Only this time the trickle down of ASIC devices is super slow as opposed to the influx of GPU mining in 2011.
Big difference. We have not even touched 10% of the total mining capacity that ASICs will bring.
This may be the case, I wasn't around in 2011 so this theory is based on what amounts to historical research.
This 2013 bubble clearly did presaed the bulk of the ASIC miners actually coming online even when we consider that some of the ASIC miners planned to mine with them rather then sell them, so the ASICs entering the hands of the general public is going to be slower then the rate they enter the network.
Upon further examination of the coin depth on MtGox it seems we were seeing a slow squeezing of coin supply that goes back to before the start of the year. So it's clear that the trend was going on before any ASIC even existed. Their clearly needed to be some anticipation effect in which the expectation of ASIC mining lead existing GPU miners to hoard coins. Perhaps they wished to accumulate 'nest eggs' before they were squeezed out, this is logical if you expect coins to increase in value, your hardware has been paid off and your not planning to reinvest in new equipment. Their was also the halfing of reward around February, everyone knew that was coming and the predicted result is to double the cost of coins so their is an incentive to build up stockpiles before that point.