The native token of GMX, a decentralized perpetual exchange for trading complex crypto derivatives, is currently facing intense selling pressure. As of August 11, the governance token has experienced a 7% decline in value, resulting in monthly losses of 24%. This significant downturn has brought prices close to $40, which marks a critical support level previously observed in both January and June 2023.
Despite the negative price movement, GMX’s Total Value Locked (TVL) remains relatively stable, with over $534 million locked in the system, according to DeFiLlama’s data. The majority of the trading platform’s liquidity is secured in Arbitrum, a layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum. Additionally, a significant portion of the TVL is locked on Avalanche, a fourth-generation Ethereum-compatible smart contract platform that focuses on decentralized finance (DeFi).
The recent sell-off of GMX tokens on August 11 coincides with actions by several large holders, commonly referred to as “whales.” Lookonchain data reveals that four whales liquidated a combined total of 62,274 GMX tokens, amounting to approximately $3 million. Notably, address “0xb824” offloaded 19,786 GMX tokens, equivalent to 514 ETH, while “0xa38a” sold 11,667 GMX tokens for 305 ETH, resulting in a loss of $50,000. Additionally, “0X85b7” and “0x0b80” also contributed to the sell-off, selling 20,000 GMX and 10,820 GMX tokens, respectively.
The actions of these whales have raised concerns within the GMX and DeFi communities. In the cryptocurrency space, traders closely monitor whale activity as it often sets a precedent for market sentiment. When whales sell, it can induce fear among other traders, leading to a cascading effect of additional selling pressure and further declines in token prices.
Moreover, the ongoing decline in Total Value Locked in DeFi highlights a broader contraction within the sector. This contraction can be attributed to the cooling off of the cryptocurrency market since late 2021, following a peak in prices, which subsequently led to a drop in 2022. The decrease in on-chain activity, particularly in DeFi, can be directly linked to this market-wide downturn.
As of now, the GMX token is trading at $46, representing a nearly 50% decline from its Q2 2023 peak at $91. However, it is worth noting that the token is still up four times from its all-time low.
Despite the recent downturn and whale activity, GMX introduced the v2 version of its exchange in beta on both Arbitrum and Avalanche platforms on August 6. This new version brings forth several enhancements and updates, including expanded asset support that now includes XRP. Moreover, users can now utilize various collateral types for trading positions, experience quicker trades with reduced fees and lower slippage.
One of the significant features of GMX v2 is the introduction of isolated pools for liquidity providers, allowing for customization of exposure to preferred tokens. This update also brings augmented incentives for balancing open interest, providing a strategic avenue for hedging pools against potential fluctuations in trader profits.
While the recent sell-off of GMX tokens by whales has cast uncertainty over the project and DeFi communities, the release of the v2 version may offer potential redemption. As the market continues to navigate this turbulent period, it remains to be seen how GMX and the broader DeFi sector will respond and adapt to these challenges.
[Feature image from Canva, chart from TradingView]
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