Tokyo — Bitcoin plunged more than 20% to fall below $6,000 on Tuesday, its latest sharp loss following a series of setbacks, with a global stock market collapse fueling the selling. The virtual currency fell to $5,992 for the first time since mid-November, according to Bloomberg News, the latest hammering for the crypto-currency that saw a stratospheric 26-fold rise last year. Tuesday’s collapse comes just six weeks after bitcoin hit a record high of $19,511, fueled by a flood of speculators looking to make a quick buck. Since those heady days the crypto-market — which includes dozens of other units — has been pounded by news of crackdowns by governments including in China, Russia and South Korea, one of the biggest markets for the sector. On Thursday, India said it would "take all measures to eliminate" crypto-currencies’ use as part of a payment system and in funding illegitimate activities, while Japanese authorities raided a virtual currency exchange after it lost $530m to hacke...
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