The fall In crypto markets coincides with a slide for equities, as US stocks suffer biggest weekly percentage decline in two years
New York – On Monday, the Crypto currency industry was on edge as bitcoin fought to hold above a critical level, with investors concerned that issues at large crypto companies may trigger a wider market shakeout.
In early London trading hours, Bitcoin, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency, was trading just under the symbolic threshold of US$20,000, roughly where it peaked on its way to its previous high in 2017.
Bitcoin fell below $20,000 for the first time since December 2020 on Saturday, falling to $17,592.75.
In the cryptocurrency sector’s recent catastrophe, it has lost nearly 60% of its value this year and 37% this month alone.
Its fall follows problems at several major industry players. Further declines, market players said, could have a knock-on effect as other crypto investors are forced to sell their holdings to meet margin calls and cover losses.
Suspension Of Crypto Withdrawals
Crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital is exploring options including the sale of assets and a bailout by another firm, its founders told the Wall Street Journal in a story published Friday, the same day Asia-focused crypto lender Babel Finance said it would suspend withdrawals.
U.S. based lender Celsius Network this month said it would suspend customer withdrawals. In a blog on Monday, Celsius said it would continue working with regulators and officials, but that it would pause its customer Q&A sessions. read more
“There is a lot of credit being withdrawn from the system and if lenders have to absorb losses from Celsius and Three Arrows, they will reduce the size of their future loan books which means that the entire amount of credit available in the crypto ecosystem is much reduced,” said Adam Farthing, chief risk office for Japan at crypto liquidity provider B2C2.
“It feels very like 2008 to me in terms of how there could be a domino effect of bankruptcies and liquidations,” Farthing said.
Small Tokens Also Affected
Smaller tokens, which usually move in tandem with bitcoin, were also hurt. No.2 token ether was at $1,0752, having dipped below its own symbolic level of $1,000 over the weekend.
The fall in crypto markets has coincided with a slide for equities, as U.S. stocks suffered their biggest weekly percentage decline in two years on fears of rising interest rates and the growing likelihood of recession.
Bitcoin’s moves have tended to follow a similar pattern to other risk assets such as tech stocks.
The overall crypto market capitalisation is roughly $877 billion, according to price site Coinmarketcap, down from a peak of $2.9 trillion in November 2021.
A fall in stablecoins – a type of crypto designed to hold a steady value – is also suggesting investors are pulling money from the sector as a whole. – Reuters
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