Bitcoin: ‘Dive’ 7.5% in the shadow of the new coronavirus mutation

LAST UPDATE: 18:30

Bitcoin’s price fell 7.5% on Friday as worries about the new, potentially resistant coronavirus vaccine mutation have sparked concerns around the world and pushed investors to abandon the most risky assets in search of bond security. yen and the dollar.

Specifically, at 18:30 Greek time, the largest cryptocurrency on the planet recorded losses of 7.5% to $ 54,450, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Smaller cryptocurrencies are also falling, which tend to move in parallel with bitcoin. Ethereum, the second-largest digital currency by capitalization, lost 9.75% to $ 4,076, having previously plunged up 11.6% to its lowest level in a week.

Also, Binance Coin is down 8.13%, Solana is down 10.8%, Cardano is down 11.7% and XRP is down 9.7%.

Today’s sell-off in cryptocurrencies, which follows the very negative international climate, has “cut” the capitalization of the global cryptocurrency market by 8%, to 2.17 trillion. dollars.

Scientists say a new variant of the coronavirus found in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong has a large number and unusual combination of mutations and may be able to avoid the immune responses caused by coronavirus vaccines, or be more contagious.

“The spread of the variant, especially in other countries, could further whet investors’ appetites,” said Yuya Hasegawa of Toyo-based Bitbank. must be prepared for further losses “.

Smaller currencies, which tend to move in parallel with bitcoin, also fell. Ether, the second largest in market capitalization, fell as much as 11.6% to its lowest level in a week.