrencies discussed in this material may not be appropriate for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any cryptocurrencies, or to participate in any trading strategy.

Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are valid as of the date of this communication and subject to change without notice. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data.

MVIS Global Digital Assets Equity Index: intends to track the largest and most liquid companies in the digital assets segment.

NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (GDMNTR) is intended to track the overall performance of companies involved in the gold mining industry.

The Fund will not invest in digital assets (including cryptocurrencies) (i) directly or (ii) indirectly through the use of digital asset derivatives. The Fund also will not invest in initial coin offerings. Therefore the Fund is not expected to track the price movement of any digital asset.

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Therefore, you should consider carefully various risks before investing in the Fund, each of which could significantly and adversely affect the value of an investment in the Fund.

An investment in the Fund may be subject to risks which include, among others, risks related to investing in digital transformation companies, investing in equity securities, Canadian issuers, small- and medium-capitalization companies, information technology and financials sectors, foreign securities, market, operational, index tracking, authorized participant concentration, new fund, absence of prior active market, trading issues, passive management, fund shares trading, premium/discount and liquidity of fund shares, non-diversified and concentration risks which may make these investments volatile in price or difficult to trade. Small- and medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks.

The technology relating to digital assets, including blockchain, is new and developing and the risks associated with digital assets may not fully emerge until the technology is widely used. Digital asset technologies are used by companies to optimize their business practices, whether by using the technology within their business or operating business lines involved in the operation of the technology. The cryptographic keys necessary to transact a digital asset may be subject to theft, loss, or destruction, which could adversely affect a company’s business or operations if it were dependent on the digital asset. There may be risks posed by the lack of regulation for digital assets and any future regulatory developments could affect the viability and expansion of the use of digital assets.

Cryptocurrency is a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, or a store of value, but it does not have legal tender status. Cryptocurrencies are sometimes exchanged for U.S. dollars or other currencies around the world, but they are not generally backed or supported by any government or central bank. Their value is completely derived by market forces of supply and demand, and they are more volatile than traditional currencies. The value of cryptocurrency may be derived from the continued willingness of market participants to exchange fiat currency for cryptocurrency, which may result in the potential for permanent and total loss of value of a particular cryptocurrency should the market for that cryptocurrency disappear. Cryptocurrencies are not covered by either FDIC or SIPC insurance.

Investing in cryptocurrencies comes with a number of risks, including volatile market price swings or flash crashes, market manipulation, and cybersecurity risks. In addition, cryptocurrency markets and exchanges are not regulated with the same controls or customer protections available in equity, option, futures, or foreign exchange investing. There is no assurance that a person who accepts a cryptocurrency as payment today will continue to do so in the future.

The features, functions, characteristics, operation, use and other properties of the specific cryptocurrency may be complex, technical, or difficult to understand or evaluate. The cryptocurrency may be vulnerable to attacks on the security, integrity or operation, including attacks using computing power sufficient to overwhelm the normal operation of the cryptocurrency’s blockchain or other underlying technology. Some cryptocurrency transactions will be deemed to be made when recorded on a public ledger, which is not necessarily the date or time that a transaction may have been initiated.

  • Investors must have the financial ability, sophistication and willingness to bear the risks of an investment and a potential total loss of their entire investment in cryptocurrency.
  • An investment in cryptocurrency is not suitable or desirable for all investors.
  • Cryptocurrency has limited operating history or performance.
  • Fees and expenses associated with a cryptocurrency investment may be substantial.

There may be risks posed by the lack of regulation for cryptocurrencies and any future regulatory developments could affect the viability and expansion of the use of cryptocurrencies. Investors should conduct extensive research before investing in cryptocurrencies. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Information provided by Van Eck is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as financial, tax or legal advice. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell an interest in cryptocurrencies.

Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contains this and other information, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.