Bitcoin Breaches $2,000 as Infighting Threatens Crypto Perch

(Bloomberg) -- Bitcoin fell below $2,000 for the first time since May amid anxiety its dominant status is under threat.

As enthusiasts consider adopting competing updates to the blockchain technology that underpins the exchange method by the end of July, it has raised the possibility of the cryptocurrency splitting in two. Bitcoin has lost about a third of its since peaking at about $3,000 last month. Calls for a revamp of the software come as exchanges struggled to keep up with rising volumes while the price almost tripled this year.

Bitcoin isn’t the only one struggling as the two competing camps -- miners and developers -- are facing off over how to deal with increasing transaction times and processing fees. The 30 largest cryptocurrencies have all suffered declines over the past seven days, according to data from coinmarketcap.com. Bitcoin has lost about 20 percent of its market , while the second-biggest digital coin -- ethereum -- has lost 30 percent.

Cryptocurrency exchange GDAX said it anticipates temporarily suspending bitcoin deposits and withdrawals after the Aug. 1 software update deadline, and may also pause trading.

"In either scenario we will implement safeguards to ensure the safety of our customers’ funds," the exchange said in a July 13 post on its website. "This decision will be based on our assessment of the technical risks posed by the fork, such as replay attacks and other factors that could create network instability."

Read more on how bitcoin is perplexing analysts.

• Bitcoin fell as much as 14 percent to $1,852.19 in New York, its lowest intraday level on a weekday since May 18.
• Ethereum has plunged by more than half since its June peak, according to prices compiled by coinmarketcap.com.