The coin on Friday fell as much as 3.5% to trade at $45,658

This month for the world’s largest cryptocurrency has been the worst December since 2013.Bitcoin is ringing out a banner year with a rocky finish.

The largest cryptocurrency by market value is on pace to close out December with a 19% drop, its largest monthly loss since May. That’s also its worst December since 2013. And its 59% advance in 2021 marks its smallest gain for an up year since 2015, when it advanced 36%. The coin on Friday fell as much as 3.5% to trade at $45,658.That it had a breakout year, though, is now settled debate after Bitcoin and the wider crypto world spent 2021 pushing further into the mainstream and capturing more attention from finance professionals and the public at large. Those watching Bitcoin’s daily gyrations say all of it is par for the course — the coin is famous for its volatility and this year proved just as choppy as any other.