Charting 2017's Biggest Crypto Price Correction

It's a red Friday for the cryptocurrency markets, where major assets have all seen 30 to 40 percent declines on the day's trading.

AccessTimeIconDec 22, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 13, 2021 at 7:18 a.m. UTC
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In what is likely to be one of the biggest corrections ever seen in the burgeoning cryptocurrency market, the total value of the nascent asset class, created with the advent of bitcoin in 2009, shed billions on Friday.

At press time, the total value of all cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin and the 1,300 others trading, is down more than 30 percent from its all-time high of $650 billion reached earlier this week. But while the markets hit a low of $418 billion today, year-over-year the markets are still up 4,000 percent, from just under $10 billion on Jan. 1, 2017.

So, is the market selling to buy holiday gifts? Or are evil bankers at work in the market?

While theories abound, the data is indisputable: The price of bitcoin fell nearly $5,000 in just hours to drop below $11,000, and many other cryptocurrencies have followed its downward trend, dropping 30 to 40 percent over the day's trading.

At $10,800, the price of bitcoin was nearly half of what it was when it topped $19,783 last Sunday.

Bitcoin leads 

Leading the downward trend has been bitcoin, the market's most well-known asset, which after opening the day above $15,000 has since been trending down.

— CoinDesk (@coindesk) December 22, 2017

Still, it's worth putting the decline in context.

For example, the market has almost returned to its value prior to announcements by major U.S. exchanges that they would offer exposure to bitcoin via futures products.

— CoinDesk (@coindesk) December 22, 2017

Also relevant is the size of the correction when viewed on a historical scale.

— CoinDesk (@coindesk) December 22, 2017

Market follows

Elsewhere, it seems almost no major cryptocurrency was spared.

According to data site CoinMarketCap, almost all the top 100 cryptocurrencies by trading volume are recording a decrease of at least over 30 percent.

The rare exceptions are Agoras Tokens and SuperNet, lesser-known coins that have seen a 30 percent pump.

— CoinDesk (@coindesk) December 22, 2017

Even assets that had been strong performers in recent weeks felt the pinch.

XRP, the cryptocurrency overseen by San Francisco startup Ripple, saw its price dip nearly 40 percent after rising more than 400 percent in recent weeks.

— CoinDesk (@coindesk) December 22, 2017

Litecoin, which had also seen meteoric gains of late, was no match for the sell-off either, seeing its price return below $300 after an influx of new buyers propelled it to all-time highs.

— CoinDesk (@coindesk) December 22, 2017

Futures continue

Also notable was that the movement in major bitcoin futures markets also coincided with the crash.

Delayed data from Cboe and CME, the two U.S. exchanges that previously listed the bitcoin futures products, shows that all contracts that expire in the first three months next year are dropping over 20 percent percent in the trading day.

Among them, the contract that expires in January on CME group had also hit the circuit breaker at $12,265.

— CoinDesk (@coindesk) December 22, 2017

It's worth noting, however, that demand for both products has remained.

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CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


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