Bitcoin drops below $20,000 on Fed chief’s hawkish comments – The National

Bitcoin drops below $20,000 on Fed chief’s hawkish comments – The National

Cryptocurrencies mirrored global markets and declined after US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell warned against prematurely loosening policy, with Bitcoin dipping below the bottom end of the narrow range that it has traded in the past two weeks.

“Powell’s admission that there will be pain before there is relief is rather hawkish,” said Josh Olszewicz, head of research at digital asset fund manager Valkyrie Investments.

The largest cryptocurrency by market value shed as much as 3.4 per cent to $19,947.32 on Saturday as of 10.40am UAE time, dipping below $20,000 for the first time since July 14 and extending its rout this year to 57 per cent.