Bitcoin Sets Fresh 2018 Low at $3,200, Altcoins Plunge

Following its recent period of instability, Bitcoin has now plunged to new 2018 lows and has sent the altcoin markets spiraling downwards. Today’s drop has led the overall cryptocurrency market capitalization down to $102 billion, a level not seen since August of 2017.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading down nearly 6% at its current price of $3,230, down from its 24-hour highs of $3,430. Bitcoin’s previous 2018 low was set on December 7th when it fell to just under $3,300.

Analysts Expect Bitcoin to Fall Below $3,000

The market’s current instability is leading to a general consensus among analysts that it is only a matter of time before Bitcoin falls below the important psychological price level of $3,000.

While speaking about Bitcoin’s current price action, Nick Cawley, an analyst at Daily FX, said that based on his technical analysis, Bitcoin’s short-term price action is leading it towards $2,970.

“Bitcoin looks set to fall below $3,000 in the short-term with the $2,970 Sept. 15, 2017, swing-low the next target. Below here, horizontal support at $1,760 off the July 18 [2017] low comes into play in the longer-term.”

DonAlt (@CryptoDonAlt), a popular cryptocurrency analyst on Twitter, told his nearly-80 thousand followers that he also expects BTC to dip into the $2,000 region, with a good buy target being at the $2,700 level.

“As BTC is approaching the target of the 2014 fractal the targets of most people change from 3k to 1k and even lower. I still think 2.7k is an excellent place to buy if we should go there,” he said, further adding that right now is not the best place to add new short positions.

Altcoins Plummet Amidst Bitcoin Instability

Bitcoin’s instability has led the vast majority of altcoins to plummet, with Bitcoin Cash and Stellar Lumens leading today’s market plunge.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is trading down 15% at its current price of $82, setting a fresh all-time-low. Ever since Bitcoin Cash’s hard fork event on November 15th, the cryptocurrency has been spiraling downwards, and is showing few signs of fundamental strength as it drifts lower.

BCH’s hard fork offshoot – Bitcoin SV (BSV) – also dropped significantly today and is currently trading down nearly 11% at its current price of $74.8. BSV is currently behind Bitcoin Cash’s market cap by over $100 million.

Stellar Lumens (XLM) is currently trading down over 11% at its current price of $0.098, and just set a new 2018 low around its current price levels.

XRP is currently trading down nearly 6% at its current price of $0.287 and is trading at levels not seen since this past September. It is important to note that XRP is still trading above its 2018 low, which was set at approximately $0.24 this past August.

Featured image from Shutterstock.

The post Bitcoin Sets Fresh 2018 Low at $3,200, Altcoins Plunge appeared first on NewsBTC.

by Cole Petersen on December 15, 2018 at 12:00AM