Bitcoin's flash-crash lesson: Number-based currencies don't 'cure' human nature

Bitcoin's flash-crash lesson: Number-based currencies don't 'cure' human nature

The price of bitcoins has fallen considerably from the recent high of around $130 in late May, with a dramatic drop from $108 to $91 in the past 24-hour period. As of around noon Eastern time Sunday, the bitcoin price stood at $98 (£64.61). Why the big drop? There could be any of a number of reasons -- more likely a combination of several: unsubstantiated rumors run amok, the market fluctuations you'd expect for a relatively new commodity, herd mentality, greed, panic. All of the above were apparent in the comments by redditors discussing today's price plunge. It was FinCEN (the US....


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