Agency Report
World’s largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, has plunged after suffering what is called a flash crash on Wedneday morning.
The dramatic plunge comes just days after it hit its all-time high, leaving billions of dollars of value wiped from the cryptocurrency on Wednesday morning, according to UK Metro.
Bitcoin dropped by $5,000, bringing it down to a trading price of $59,000.
Just days earlier it had been trading as high as $66,974.77, roaring back after sinking below $30,000 during the summer.
Other cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Binance Coin, Cardano, Solana and Ripple, have been affected by Bitcoin’s drop in value.
The publication suggested that the has been triggered by long-term holders selling some of their stock in order to cash in on the earlier high.
Investors are getting more interested in Bitcoin because they’re always looking for assets whose prices move independently of everything else in their portfolios.
One school of thought says Bitcoin can offer investors protection from high inflation, and some fans see it as akin to ‘digital gold,’ though it doesn’t have a long track record to back that up.
More high-minded types reckon digital assets are simply the future of finance, allowing transactions to sidestep middlemen and fees with a currency that’s not beholden to any government.
Cryptocurrencies are still very far from winning over everyone, though.
Critics point to how they’re still not widely used as forms of payment. They also criticize how much energy is used by the crypto system, which can ultimately mean higher bills for home heating and other utilities amid a global crunch, as well as more climate-changing emissions.
Despite these concerns, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency prices have rocketed this year.
The combined crypto market globally is said to be worth over $2.6trillion.
One country, El Salvador, has even made it a national currency for its citizens.
