Bitcoin matches record losing run in fall to six-month low

(Nov 26): Bitcoin sank to the lowest level in six months, extending this month’s slide on concerns about a crackdown on cryptocurrency operations by China.

The digital currency plunged as much as 11% to US$6,530 ($8,915) before paring losses to trade at about US$7,149 as of 7:58 a.m. in New York trading. It has tumbled about 22% in November, the biggest monthly decline in a year.

More than 170 Chinese platforms that offer virtual-currency trading and initial coin offerings services have exited business without risks, according to a report Monday from the People’s Bank of China.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency is also on track for eight straight days of declines, tying a record losing streak from 2014, according to Bitstamp pricing going back to August 2011 and including weekend trading.

“Investors can find more joy in traditional markets without the aggressive volatility and opaque markets,” said Jeffrey Halley, senior market strategist for Asia Pacific at Oanda Asia Pacific Pte. “A sustained rally in Bitcoin would require a complete breakdown in the trade negotiations to happen as financial authorities across the world continue to circle the wagons against digital currencies.”

On Friday, the People’s Bank of China told businesses involved with cryptocurrencies to correct any improper actions and asked investors to be wary of virtual currencies. Earlier this month, watchdogs in Shanghai issued notices calling for a cleanup of companies involved in crypto trading, while one in Beijing warned against illegal exchange operations.

There are plenty of other possible explanations for the drop. Traders are blaming low volumes and citing attractive returns from traditional assets, eToro U.K. market analyst Adam Vettese wrote in a note Friday. Smaller miners are also getting squeezed out by the falling price, causing further selling toward the break-even level of around US$5,600 to US$6,400, Vijay Ayyar, Singapore-based head of business development at crypto exchange Luno, said Monday.

“We’re seeing what is called miner capitulation and that has indicated previous large drops in the price of Bitcoin,” he said. “At this time, the cost of production could be indicated to be in the US$6,000 range and hence we’ve seen the price dip to that range last week.”

Bitcoin is still up substantially in 2019 -- it ended last year at US$3,674. After a meteoric rise from April to June, when it soared above US$13,000, it lost momentum and has been gradually dropping since.