How much does that bag of air cost? As much as a bitcoin...

 

Bitcoin plunged below $20,000 today to its lowest price in 18 months, as the slide in value shows no sign of stopping.

The biggest cryptocurrency was down 7.1% to $18,993 at 9.06am this morning, having earlier touched $18,732, its shortest price since December 2020.

It has lost around 28% since Friday, more than half of its value this year, and is down 70% from a record high $69,000 in November. Overall Bitcoin is down about 59% in 2022, while rival cryptocurrency Ethereum-backed ether is down 73%. 

It comes after Hong-Kong based crypto-lender Babel Finance yesterday suspended withdrawals amid a wide-scale downfall in the market, saying in a statement it is 'facing unusual liquidity'.

The digital currency sector has been pummeled this week after cryptocurrency lending company Celsius froze withdrawals and transfers between accounts, citing 'extreme' conditions. The sector has also suffered losses after companies such as Coinbase Global Inc, Gemini and Blockfi said they would lay off thousands of employees as investors ditch risky assets.

According to CoinMarketCap, the global crypto market's value has tumbled to under $900 billion from a peak of almost $3 trillion in November. 

Not everyone has been able to get out in time, as analysts claim a price of $21,000 puts 45% of investors underwater on their holdings - meaning an asset is worth less than it was paid for. 

Yet by some measures, retail investors are doubling down and view the selloff as an attractive buying opportunity, because if you're fuckin' dumb enough to buy this bag of air in the first, place, by all means buy some more...

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