Everyone knows this. Nobody talks about it.

The 3 things that keep any currency working.

1. Drug Trade.
2. Sex Trade.
3. Gambling.

The main issue right now isn't that people can't get USD into bitcoin... it's that vendors are having issues getting it out... this is making them increase prices to cover the inconvience... which is driving the market price down.

The other issue is that whenever the hash rate grows we have more downward pressure because coins are being created at a faster rate. If the target is 14 days... and hash rate it growing by 10% you have difficulty adjustment in 12.6 days instead of 14. That's 15% more coin that can be sold/traded by miners.

It will right itself soon - people are starting to recall that mining is all about power consumption.