Right now these markets are like 98% day traders just following each other around in circles. There is no fresh fiat coming in anywhere (and by "no" I mean no substantial bull market fiat).
evidence please. prove there is no fresh fiat. order books are growing every day.
windjc and others haven't probably considered the effect that Gox and other exchanges' fall has had on the market landscape:
- It has made people wary on sending fiat to exchange, yes (this is the visible effect).
- But it has also made them search for and use the alternatives (this is the invisible effect).
Lots of trade is happening in services like Bittiraha.fi, who make markets locally (and local = Europe in this case). Judging the volume from exchange data is hilarious. Equally hilarious is the day when the positive balance of the local market-making hits the exchanges. That demand is in the form of market orders.
I for one think that the exchanges are a drag on Bitcoin's longer-term health (and have been on this line since $50). Consequently, I think that the development that people don't trust the exchanges any more is good.
Why I try to exhort people buy now is that you deserve it (after so much pain and misinformation)! Reading this thread only and following the prevalent mood would have made you buy at $1000 and sell at $400, but the reverse is how you make money.
Thanks Risto.
so while fresh fiat may not be entering, do you think there may be a surprise shortage of bitcoins to satisfy margin calls? (due to accumulation off exchanges - the invisible effect)
Fresh fiat is entering all the time, I see it in the grassroots level. But less and less of it is going through the exchanges, even I don't solicit them any more, and I try to make my personal purchases off them. The exchange price IS the market price, but market price is manipulated, and it is even more easier to do now, as honest people don't trust their money to the exchanges any more (less bitcoins for same effect).
This causes volatility, and we already went relatively lower than in any point during summer-2013. But it works both ways - also the surprises to the upside can, may and will happen as a result of the tail-wags-dog dynamic that we have.
It is so easy if you just play with the money that you can lose, disconnect emotion, hold, sell high and buy low.