INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
LONDON: Bitcoin extended losses on Thursday after suffering its worst day for a month on Wednesday, with traders citing factors ranging from
technical trading to jitters in traditional markets washing into cryptocurrency trading.
The biggest cryptocurrency fell 5.5 per cent in
early trade after slumping 7.7 per cent a day earlier, when it dropped under $10,000 for the first time since Aug
1 and posted its biggest fall since July 16.
It was last down 1.7 per cent at $9,859.
Traders said it was difficult to pinpoint the catalyst
that triggered the losses.
Some cited selling caused by technical trading as bitcoin approached the widely-watched $10,000 mark
Others said nerves from the recent fall in global equity markets on fears of a recession had infected cryptocurrencies, though exactly how
digital coin and equity markets are linked is up for debate.
"The link (with stocks) is unreliable on a day to day basis," said Craig Erlam,
senior market analyst at OANDA, adding that the bitcoin market was unpredictable.
Last week, bitcoin climbed as stocks fell, prompting some
crypto enthusiasts to argue it was behaving like a safe haven in a manner similar to gold or the Japanese yen
But market players said the gains reflected its potential for quick gains more than any safe-haven credentials.
Other major
cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum and Ripple's XRP, which are often tightly correlated with bitcoin, also fell