have crypto currencies hurt gold miner's performance ? There have been arguments that crypto currencies are draining some demand from the gold mining industry since it is competing for the same investor base. In the short term, this may be the case, but crypto currencies have only been around for 8 years, so it is too early to determine if they can stand the test of time. There is a growing concern amongst sovereign governments that crypto currencies are being used for nefarious activities such as money laundering and tax avoidance. The fear of government crack downs on the crypto currencies is depressing market prices. JP Morgan's ridicule of the crypto eco system is not helping market sentiment either. We never understood crypto currency mining so we have avoided transacting in this sector altogether. There is now a huge pool of capital in the crypto currency markets and given all the internet hacking risks, gold seems inherently more stable and secure. :)