Cryptocurrency bitcoin plunged Thursday night after a weekslong rally, while other crypto coins also posted double-digit percentage declines. The precipitous fall raised the alarm about aother epic bust, like the one three years ago.

The bitcoin price slid as much as 12.25 percent to $16,374, before settling at $17,226, down 7.69 percent, according to Dunamu, operator of local cryptocurrency exchange Upbit.

The price of bitcoin soared near a record high of $19,511 in the early Thursday trading session, but took a nosedive suddenly later at night. It has been on an upward trend this year, growing from $7,385 on Jan 1 to $19,299 on Nov. 24.

Despite the drop, some market experts say the digital coins just went through short-term corrections.

“Since it can be traded online with ease, bitcoin is being favored as an alternative asset by the young generation,” said an official from the financial sector, adding, “The trading volume of the digital coin could further increase, considering the prolonged coronavirus pandemic.”

Other coins also slumped, with ethereum and ripple falling as much as 15.74 percent and 15.95 percent, respectively.

"Digitalization is picking up the pace in people‘s daily lives, reshaping the global economy and industries,” said Park Sang-hyun, an analyst from local brokerage HI Investment & Securities, “In tandem with the trend, cryptocurrencies, like bitcoin, are being reevaluated.”

Some of the drives behind the recent crypto rally before Thursday’s sudden drop include participation of traditional businesses in the crypto market, including those in the commerce sector, the election of Joe Biden as US president, the ongoing virus crisis and the emergence of decentralized finance.

Dunamu, which held an online conference Thursday in Seoul, also drew a rosy picture about the digital coin market down the road.

“Although bitcoin skyrocketed in recent weeks, its price has steadily increased from earlier this year,” said Lee Sir-goo, CEO of the crypto coin exchange, offering his thoughts on the bitcoin price jump in the past weeks.

“The digital coin has been traded as a type of asset overseas, and therefore, its value seems to have been increasing,” said the CEO, adding, “I agree with positive outlooks of some foreign financial institutes on digital coins.”

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)