The cryptocurrency market is on the fritz this morning as most cryptocurrencies are in the red and seeing losses in the double-digital percentages. Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) (BTC), Ethereum (available on Coinbase) (ETH), and Ripple (available on Binance) (XRP) are all taking significant losses today. Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) Diamond, however, is currently seeing gains well above 100%.
Many speculate that the fall of the crypto market today is due to the announcement that Goldman Sachs is pulling its cryptocurrency trading plans. This could very well be the case, as many investors see a potential crypto trading desk by Goldman Sachs as a push for more widespread adoption, especially with institutional investors.
Still, others aren’t easily convinced.
Goldman Sachs is focusing on crypto custody in the short-term, which will bring more funds into the cryptocurrency sector than a trading desk.
MSM is reporting today Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) dropped 3% because Goldman Sachs “ditched” Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) trading desk.
Speechless. Unprecedented stupidity.
— Joseph Young (@iamjosephyoung) September 5, 2018
Many crypto enthusiasts aren’t convinced that the ‘dumping’ is due to the Goldman Sachs news but instead has more to do with the Silk Road news that surfaced a few days ago.
Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) and alts are down because Silk Road folks are dumping.
— Webhaller (@webhaller) September 5, 2018
Almost $800 million dollars worth of Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) and Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) Cash were withdrawn from wallets that are associated with the defunct ‘black market’ Silk Road marketplace. The movement was first observed by cryptocurrency community members on August 30th and eventually, the coins would be dumped back into the market.
Could it have been dumped this morning? Possibly. But that doesn’t explain why most of the aLTCoins are falling rapidly, as well.
Let’s take a closer look at the top three cryptocurrencies and their losses today.
Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) (BTC)
At press time, BTC is down nearly -6%, trading at $6,941.82 a coin. Currently, Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) holds 54.9% of the total cryptocurrency market. Usually, when Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) falls the rest of the market follows. In less than 24 hours, BTC has lost over $400 in value.
Ethereum (available on Coinbase) (ETH)
According to CoinMarketCap, ETH is currently trading under $250. At press time, Ethereum (available on Coinbase) is trading at $245.82 a coin, down -14.44%, in 24 hours. This is a year-low for ETH, which started the year trading around $750.