Its extreme volatility is well established. Bitcoin, cryptocurrency star, has seen its share fall by nearly 50% since December 18, when the virtual currency reached its highest level (almost € 17,000).
Last Wednesday, bitcoin even fell below the € 8,000 mark. Monday, it was trading at 8 820 € ... As for the other two crypto-currencies, the ethereum and the ripple, they lost respectively 20% and 31% of their value.
For some experts, this fall would be due to the announcements of China and South Korea. Both countries plan to tighten the regulation on cryptocurrencies. In France, Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy, has entrusted to Jean-Pierre Landau, former vice-governor of the Banque de France, a mission of regulatory framework of virtual currencies.
What worry digital currency holders who fear a change in the rules and seek to sell as soon as possible. Are we headed for a bitcoin crash? For analysts at the US bank Citigroup, bitcoin could again lose half of its value in the short term. Conversely, some traders rely on a rise in its price. Some see it at more than 80 000 € this year ...