What was a significant impact of the financial crisis in 2008 on money markets?

The financial crisis of 2008 had a profound impact on money markets, particularly leading to a mass exit of investors from prime money-market funds. During this period, the perceived stability and security of these funds were severely undermined due to the exposure of many financial institutions to toxic assets and the broader economic uncertainty. Investors, faced with fears of default and liquidity issues, began withdrawing their funds from prime money-market accounts, moving instead to safer assets, such as government money-market funds.

This shift was significant as prime money-market funds typically invested in low-rated corporate debt, which was deemed risky during the crisis. Consequently, this mass exit reflected a loss of confidence in the financial system and stressed the importance of liquidity. The crisis resulted in a temporary suspension of normal functioning in the money markets, leading to further measures by the government and central banks to stabilize the economy and restore investor confidence. In contrast, other statements do not accurately capture the prevailing sentiment and actions taken by investors during the crisis period as effectively.