Feb 22, 202514: 35 GMT+4
BTCUSD
+0.70%
BTCUSDT
+0.69%
Wait, what is Bitcoin again?
Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency — this is, essentially, money that allows people to send and receive payments directly to each other without relying on banks or governments.
Created in 2009 by an unknown person or group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin introduced a new way to handle transactions online. It operates on a technology called blockchain, which is a public ledger that records all transactions across a network of computers. This system ensures that transactions are secure and transparent.
Initially, Bitcoin
BTCUSD
had no market value, and its first notable transaction occurred in 2010 when 10,000 BTC was exchanged for two pizzas, valuing each Bitcoin at a fraction of a cent.
However, as of February 2025, a single Bitcoin would set you back a number just shy of $100,000 dollars.
This represents the astronomical increase of almost 190,000,000% since 2009.
Bitcoin’s price chart
Several factors have contributed to this dramatic rise:
Increased adoption: Over the years, Bitcoin has gained acceptance from both individuals and institutions as a legitimate form of digital currency and investment.
Scarcity: Bitcoin’s supply is capped at 21 million coins, with the number of new coins released into the system halving every four years, creating a sense of digital scarcity that has driven demand.
Regulatory developments: Favorable regulatory changes, such as the approval of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States, have enhanced accessibility and legitimacy, attracting more investors.
Macroeconomic factors: Economic uncertainties and inflation concerns have led investors to view Bitcoin as a hedge, further boosting its appeal.
However, Bitcoin isn’t a safe bet, according to some critics. For instance, in the words of Warren Buffett: “Unlike buying stocks, bonds or real estate, buying Bitcoin is not an investment. That’s because it lacks intrinsic value.”
Indeed, Bitcoin doesn’t really have a competitive use case for transactions anymore. Transactions can take around an hour to process with exorbitant fees, while newer, faster cryptocurrencies with instant finality, such as Tether’s USDt (USDT), are far more popular among those who “use” their cryptocurrencies as intended.
Aside from scalability issues and competition from other currencies, quantum computers using Shor’s algorithm, which could arrive in as little as five years, may potentially derive private keys from public keys, allowing unauthorized access to Bitcoin funds and reducing community faith in the chain.
All it takes is for the five top holders to sell their assets in such an event, and a flood of almost 1 million Bitcoin could trigger a fire sale.
Indeed, investing in Bitcoin in any case, whether for retirement or not, is a risky game to play.
Did you know? Bitcoin is often called “digital gold” because, like gold, it has a limited supply, cannot be easily manipulated by governments, and is seen as a store of value.
Timeline of Bitcoin’s volatility
As of August 2024, Bitcoin was approximately 4.5 times more volatile than the S&P 500 and four times more volatile than gold. This heightened volatility can pose significant risks for retirement portfolios, which typically prioritize stability and predictable growth.
June 2011: The Mt. Gox hack
Event: Bitcoin suffers its first major crash due to a security breach at the Mt. Gox exchange.
Price change: Falls from approximately $32 to $0.01, a 99.9% drop.
April 2013: Market overheating
Event: Bitcoin surges to $260, attracting speculative interest and overwhelming the Mt. Gox exchange.
Price change: Drops from $260 to $50, an 83% decline.
December 2017–December 2018: The crypto winter
Event: After reaching an all-time high of $19,497 in December 2017, Bitcoin enters a prolonged bear market.
Price change: Falls by 83%, hitting a low of $3,300 in December 2018.
March 2020: COVID-19 crash
Event: Global economic panic from the COVID-19 pandemic triggers a mass sell-off in all markets, including Bitcoin.
Price change: Drops from $7,900 to below $4,000, losing over 50% in a single day.
May 2021: Market overheating and regulatory concerns
Buy this token on Web 3 for $50 and you can go up to $1,000,000
Buy contract SOL EYoQtrYaGbfCoNeSRAjfknoeBQxRxWPYVopBEg6ATnoL
Sol contract.Copy and search in Web 3 this contract and buy 100$ EYoQtrYaGbfCoNeSRAjfknoeBQxRxWPYVopBEg6ATnoL
#shorts #stockmarket #short #shortvideo #shortsvideo #bitcoin #crypto #coin #cryptonews #trading #day #daytrading #usa #america #japan #investment #altcoins #altcoin #memecoin #investor #france #germany #spain #cryptocurrency #money #trump #elonmusk #money #chartanalysis #chartpatterns
#nvda #soun #serv #aapl #tsla
00: 00 Introduction
00: 10 crypto news part 2 tapswap cod
00: 21 how to make money