Cryptocurrencies Down Over FTX Exchange 'Trouble'

Cryptocurrencies fell heavily on Tuesday and the in-house token of major crypto exchange FTX slumped by over 15% as investors appeared to take fright at talk of pressure on FTX's financials, Tom Westbrook and Tom Wilson reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: Bitcoin fell as much as 6% to $19,351, its lowest in two weeks, and was on course for its worst day since mid-September.

Bitcoin, the biggest cryptocurrency by market value, fell as much as 6% to $19,351, its lowest in two weeks, and was on course for its worst day since mid-September. Ether, the next largest, fell over 5%.

FTX has come under pressure after Changpeng Zhao, head of rival exchange Binance - the world's largest - said on Sunday his firm would liquidate its holdings of the FTX token due to unspecified "recent revelations."

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried said that the exchange was "fine" and that concerns were "false rumors." However, the FTX token - which gives holders discounts on FTX trading fees - was last down almost 20% at $17.73, its lowest since early 2021.

Figures from analytics firm Nansen showed a one-day net outflow from FTX of about $630 million, suggesting account holders were also getting their money out.

"With FTT headed south, below a major support level ... (there are) massive withdrawals out of FTX, across multiple assets," said Justin d'Anethan institutional, sales director at digital asset firm Amber Group.

"It seems like investors are selling assets or withdrawing them out - probably will be a messy week."

Crypto users raised questions on Twitter last week about FTX's token, following a report from the news website CoinDesk about a leaked balance sheet from Alameda Research, a trading firm founded by Bankman-Fried that has close ties with FTX.

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