Bitcoin Price Plunges to $230, Litecoin to $1.50 as Selling Accelerates

On BTC-e, the price fell sharply to $230, a drop of over 13% in 5 hours. It is currently trading at $240 and the selling may not yet be over.
Yesterday's dip to below $260, its previous 14-month low, likely served as a catalyst for further selling. We are also seeing an unwinding of positions as whatever remains of last year's November gains is gradually consumed.
Today's prices are the lowest since November 5, 2013, when bitcoin was in the earlier stages of its rise to above $1,000. We may thus see a further unwinding of positions, perhaps from early adopters, which will pressure prices closer to $200 and perhaps lower if the momentum is strong enough.
Year to date, BTC/USD has lost as much as 25%.
Volume peaked to over 3,000 BTC/hour at the climax of the selling. It has since been choppy, averaging 500 BTC/hour.
For its part, Litecoin (LTC/USD) set a new 14-month low of $1.52 during a period of flash selling. After returning to the $1.70s, it is once again challenging the low, currently trading at $1.55 on BTC-e.
The LTC/BTC rate is hovering near 0.0065 as both coins have experienced a similar scale of loss.
Most other Cryptocurrencies Cryptocurrencies By using cryptography, virtual currencies, known as cryptocurrencies, are nearly counterfeit-proof digital currencies that are built on blockchain technology. Comprised of decentralized networks, blockchain technology is not overseen by a central authority.Therefore, cryptocurrencies function in a decentralized nature which theoretically makes them immune to government interference. The term, cryptocurrency derives from the origin of the encryption techniques that are employed to secure the netw By using cryptography, virtual currencies, known as cryptocurrencies, are nearly counterfeit-proof digital currencies that are built on blockchain technology. Comprised of decentralized networks, blockchain technology is not overseen by a central authority.Therefore, cryptocurrencies function in a decentralized nature which theoretically makes them immune to government interference. The term, cryptocurrency derives from the origin of the encryption techniques that are employed to secure the netw Read this Term are in the red in dollar terms, mostly due to the bitcoin losses. In bitcoin terms, most are relatively unchanged.
Bitcoin prices on BTC-e are $5.50 (2.3%) below those of its peers, an above average offset.
On BTC-e, the price fell sharply to $230, a drop of over 13% in 5 hours. It is currently trading at $240 and the selling may not yet be over.
Yesterday's dip to below $260, its previous 14-month low, likely served as a catalyst for further selling. We are also seeing an unwinding of positions as whatever remains of last year's November gains is gradually consumed.
Today's prices are the lowest since November 5, 2013, when bitcoin was in the earlier stages of its rise to above $1,000. We may thus see a further unwinding of positions, perhaps from early adopters, which will pressure prices closer to $200 and perhaps lower if the momentum is strong enough.
Year to date, BTC/USD has lost as much as 25%.
Volume peaked to over 3,000 BTC/hour at the climax of the selling. It has since been choppy, averaging 500 BTC/hour.
For its part, Litecoin (LTC/USD) set a new 14-month low of $1.52 during a period of flash selling. After returning to the $1.70s, it is once again challenging the low, currently trading at $1.55 on BTC-e.
The LTC/BTC rate is hovering near 0.0065 as both coins have experienced a similar scale of loss.
Most other Cryptocurrencies Cryptocurrencies By using cryptography, virtual currencies, known as cryptocurrencies, are nearly counterfeit-proof digital currencies that are built on blockchain technology. Comprised of decentralized networks, blockchain technology is not overseen by a central authority.Therefore, cryptocurrencies function in a decentralized nature which theoretically makes them immune to government interference. The term, cryptocurrency derives from the origin of the encryption techniques that are employed to secure the netw By using cryptography, virtual currencies, known as cryptocurrencies, are nearly counterfeit-proof digital currencies that are built on blockchain technology. Comprised of decentralized networks, blockchain technology is not overseen by a central authority.Therefore, cryptocurrencies function in a decentralized nature which theoretically makes them immune to government interference. The term, cryptocurrency derives from the origin of the encryption techniques that are employed to secure the netw Read this Term are in the red in dollar terms, mostly due to the bitcoin losses. In bitcoin terms, most are relatively unchanged.
Bitcoin prices on BTC-e are $5.50 (2.3%) below those of its peers, an above average offset.