Why is the cryptocurrency market going down in 2024? – Forbes Advisor INDIA

The cryptocurrency market has seen a slowdown, with the total market cap falling from $2.51 trillion in May 2024 to $1.95 trillion as of August 6, 2024. The market volume in the last 24 hours has dropped by 13.13%. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, is currently trading at $55,013, down 17.37% in the last seven days and up 8.04% in the last 24 hours. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, is trading at $2,447, down 26.53% in the last seven days.

The cryptocurrency market plunged yesterday, losing nearly $367 billion in 24 hours. Major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum saw substantial declines as investors sold risky assets.

Let’s dig deep into this topic

How is the cryptocurrency market performing?

The cryptocurrency market is going through a major pullback phase, with Ethereum and Bitcoin recording sharp declines. Key market drivers include political uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, economic data, and ETF performance.

CoinSwitch Marketplace Office said that after experiencing one of the biggest cryptocurrency crashes of all time – BTC lost over $250 billion in market cap in a single day – the world’s largest cryptocurrency found support just below $50,000 and rebounded over 14% to trade around the $56,000 mark. The crash was mainly triggered by the escalation of the war between Israel and Iran in the Middle East and the Japanese stock market recording the biggest single-day crash since 1987.

He added, however, that the Nikkei index jumped more than 10% today – after losing 12% yesterday – to recoup most of its losses, which could trigger a fresh rally in global stock markets. Given that this crash can be attributed to the Bank of Japan’s rate hike, it remains to be seen whether this surge will continue.

Mr. Sathvik Vishwanath, Co-Founder & CEO of Unocoinsays the cryptocurrency market is facing its biggest decline since the FTX exchange crash in November 2022, which is in line with the overall decline in the global market. One of the key factors behind this decline is the easing of the yen-dollar swap. Traders typically borrow in low-interest currencies like the yen and invest in higher-yielding assets.

He also added that the recent interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan made these trades less profitable, leading traders to close their positions. This caused a massive sell-off in both the stock and crypto markets. Over $1 billion was liquidated in the crypto sphere, mostly from long positions, further accelerating the market’s downward trajectory.

Mr. Himanshu Maradiya, Founder & Chairman, CIFDAQ Blockchain Ecosystem Ind Ltdsaid that “the recent sharp decline in the cryptocurrency market, with major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum down more than 10%, can be largely attributed to the Bank of Japan’s decision to raise interest rates. This decision had a significant impact on carry trades, a strategy where traders borrow in low interest rate environments, such as in Japan, and invest in higher-yielding assets, including cryptocurrencies.

The Bank of Japan’s first interest rate hikes in 17 years have caused the yen to rise, leading to an “unwinding of carry trades.” In addition, rising geopolitical tensions and growing concerns about a potential recession in the United States have further exacerbated the decline in cryptocurrency markets. The combination of these factors has created a challenging environment for cryptocurrencies, which are particularly sensitive to changes in investor sentiment and macroeconomic conditions.

He added that the current correction phase, driven by the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy shift and the resulting appreciation of the yen, highlights the interconnected nature of global financial markets. Despite short-term volatility, the fundamental value propositions of cryptocurrencies remain strong. As the macroeconomic landscape stabilizes, we expect the cryptocurrency market to recover and grow steadily.

As of August 6, 2024, the Fear and Greed Index stands at 34, indicating a state of fear.

Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, has fallen by nearly 17.38% in the last seven days and is trading at $55,004 as of August 6, 2024. On the other hand, Ethereum has fallen by nearly 26.85% and is trading at $2,447.

Bitcoin’s price has plummeted, dropping below $50,000 on Monday, while Ethereum has fallen by nearly a third to $2,340 over the past week. Altcoins haven’t escaped the rout: Cardano has plunged by about 27%, Solana by 36%, Dogecoin by 34%, XRP by 23%, Shiba Inu by 30%, and BNB by 25.7%.

The cryptocurrency massacre appears to be part of a broader flight to safety. After last week’s worse-than-expected unemployment report, the economy has entered a technical recession, according to a measure called the “Sahm Rule.” It marks the start of a recession when the three-month average of the unemployment rate increases by at least half a percentage point from its lowest point last year.

In response, the S&P 500 fell nearly 2%, the Nasdaq fell 2.5% and the Dow fell 1.5%. However, given the bloodbath that took place overseas on Monday, this could be just the beginning of a broader rout.

Is investing in cryptocurrencies safe?

The cryptocurrency market has seen the good and the bad of the market, whether it is the post-Russia-Ukraine effects, the Terra-Luna crash, the collapse of FTX or the tightening of tax regulations, it has witnessed the most violent storms in recent years.

The year 2023 has given a new beginning to the cryptocurrency world, showing positive signs of recovery. Cryptocurrency investors believe that in situations like this, investing in stable digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum in SIP format is a safe choice. Cryptocurrency experts consider that in the overall portfolio, investors should simply consider investing only 5% exposure to cryptocurrencies. The most important thing is to invest only a tiny amount and not all your savings, as the market is very volatile and there are chances that you might lose all of it.

Steps to Invest in Indian Cryptocurrency Market

Step 1: Select the best cryptocurrency: Choose a cryptocurrency that you want to invest in. Like any other asset class, cryptocurrency has its own fundamentals and different blockchain networks supporting them, intrinsic value, and mining techniques. Make sure to do your research and analysis before investing as the cryptocurrency market is highly volatile. Choose an exchange that is registered with the FIU.

Step 2: Select a Cryptocurrency Exchange: After choosing a cryptocurrency, it is time for you to find a perfect cryptocurrency exchange for you. It is necessary to have a working account in a cryptocurrency exchange that will help you buy and sell cryptocurrencies. Check out our article on the best cryptocurrency exchanges in India.

Step 3: KYC: Once you have selected a cryptocurrency exchange platform, you need to register by providing personal information such as your name and address and complete all the KYC formalities. After creating your account, you are ready to invest in cryptocurrency.

Step 4: Choose your payment method: To buy cryptocurrency, you need to select a payment option that suits you. You can choose peer-to-peer payment method, bank transfer, online payment method, or a crypto wallet.

Step 5: Buy Cryptocurrency: After adding funds to your account, you can easily buy the cryptocurrency of your choice. Just tap on the “buy” tab and you can easily buy the cryptocurrency of your choice.

Step 6: Storage: After purchasing cryptocurrencies, remember to store your currencies safely as they are not regulated and you need to keep them in a safe place as there is always a risk of hacking or theft. You can check out the cryptocurrency storage options here.

Step 7: Selling cryptocurrencies: This is as important as buying them because it allows you to make money by investing. You can sell the cryptocurrency in the same way you bought it, just click on the “sell” tab in your wallet. You can sell your cryptocurrency investment completely or partially depending on your choice, but remember to account for your profits in due time.

Conclusion

It is wise to observe the cryptocurrency market with caution in an uncertain environment and slow recovery of macroeconomic situations in the world. Do not make rash decisions as this is the right time to observe the market closely and analyze it.

We may never know, but observation will eventually help investors make smart decisions and might have a preferred digital asset at a fair value, once the chaos situation has completely subsided.

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