INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
tokens down, after the discovery of a new, potentially vaccine-resistant coronavirus variant saw investors dump riskier assets for the
13-year life has been peppered by bouts of extreme volatility, was on track for its biggest one-day drop since Sept
It has slumped by more than a fifth since hitting a record high of almost $70,000 earlier this month.Scientists said the coronavirus
variant, detected in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong, has an unusual combination of mutations and may be able to evade immune responses
or make it more transmissible."The spread of (the variant), especially to other countries, could wither investor appetite further," said
Yuya Hasegawa at Tokyo-based exchange Bitbank
"BTC's upside will likely be limited and the market should brace for further loss."Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $69,000 earlier this
month as more large investors embraced cryptocurrencies, with many drawn to its purported inflation-resistant qualities.Others have piled
into the digital token on the promise of quick gains, a draw that has been heightened by record low or negative interest rates
Yet bitcoin's volatility has lingered, drawing questions over its suitability as a stable store of value.Ether is down almost 20 per
