Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP at discount ahead of Black Friday while investors fear new COVID strain


  • Over $265 billion wiped off the overall crypto market capitalization in a bloodbath as news of the new Covid strain breaks out. 
  • Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP prices have tumbled over 6%, and the top 10 cryptocurrencies are trading at a steep discount.
  • The new Covid variant identified in South Africa has spurred liquidations in crypto and equities markets. 

As news of the new Covid variant spreads, asset prices in crypto and equities markets have plunged, withBitcoin price dropping below $55,000 for the first time in the past 30 days. 

Crypto bloodbath continues as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP prices tumble

Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP prices have dropped over 6% since news of a new Covid strain broke out. The strain was identified in South Africa and global markets, and equities have tanked. 

Over $265 billion was wiped off the overall crypto market within an hour of the news; cryptocurrencies are now trading at a steep discount on Black Friday. 

The asset's price has dropped below $55,000 for the first time in over a month. Ethereum price has dropped over 9%, and the Bloomberg Crypto Index (considered a benchmark for the performance of cryptocurrencies against USD) has plummeted 4%. 

The news of the new Covid variant spurred liquidations across European stocks, emerging markets and global equities. 

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, believes that the new Covid strain is responsible for the crypto market bloodbath. Mould told Forbes, 

Forget Black Friday; today has been renamed Red Friday after the color of share price screens as stocks slump globally on fears over a new Covid strain.

Proponents believe that investors' reaction to news of the Covid strain is classic risk-off action. If fear and uncertainty grow, governments may likely reintroduce lockdown restrictions that stress the economy. 

The decline in Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP prices implies that cryptocurrencies are yet to be accepted as a safe haven during unprecedented times. 

Alex Kruger, a cryptocurrency analyst, believes that traders are currently pricing in higher odds of low liquidity. 


Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: BTC nosedives below $95,000 as spot ETFs record highest daily outflow since launch

Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: BTC nosedives below $95,000 as spot ETFs record highest daily outflow since launch

Bitcoin price continues to edge down, trading below $95,000 on Friday after declining more than 9% this week. Bitcoin US spot ETFs recorded the highest single-day outflow on Thursday since their launch in January.

More Bitcoin News
Bitcoin crashes to $96,000, altcoins bleed: Top trades for sidelined buyers

Bitcoin crashes to $96,000, altcoins bleed: Top trades for sidelined buyers

Bitcoin (BTC) slipped under the $100,000 milestone and touched the $96,000 level briefly on Friday, a sharp decline that has also hit hard prices of other altcoins and particularly meme coins. 

More Bitcoin News
Solana Price Forecast: SOL’s technical outlook and on-chain metrics hint at a double-digit correction

Solana Price Forecast: SOL’s technical outlook and on-chain metrics hint at a double-digit correction

Solana (SOL) price trades in red below $194 on Friday after declining more than 13% this week. The recent downturn has led to $38 million in total liquidations, with over $33 million coming from long positions.

More Solana News
SEC approves Hashdex and Franklin Templeton's combined Bitcoin and Ethereum crypto index ETFs

SEC approves Hashdex and Franklin Templeton's combined Bitcoin and Ethereum crypto index ETFs

The SEC approved Hashdex's proposal for a crypto index ETF. The ETF currently features Bitcoin and Ethereum, with possible additions in the future. The agency also approved Franklin Templeton's amendment to its Cboe BZX for a crypto index ETF.

More Cryptocurrencies News
Bitcoin: 2025 outlook brightens on expectations of US pro-crypto policy

Bitcoin: 2025 outlook brightens on expectations of US pro-crypto policy

Bitcoin (BTC) price has surged more than 140% in 2024, reaching the $100K milestone in early December. The rally was driven by the launch of Bitcoin Spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in January and the reduced supply following the fourth halving event in April.

Read full analysis
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.

Read More

BTC

ETH

XRP