In a recent development, Bitcoin was found to be trading at a significant 20% discount on Binance Australia compared to rival exchanges, as per data from CCData. This turn of events followed the temporary halt of Australian dollar bank transfers by Binance Australia earlier this month. The exchange cited its third-party payment service provider as the reason behind this decision and reassured users that it is in the process of finding an alternative.
Until June 1, Binance Australia will continue to permit AUD withdrawals. According to Hosam Mahmoud, Research Analyst at CCData, the announcement triggered traders to dispose of their BTC/AUD pairs, creating a historically high discount. While Bitcoin was trading at about $33,400 AUD ($21,700) on Binance, it was valued at around $42,500 AUD ($27,700) on other exchanges like Kraken, Coinjar, and BTCMarkets.
This situation has arisen after Binance Australia saw its derivatives license shut down in April at the exchange’s own request. The exchange reassured customers that their services would continue in Australia, but Mahmoud believes that this effort has not sufficiently addressed the problem; trading volumes for BTC/AUD pairs have plummeted to a record low.
Before the announcement, daily trading volumes on Binance for the BTC/AUD pair stood at 12,293,856.55 on May 18; however, they dropped to a meager 912,297.20 on May 20. This decrease in trading volumes signifies the numerous challenges that the crypto market faces in the current environment, as well as the potential difficulties that exchanges encounter when obtaining licenses and adhering to regulatory frameworks.
Interestingly, despite the large discount, arbitrageurs have been making the most out of these price differences. They are purchasing the undervalued bitcoin from Binance Australia and likely selling it on other platforms, hinting that a solution could emerge once funds are transferred to USDT. The swift and opportunistic involvement of arbitrageurs in response to the discount showcases a unique feature of the crypto market, where market participants are primed to exploit profit opportunities.
It remains to be seen what the long-term consequences of these developments will be, as well as how trading volumes will ultimately adjust after the issue is resolved. Even though Binance Australia is dealing with challenges, it serves as a reminder of the importance of proper regulatory compliance and risk management strategies in the investing world. As the market evolves, all market participants must remain vigilant and continuously adapt to the ever-changing landscape that is the crypto sphere.
Source: Coindesk
