The growth of SafeMoon, coupled with its online slogan, has drawn comparisons to the surge in popularity of another cryptocurrency Dogecoin. (Pic: Shutterstock)
Cryptocurrency markets move according to supply and demand. However, as they are decentralised, they tend to remain free from many of the economic and political concerns that affect traditional currencies. While there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrencies, the following factors can have a significant impact on their prices: Supply: the total number of coins and the rate at which they are released, destroyed or lost Market capitalisation: the value of all the coins in existence and how users perceive this to be developing Press: the way the cryptocurrency is portrayed in the media and how much coverage it is getting Integration: the extent to which the cryptocurrency easily integrates into existing infrastructure such as e-commerce payment systems Key events: major events such as regulatory updates, security breaches and economic setbacks

Ultimately, the future of cryptocurrencies — their value, security, and staying power — is still up in the air. But the experts we spoke to believe owning some crypto could create value over time. Whatever your interest or motivation, experts stress the importance of making sure you understand the unique volatility and risk factors of cryptocurrency before investing.
New short-term investors who are selling their holdings in reaction to the drop may be influencing the continued dip in Bitcoin’s value, according to a recent report from Glassnode Insights, a blockchain analysis firm.