Interpreting a global market
Everything's turned red. Not everything of course, but it can feel like that when BTC keeps going down and STEEM is down even more. Some friends suggested a way to deal with it is to switch all your devices to monochrome, so you can see -25% but at least it's not RED -25% :)
I think it's going to take a while for us to really get to know the dynamics of the various crypto markets. I see all sorts of speculation from the Chinese New Year to a post-Christmas correction to the return of Saturn in Capricorn for the first time since 1991 or something. We love to look for patterns and explain those patterns in terms of our own experiences and culture.
We might be used to interpreting market signals in Forex and stock markets. Although there's still no single way that ensures you make money! We know that the crypto markets are different in some ways - crypto is held by a different set of people from traditional investors, there isn't necessarily the same relationship between fundamentals and price as with stocks, it can be traded at any time of the day, there are many exchanges catering to different locales and different sorts of trade. The trouble is, we don't know to what extent those differences affect the bottom line, the prices as they fluctuate day to day. Some people will tell you that markets are markets and you can apply the same technical analyses. Others will point out that technical analysis on it's own isn't enough.
To me, I know that although people are people all over the world, there are significant cultural differences that affect our understanding of each other. And if there can be countless listicles about how Americans and British people misinterpret each other despite our common language, there must be even greater misunderstandings between more different cultures.
Whenever you're trying to understand something, it's wise to look at what your assumptions are. And I think we make a big assumption that people trading crypto are just like us, no matter where they come from. And I think that assumption is false, even if I can't describe to you the ways in which they are different, I can only say it's probably sensible not to assume that we all have the same motivations.
No one can stop Bitcoin and most people will panic based on rumours especially when they hear warnings from trading expects. I think the news of South Korea banning crypto trading affected the blockchain market. I don;t panick because I did my research and not planning to sell anything. :-)
It's really a mistery what is going on here, I guess in few days we will know for sure why did that happened, one more interesting fact, USD-T is on bittrex in "maintance" for unknown reason, so there was no way you can save your tresure safe these days :D
The Real Rich is who know to share it with others.
I'm dealing with forex. It's a little inconvenient to deal with the coins. They're manipulating too much.
I think you are spot on about human similarities and cultural differences. Our strongest cultural assumptions are the hardest to see because they are sooo deeply embedded. Good food for thought.
Thanks Lloyd!
So the bubble burst. For now anyway. I didn't notice as I was in the attic having a clear out. Glad i'm not someone who invested at the top. Let me know when the bottom is visible and I might buy a bit then! :-)
The crypto market has gone through downturns like this before but each time there are more retail investors onboard and a greater range of coins and tokens to choose from.
2017 was great for the crypto market, perhaps too great. Many startups that would have failed for the lack of funding by now had been kept afloat by the massive Bitcoin bull run. As long as prices go up, they can keep bleeding tokens and using them to prop their projects up.
We saw BitConnect throw in the towel last night. I wonder if a sustained crypto sell off will trigger a pruning of the ecosystem.