Over the weekend, Bitcoin lost $87.8 billion in market value, while Ethereum shed $46.4 billion. Despite the sharp decline, Bitcoin is still up 77% in the past year, with Dogecoin gaining 122%.

The crypto market saw significant drops over the weekend, with Dogecoin falling 13.5% and Solana dropping 11%. Ethereum slid 8.5% and Bitcoin saw a 3.8% cut in just four days.

Ethereum and Bitcoin’s smaller moves made larger waves, erasing billions from their market values. The weekend’s broad crypto retreat was driven by profit-taking and Federal interest rate news.

The crypto market tends to follow four-year cycles, fueled by Bitcoin halving events. The previous cycle started in 2020, soared in 2021, and dipped in 2022 due to economic crises.

Institutional investors and corporations are increasingly exposed to crypto, with the potential for new ETFs and Web3 applications to boost demand.

While there are bullish catalysts in the crypto market, risks remain, including the newness of cryptocurrencies and the threat of quantum computing breaking encryption.

The weekend’s price drop was likely a healthy correction in the early stages of the fourth cycle. Leading coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana are expected to weather volatility in the long run.

Consider the risks before investing in Bitcoin, as legendary investors like Warren Buffett question the value of digital coins. Quantum computing poses a future threat to crypto security.

It’s too early to predict a crypto winter, with unexpected price drops being part of the volatile nature of the market. In the long run, leading cryptocurrencies are expected to perform well.

Read more at Nasdaq: Is the Crypto Market About to See a Massive Downturn?