The number of short orders placed on ether (ETH) reached a new all-time high during Friday's trading session, according to data from the cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex.
At approximately 10:00 UTC Friday, the number of shorts placed on ETH/USD, the world's second largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, surpassed the prior mark of 202,854 to ultimately reach a new high of 208,689.
The new figure represents an 81.96 percent increase week-to-week and a 162 percent jump from mid-August.
The development follows an unfavorable week for the broader cryptocurrency market and ETH in particular. From September 5-6, bitcoin (BTC) fell more than $1100, accounting for a nearly 15 percent drop. In that time, over $40 billion was shed from the market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrencies tend to follow bitcoin's lead after a big move, and ETH was no exception. Three days ago, ETH was valued at $287 across exchanges but today is trading at $221, according to CoinDesk's Ether Price Index (EPI).
In all, the developments mark a more than 80 percent drop from ETH's all-time high north of $1200, so it's perhaps no surprise that investor confidence in ETH is at an all-time low.
When a short trade of this nature becomes overcrowded – as the new all-time high would suggest is the case – an astute investor has to consider the possibility of a "short squeeze."
When short positions are stacked so high, a small increase in price could cause those shorting to close positions in order to avoid a losing trade. Since the only way to close a short is to buy back the cryptocurrency, its possible ETH could see a rapid price increase, also known as a "squeeze."
0 comments:
Post a Comment