Arkhamisworkingonsecuringafree-tradezone(FTZ)licenseintheDominicanRepublic.Thepermitwillallowittobenefitfromvarioustaxexemptionsandfiscalincentivesofferedunderthecountry’sFTZregulations. Itisnominorundertaking;manyotherexchanges,someofwhicharestillaroundtoday,arestilltryingtodothatwithlittleluck.SowhatmakesthenewplatformArkhamplanstobuildsodifferentthattheybelieveitcanthreatenBinance’sholdonthemarket? WhatweknowaboutArkham’scryptoderivativeplatform ArkhamIntelligenceispreparingtolaunchitsowncryptocurrencyderivativesexchange,whichwillgoliveinNovember2024.Theproposedexchangewilltargetretailinvestors,andovertime,ArkhamaimstocompetewithmajorplayerslikeBinance. ArkhamalreadyhasthebackingofnotableinvestorslikeOpenAIfounderSamAltman,anditplanstobaseitsoperationsinPuntaCana,theDominicanRepublic,anareaknownforfavorabletaxregulations. Unfortunately,thankstoU.S.regulatoryconstraints,thenewplatformwillnotbeaccessibletoU.S.users.Itiswillinglyrelinquishingalargechunkofpotentialcashflowfromamarketknowntobeincrediblyliquid. However,reportshaveittheexchangehasbeenindevelopmentoverthepastyearandisactivelyraising$100milliontoscaleitsoperations.So,itprobablyhasaplaninplaceifitwon’tevenattempttotakeashareoftheUnitedStatesmarket.There’scertainlysomemerittolookingoutsidetheU.S.foritsuserbase. WealsoknowtheinitiativewilloccurafterthecompanyrelocatesfromitscurrentLondonandNewYorkbases. WhatwillArkham’sexchangedodifferently? ArkhamIntelligence’sultimategoalincreatingthenewexchangeistochallengethemajorplayersinthetokenexchangemarket,whichbegsthequestion:Howwillitstandout? Manyderivativeexchangesaredoingokay,butfewarenearBinance’sstandards. IfArkhamplanstobreakoutanddosomethingthatexchangeslikeOKXandBybithavefailedtodosofar,itwillneedtodomorethanprovideauniqueexperiencespeciallycateredforretailinvestors. Tobefair,Arkhamalreadyhasafewthingsgoingforit. Taxandregulatorybenefits:Asearlierstated,ArkhamwillbeoperatingfromtheDominicanRepublic,whichmeanstheexchangewillbenefitfromfavorabletaxlawsandfree-tradezone(FTZ)advantages.ThismayallowittooffermorecompetitivepricingandincentivesforusersoutsidetheU.S. Advancedderivativesproducts:Arkham’snewexchangeaimstoexposeinvestorstoawiderangeofcryptoderivatives,similartofuturesandoptionsonplatformslikeBinance.Thisincludescontractstiedtopopularassets,withpotentialofferingsinsmallerdenominations,similartoproductslikeBitcoinnano-futuresonotherexchanges. High-volumetradingcapacity:Arkhamhashadoverayeartoworkonitsexchange,soyouwouldexpectittointroducesomethingnewtoallowittohandlesignificantvolumes.Thiswillbecrucialtogainingacompetitiveadvantageinaboomingcryptoderivativesmarketthataccountsfor71%oftotalcryptotradinginSeptember2024. Brandimageandmarketing:Arkham’snewexchangewillenjoythecompany’sbrandreputation,whichithasbeenactivelybuildingasasentryoftransparencywithinthecryptospace.Outsidethespace,ithasbeenbusyaswell.The€1.8millionsponsorshipdealwiththeTurkishfootballclub,Galatasarayimmediatelycomestomind.Partnershipslikethatareexpectedtoenhanceitsvisibility,makingitanevenmoreattractiveoptionforusers. Investorsupportandgrowthplans:ArkhamenjoysthebackingofnotablefigureslikeSamAltmanandcompanieslikeBinanceLabs,andsowillitsnewexchange.TherearetalksaboutArkhamraising$100millionfromMiddleEasterninvestorstoexpanditsoperationsfurther.Withsuchsupport,ArkhamwouldneedineptitudeatlevelssimilartoFTXtoevenremotelybeatriskofcapsizing. Blockchainanalyticsperks:Arkhamisalreadyfamousforitsblockchaindataanalyticsplatform,whichmonitorsandanalyzesblockchaintransactions.Itsbackgroundindataanalysiscouldenhancethenewexchange’ssecurity,transparency,anduserinsights,allowingittostandoutfromotherplatformsthatlacksuchcapabilities. Thesefeatures,combinedwithArkham’sexistingdataanalyticsplatformandgrowinguserbaseofmorethan800,000activemonthlyusers,mayjustbeenoughtomaketheupcomingArkhamexchangeaformidableupstartinthecompetitivecryptoderivativesspace. WhetheritwillbeenoughtothreatenBinance’ssupremacyisanotherquestion—onethatitsinvestorshopeisansweredintheaffirmative. HowdoestheproposedexchangecomparetoBinance? Binanceisatthetopofthegameforgoodreasons.Theexchangehasmostoftheanswersregardingtradingoptionsforusers,includingfutures,options,perpetualcontracts,andleveragedtokens. Whilestillindevelopment,Arkham’sexchangeisexpectedtooffersimilarfeatures,butithasn’trevealedthefullextentofitsservicesjustyet. Ofcourse,speculationabounds,andeveryoneexpectsArkhamtoleverageitsresourcesasadata-trackinggiant.Besidesthatandotherstandardcryptoderivativeexchangefeatures,nooneissureifArkhamhasasurpriseusecasethatwillputthemintheleagueofBinanceandotherexchangegiants. Nevertheless,amongtheestablishedfeaturesBinancecurrentlyoffers,therearesomeArkhamcantweaktoprovidebetteroptionsforusers.Forexample,Binanceofferstradersupto125xleverageonsomefuturescontracts,avalueonlyafewexchangeslikeOKXandHuobihavebeenabletooffer. FTX,beforeitsdownfall,offeredasmuchas101xleverage,butthatvaluefellto50xafterthescandalinvolvingSamBankman-Fried.TheleverageArkhamwillofferhasnotbeendisclosed,butitisonewaythenewexchangecanlodgeitselffirmlyintheleagueofgiants. TheworldisnowwaitingtolearnmoreaboutArkham’snewexchange,butoneareawhereitwillmostlikelybeatBinanceisaccess,pricing,andfees. Binanceoperatesglobally,albeitwithever-increasingregionalrestrictions.Arkham’sexchangewillfocusonnon-U.S.markets,anditshouldlooktotakeadvantageofpricing,thankstoitslocationintheDominicanRepublic. Arkhamcouldnothavechosenabettertime…