QuadrigaCX, Canada’s largest crypto exchange, has frozen ~$137 million in cryptocurrencies after Gerald Cotten, QuadrigaCX’s founder, passed away at age 30 from Crohn’s disease complications.

Quadriga, which facilitates the trading of multiple cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Etheteum and Litecoin, filed with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court for creditor protection just last week. It granted a stay of proceedings today.

In total, Quadriga owes C$250 million to 115,000 of it’s users, according to an affidavit filed by Cotten’s widow, Jennifer Robertson.

“Despite repeated and diligent searches, I have not been able to find (the password or recovery key) written down anywhere,” Robertson said. Per the affidavit, the cryptocurrencies are held in a cold wallet on Cotten’s computer, accessible only physically with a password.

Tragic, indeed, as a family has lost a son and husband, and many QuadrigaCX users may have lost their cryptocurrency holdings forever.

There are some who are claiming an exit scam, Cotten faking his own death to run off with the $137 million. Especially given the company’s history of legal troubles.

Either way, it’s a sad story, truly, and why we at Crypto Mouse advocate for our dear readers to ALWAYS hold their crypto in their own, cold storage wallets.

Spoiler alert, dear readers: it shouldn’t.

If you all rewind the clock to October of last year, Bitcoin (BTC) fell from about $20,000 to $5,550 today. Your instinct may be to sell all crypto now and go lock yourself in your bedroom to lick your wounds. But that would be a mistake.

We professionals make our money by buying from amateurs when prices are cheap and selling back to them when prices are high. That is the fundamental underlying principle of investing, and how investing works in every market ― whether it’s pork bellies, real estate, stocks, or crypto currency.

So why did Bitcoin drop this time?

Well, the prevailing theory is that the drop was a reaction to the bitcoin cash (BCH) fork. AKA, there is plenty of drama between a few spoiled rich men who want control of BCH.

The bottom line?

This does not affect us at Crypto Mouse.

Nope. Not even a little bit.

Why? Well, we don’t own BCH and ergo we could care less what happens to it.

It may have affected the market, but it’s only temporary. Dear readers, do not forget that double-digit price movements are common in cryptocurrencies.

In fact, it’s Often the norm.

And look, it’s possible that the BCH drama has the potential to drive Bitcoin’s price even lower.

We hope it does actually.

‘Cause if that happens, we’ll be over here drooling, and you should be too!

We might get to accumulate Bitcoin at prices that may never be seen again.

So simply smile at the scary, volatility-soaked headlines!

Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are here to stay.

Hi dear readers, not much to report other than the same old, same old, sideways movement of Crypto Inning 2 as of late. I will say that my contacts who are shepherding institutional money into the space are benefiting from larger groups depressing prices. Whether that means collusion, well…

I did want to mention, Binance is open to new user sign ups again. They are one of the most respected exchanges, if you do not yet have a Binance account, we at Crypto Mouse highly encourage you to open one while you can.

Well dear readers, in a surprise move, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has decided to place a stay on three orders that rejected Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) seeking to be listed on the NYSE Arca and other regulated exchanges.

This is after nine applications were rejected Wednesday, on supposed grounds that the products did not comply with the requirements by the “Exchange Act Section 6(b)(5), in particular the requirement that a national securities exchange’s rules be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices.”

Is this a routine review of staff decisions by a Commissioner? Hester Pierce, an SEC Commissioner who has issued a dissent of a prior ETF rejection last month, says yes, that this is routine.

We shall see…

Don’t panic, dear readers. Quite a few voices today in the media racking up page views by screaming that the crypto sky is falling (again). Par for the course given that we’re in the second inning in the crypto space. We at Crypto Mouse believe this will continue for the remainder of 2018, at least. Things have to fail and kinks have to be streamlined before the institutional players can join in.

That being said, we’re watching Ethereum closely, which is near it’s level to about a year ago. Many say profits are being taken, and perhaps over the counter manipulation is in play. Could be. But something doesn’t smell quite right. Avoid buying any Ethereum on the dips for now.

Most interesting plays for us at the moment are Bitcoin (the granddaddy of them all), Eos (who raised billions with a B, don’t sleep on that!) and Decred. Don’t buy just yet though. If your fingers are twitching and you just can’t help yourself, put a small limit order in for BTC at $5,500, or better yet at $5,000.

Patience is paramount people, the music hasn’t stopped yet, no need to rush and pick the closest chair.