1. Innovations and Performance Enhancements

Upgrade v0.13.2 (August 2024)

• Transaction Speed: Transaction confirmation time reduced to under 2 seconds.
• Lower Fees: Transaction fees dropped below $0.02.
• Enhanced User and Developer Experience: Improved UX and DevX positioned Starknet among leading blockchain networks.

FlippyFlop Event (October 2024)

• Stress Testing the Network: This on-chain game generated a significant volume of transactions, pushing Starknet’s TPS (transactions per second) to a peak of 857—24 times higher than the October average.
• Increased Awareness: Starknet gained significant recognition, reflected in rising TVL (Total Value Locked) and UOPS (User Operations Per Second).

2. Key On-Chain Metrics

Total Value Locked (TVL)

• Growth Trends (September–November 2024):
  • STRK: TVL increased by 13.5%.
  • ETH: TVL grew by 25.76%.
  • Stablecoins (USDC, USDT): A minor decline of 8%.

User Operations Per Second (UOPS)

• Significant Growth: UOPS nearly doubled, increasing from below 1 to over 2 in November 2024.
• Reliability Indicator: UOPS provides a more accurate assessment of transaction bandwidth compared to TPS.

3. Token Unlock Schedule and Price Pressure

Total Supply: 10 Billion STRK

Unlock Schedule

• April 2024–March 2025: 64 million STRK unlocked monthly (0.64% of total supply).
• April 2025–March 2027: 127 million STRK unlocked monthly (1.27% of total supply).

Additional Supply Factors

• DeFi Spring Rewards: Combined with monthly token unlocks, this creates medium-term price pressure.

4. STRK-ETH Price Correlation

• Correlation Coefficient: 0.6995
  This means 49% of STRK’s price movements are explained by ETH’s price.
• Market Dependence: STRK's performance heavily depends on BTC and ETH market trends.

5. Technical Analysis

STRK/USDT Pair

• Trend: Uptrend with price breaking above the $0.51 zone.
• Buy Zones:
  • $0.45–$0.50: Ideal range for consideration during corrections.
  • $0.35: Strategic entry for deep corrections.

STRK/BTC and STRK/ETH Pairs

• Weak Performance: Downtrend indicates that STRK underperforms against BTC and ETH.
• Market Sensitivity:
  • STRK may see steeper declines when BTC and ETH correct.
  • Gains during uptrends may be relatively muted compared to leading cryptocurrencies.

6. Conclusion

Strengths

• Technical Advancements: Faster transactions, lower fees, and improved scalability.
• Ecosystem Growth: Increasing TVL and UOPS reflect robust adoption.

Challenges

• Unlock Pressure: Monthly token unlocks could suppress prices.
• Underperformance: STRK trails BTC and ETH in relative strength.

Recommendations

Short Term

• Not Ideal: STRK may not outperform BTC and ETH in the near term.

Long Term

• Selective Investment: STRK is worth considering for those confident in Starknet’s ecosystem potential.
• Entry Strategy:
  • Focus on the $0.45–$0.50 price range for initial accumulation.
  • Monitor the STRK/BTC and STRK/ETH pairs for a clear upward trend before increasing exposure.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a financial advisor before making investment decisions.