The cryptocurrency market experienced one of the sharpest declines this year. In a single day, approximately $150 billion disappeared from the market, bringing the total market capitalization down from $3.10 trillion to $2.95 trillion.
Bitcoin and altcoins plummeted
Bitcoin, which usually sets the tone for the entire market, fell to around $84,000, and its market capitalization decreased to approximately $1.7 trillion. A similar sell-off also hit Ethereum, which fell to $2,700, and most major altcoins. The slump comes shortly after the market attempted to recover from November’s declines, during which bitcoin touched the psychological level of $80,000.
At the same time, there is increased nervousness in the markets. Investors are pulling out of risky assets due to uncertainty about the future development of interest rates in the US, with concerns about overvalued technology stocks, especially AI companies, adding to the tension.
Global markets in panic
The key trigger for the sell-off was a historic shock on the Japanese bond market. Yields on two-year government bonds rose above 1% for the first time since 2008, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan (the Japanese central bank) would raise interest rates. Further pressure came from the situation on the derivatives markets, where over $573 million in trading positions were liquidated in a single day, with long positions suffering the most.
The weekend warning from the People’s Bank of China about illegal activities in the digital asset sector also contributed to the deterioration in sentiment. Following this announcement, shares in crypto companies traded in Hong Kong fell sharply, increasing regional and global selling pressure.
