The price of Cronos CRO has seen a slight 0.08% decline over the past hour, dropping from $0.05017 to $0.05012. Though a minor fluctuation, this continues the downward trend Cronos has been on over the past month and half-year. Let's take a closer look at the key metrics for CRO and what they might indicate for the future.

Cronos currently has a market capitalization of $1.27 billion, making it a mid-sized cryptocurrency. Trading volume over the last 24 hours was $839,090, a relatively low amount compared to CRO's peak volumes. This could suggest waning interest among traders.

Over the past day, CRO has dropped 1.39%, over the past week it's down just 0.76%, but zooming out shows a clearer downtrend. The past month saw prices fall 12.70%, while the past 6 months saw an even steeper 32.17% decline.

The technical indicators reflect this negative momentum. However, the good news is that the declines appear to be decelerating, with the monthly loss less severe than the half-yearly. CRO may be bottoming out as sellers become exhausted.

Looking at key support and resistance levels provides further insights. CRO has struggled to break above resistance around $0.056 for the past two months. This level aligns with its 200-day moving average, a key long-term indicator.

On the downside, CRO found strong support around $0.042 in mid-August. As long as prices remain above this, the current downtrend remains intact. A break below could signal a steeper sell-off.

What Does On-Chain Data Reveal About CRO Investor Behavior?

On-chain metrics provide invaluable clues into investor behavior and sentiment. For CRO, on-chain data reveals a mixed outlook.

On the negative side, CRO's network growth has stagnated in 2022 compared to 2021's parabolic rise. Daily active addresses, a measure of network usage, peaked in early 2022 and have declined significantly since.

However, long-term holder behavior tells a different story. The supply held by addresses that have held CRO for over 1 year continues rising. Currently, 59% of the supply is held by these long-term investors, suggesting strong hands are accumulating.

Additionally, CRO's NVT ratio, which compares network value to transaction volume, remains low at 13. This indicates CRO is currently undervalued relative to its network usage and adoption. The on-chain data suggests that while short-term speculation is down, the long-term fundamentals remain strong.

Will Institutional Investment Boost CRO in 2023?

Institutional investment has been a major driver of cryptocurrency adoption. For CRO, 2023 could see increased institutional participation thanks to crypto exchange Crypto.com's global expansion.

Crypto.com has aggressively marketed its brand through sports sponsorships and celebrity partnerships. With over 50 million users, it's one of the largest centralized exchanges. CRO benefits from its success through branding and exclusive incentives to use CRO on the platform.

If Crypto.com continues growing its user base, CRO will likely see more demand from institutional investors seeking exposure to the exchange's native token. The recent launch of Crypto.com's NFT platform also creates new utility for CRO.

However, regulatory risks remain the biggest threat. The exchange sector has faced increased scrutiny from governments worldwide. If regulations restrict Crypto.com's growth, it may negatively impact CRO's value. But if Crypto.com can navigate the regulatory environment, CRO could see a new wave of institutional inflows.

Price Prediction for Cronos CRO for the Next Year

Given the conflicting signals between short-term and long-term indicators, developing an accurate price prediction requires weighing all factors.

The negative momentum suggests CRO may continue declining over the next few months. It's unlikely to break resistance at $0.056 unless Bitcoin and the overall crypto market stage a decisive recovery rally. Downside support around $0.042 could be tested.

However, the on-chain data shows CRO has a dedicated long-term investor base. As crypto adoption increases, the utility of the Cronos network should also rise. With Crypto.com's global expansion plans, CRO has upside potential, especially if it attracts institutional investment.

My price prediction for CRO over the next year is for an eventual bottom between $0.035 and $0.040, followed by consolidation through mid-2024. If Crypto.com executes well, I expect CRO could return to test resistance around $0.065 by late 2024. Continued growth of DeFi and NFT use cases would also be bullish for CRO.

Conclusion

In summary, while CRO shows lackluster price action in the short-term, its long-term adoption and fundamentals appear solid. Crypto.com's plans for mainstream expansion could bring new waves of users and investors to CRO. The next year will likely see volatility but sets the stage for renewed upside beyond 2024. Keep an eye on Bitcoin's recovery and Crypto.com's regulatory status as the two key factors to watch.