Why is the cryptocurrency market down today?

1086     0
Why is the cryptocurrency market down today?
Why is the cryptocurrency market down today?

CRYPTOCURRENCIES including Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, Cardano and XRP have fluctuated in value over the last year.

The price of Bitcoin has gone down by 4.29% in just the last 24 hours, for example.

Cryptocurrencies can be extremely volatile qhiqqxiqtiqduprw
Cryptocurrencies can be extremely volatile

On March 19, the cryptocurrency was at $64,710, down from $67,730 the day before, according to Coinmarketcap.

The market overall is down as investors have cooled off from buying crypto in recent days, which is seeing prices fall.

In the past 24 hours, Ethereum is down more than 6%, Solana has fallen 9.72% and BNB has dropped by 3.77%.

Are there illegal baby names? Surprising monikers that are BANNED in other countries, from Sarah to ThomasAre there illegal baby names? Surprising monikers that are BANNED in other countries, from Sarah to Thomas

Tether USDT isn't struggling as much and is 0.06% up while USDC is also marginally up, on 0.01%.

The crypto market has started to bounce back after crashing last year for a number of reasons, one of them being Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

A lack of regulation shook investor confidence in digital currencies and tokens and the collapse of crypto exchange FTX also played a contributing role.

Bitcoin, the most valuable cryptocurrency, has risen from $42,280 on January 1 to $64,891 today.

Meanwhile, Ethereum has increased from $2,282 at the start of the year to $3,337 today, despite it falling from $4,006 on March 12.

Crypto volatility

Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, meaning their values often make large swings with no notice, as the latest plunge shows.

Investing in cryptocurrency is a very risky business.

You can be left with less money than you put in, and could even lose it all - even if you spend on what appears to be a safe bet.

You might not be able to access your investment if platforms go down and you could be left unable to convert crypto back into cash.

There have also been warnings around scams related to cryptocurrencies, with people losing vast sums of money.

All about Rachel Nickell who was murdered in front of her son Alex HanscombeAll about Rachel Nickell who was murdered in front of her son Alex Hanscombe

You should never invest in something you don’t understand and you should never put in money that you can't afford to lose entirely.

Will cryptocurrencies' prices rise?

It's impossible to predict exactly what will happen with cryptocurrencies across the rest of 2024.

But Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell, previously told The Sun plans by the UK government to regulate the market this year could see their value rise domestically.

He commented: "Increased regulation might be a positive for crypto, potentially opening up fresh pools of capital and fostering greater confidence amongst consumers."

But, he warned of the extreme volatility of cryptocurrencies, which can fluctuate in value due to "something as extraneous as a tweet from Elon Musk".

He said: "In the long run the widespread adoption of crypto as either an asset or a currency is still highly speculative, and as a result prices can be expected to remain incredibly volatile and heavily influenced by sentiment."

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, echoed Laith, adding: "Cryptos are notoriously volatile.

"While investors can make impressive gains, they can also be left nursing painful losses."

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.

Lynsey Barber

Explainers, EVG, Cryptocurrency

Read more similar news:

02.01.2023, 15:53 • Sport
Everything you need to know about the Silent Witness theme song
03.01.2023, 09:20 • Lifestyle
18 expert hacks to help you lose a STONE in just one month
03.01.2023, 15:05 • Money
What is Balenciaga and how do you pronounce it?
03.01.2023, 16:13 • Sport
Who owns Balenciaga?
03.01.2023, 22:44 • World News
Itchy nose superstition: Meaning explained
04.01.2023, 09:43 • World News
What we know about Johanna Sjoberg and her claims about Epstein
04.01.2023, 11:35 • World News
What we know about the Illuminati and whether it exists
04.01.2023, 12:50 • Lifestyle
Where is hot in January? Best holiday destinations for winter sun in 2023 - deals from £166pp
04.01.2023, 14:25 • Investigation
Who is Andrew Hooper and where is he now?
05.01.2023, 09:34 • Sport
A look inside the life of Junior Bake Off judge Ravneet Gill