Like all cryptocurrencies, the majors are digital assets that secure and verify transactions using computer science and complex mathematics, known as cryptography. Unlike traditional (‘fiat’) currencies, they are not currently issued or backed by a central authority such as a government. Instead, they run across a network of computers and are underpinned by blockchain technology – a permanent record of transactions that cannot be altered without the consensus of the network.
Mistakes like this happen throughout finance when, for instance, traders mess up details of their intended trades, entering the wrong price or order size. An erroneously large trade, as one example, can overwhelm an exchange's order book, leading to a quick and massive decline. The entire U.S. stock market famously flash crashed back in May 2010, though equities have mostly avoided trouble since that era.

Crypto Chase referred to the implications of sudden erratic price movements on exchanges, these serving to liquidate traders who should have retained their positions.
Terra’s LUNA token has been trading inside a rising wedge pattern. The bulls attempted to push the price to the resistance line of the wedge on Nov. 8 but could not sustain the higher levels.