The cryptocurrency market, while showing signs of maturity and gaining increasing trust from institutional investors, remains a wild and volatile place. Fortunes have been made and lost (in some cases literally) and the heart-pounding risk/reward trade-offs associated with leading cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum make them compelling commodities for investors and speculators. While Bitcoin remains firmly in place as the leading cryptocurrency in terms of value and market cap, Ethereum continues to gain momentum as a legitimate investment opportunity for some.

While Bitcoin is still hovering around $50,000 at the time of writing, Ethereum is down about $500 from its peak of around $1,900. Some are wondering if this is bad news for what some saw as Bitcoin’s first viable competitor for the cryptocurrency title.

Let’s take a look at why Ethereum is currently in a downward spiral and what it means for the future of the virtual currency.

Related: What is Ethereum and How Does it Work?