VaderAI (VADER) is a decentralized platform that allows users to join various DAOs managed by AI agents or humans. 

 are currently among the hottest assets in the crypto market, with the 

 niche featuring particularly impressive growth rates. Crypto assets that power AI agents — smart entities that carry out complex tasks online, and on web3 platforms — are a subsector widely expected to expand its footprint in the industry over the coming years. 

 (VIRTUAL) has been particularly notable for its recent strong performance. It enables users to launch autonomous AI agents for various use cases, and is home to numerous tokens and solutions focused on specific applications of AI agent technology.

Among the leading assets on the Virtuals Protocol is VaderAI (VADER), whose users invest via AI agent– and human-managed 

 (VADER) is a decentralized platform that allows users to join various DAOs managed by AI agents or humans. 

These DAOs are currently focused on the investment and trading spheres, although managed DAOs in other fields are also envisioned. By investing in a DAO on the platform, users can expect returns generated via trading activities of the DAO's AI agent or human investment manager. Many VaderAI DAOs are based on tracking an index of multiple cryptocurrencies.

The VaderAI platform carefully curates each AI agent– or human-managed DAO to minimize risk for users.

VaderAI is one of the AI agent–focused solutions leveraging the 

 (VIRTUAL), a platform designed to let users easily create and deploy autonomous AI agents.

The platform has its own AI agent, VaderAI, that creates and manages several DAO-based investment indices. These are comprised of multi-token funds with different 

. Users who invest in the funds managed by the VaderAI investment agent can expect return levels commensurate with the token composition of each index. As of mid-January 2025, Vader AI offers two investment opportunities — VaderAI Small Cap and VaderAI Micro Cap. Another agent-managed index, VaderAI Mid Cap, is expected to be released soon.

Vader Fun, a component of the wider platform, lets users participate in various DAOs. It acts as the key orchestrator of the DAOs within the Vader ecosystem. There are two types of DAOs users can join on Vader Fun — passive DAOs and active DAOs. Both varieties are curated, but differ in terms of the investment strategies they pursue.

Passive DAOs focus on minimizing risk to DAO participants, while delivering consistent returns by tracking tokens that meet certain criteria in terms of their risk profiles. These DAOs meet specific criteria, such as limitation on the maximum exposure to a single token, minimum liquidity thresholds and a reference to an established benchmark. Such stipulations ensure that the tokens are highly liquid and easily tradable, making passive DAOs a safer, more stable option for participants.

In contrast, active DAOs provide more freedom to the DAO’s investment manager, whether an AI agent or a human, in terms of the strategies they might pursue.

 AI agent based on X (formerly Twitter) — VaderAI KOL. This agent regularly posts about the crypto market, provides investment insights and delivers news on the performance of the DAOs within the VaderAI ecosystem.

VaderAI KOL established an account on X in November 2024, and in just three months has gained nearly 30,000 followers. One intriguing feature of the VaderAI KOL agent is the functionality to programmatically tweet about coins airdropped into its wallet. This can be useful for token creators who want to feature their assets as sponsored posts. 

 (SOL)–based network addresses to receive token airdrops for sponsored tweets.

VaderAI’s native crypto, VADER, is a token issued on both the 

 chain and Solana. VADER is primarily used for 

, through which users can earn additional rewards and gain access to exclusive offers and opportunities.

VADER was issued in November 2024, with no supply lockup periods or other limitations on circulation. The token’s current total and circulating supply is 996,739,513, and its maximum supply is specified at 1 billion. While most of the supply is publicly available, 36% is reserved by the project's team for marketing and platform development purposes.

VaderAI is another innovative AI agent–focused platform launched via the increasingly popular Virtuals Protocol. Investment DAOs managed by curated AI agents are an intriguing concept that may find more adoption in the future, depending upon how successful these agents are at managing their DAO members' funds. 

If the investor community sees healthy returns from VaderAI's DAOs, the platform will establish itself as a significant AI-driven investment manager within web3. Additionally, as VaderAI develops, agent-driven DAOs may find use cases well beyond the crypto finance sphere, specializing in activities like gaming, social media community-building and more.

Intermediate

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VaderAI by Virtuals (VADER): Orchestrating DAOs and AI Leadership

pSTAKE Finance is a BTC yield and liquid staking protocol offering two products — fixed-yield Earn for retail users and YBTC LSTs for institutions. Learn more.

 in crypto, but one major obstacle for many investors is the lack of liquidity for staked assets. Staked tokens are locked up, preventing users from accessing or using their holdings in other activities. pSTAKE Finance is changing this dynamic by enabling an innovative liquid staking solution for BTC. This article dives into pSTAKE Finance, how it enables Bitcoin liquid staking on Babylon and its potential as an investment opportunity.

 is a Bitcoin yield and liquid staking protocol that offers two products — fixed-yield Earn for retail users and YBTC for institutions. These two products address distinct user needs, enhancing accessibility for both segments.

pSTAKE Finance is designed to solve one of the most pressing challenges in the cryptocurrency staking ecosystem: making Bitcoin yield-generating with Bitcoin Staking. Traditionally, 

 requires users to lock their assets, thus preventing them from being used for other financial activities. pSTAKE addresses this limitation by providing tailored solutions for both retail and institutional users, enabling them to earn reliable Bitcoin yields while retaining flexibility.

 protocol designed to provide reliable Bitcoin yields through staking on 

. It addresses two core user groups — retail users and institutions — with tailored solutions that make Bitcoin staking secure, accessible and rewarding.

For Retail Users: Fixed-Yield Earn Product

Retail users can access a fixed-yield product similar to 

). By depositing BTC into the pSTAKE platform, users earn staking rewards through Babylon's secure infrastructure. This solution is designed to make Bitcoin staking straightforward and accessible, even for users new to 

 (DeFi). Rewards are boosted through PSTAKE incentives, enhancing the appeal of this option for retail participants seeking passive income.

For institutional users, pSTAKE provides a noncustodial Bitcoin 

 token is backed 1:1 by BTC and supports LayerZero 

, making it accessible across Ethereum, BNB Chain and 

. YBTC offers additional yield opportunities through advanced DeFi strategies, such as 

 and liquidity farming, ensuring flexibility and profitability for institutions managing large-scale Bitcoin holdings.

pSTAKE enables users to stake native BTC directly on the Bitcoin network, minimizing risks and eliminating the need for 

 or third-party custody. This design ensures security and simplicity in the staking process.

Institutions staking BTC receive YBTC, a liquid ERC-20 token that represents their staked assets. YBTC is fully backed by Bitcoin, maintaining liquidity and allowing holders to trade or deploy it in DeFi protocols for additional returns. pSTAKE empowers Institutions to generate yield on their Bitcoin while they maintain full custody over their assets, a key differentiator for Institutional Bitcoin Staking.

’s interoperability standard, YBTC can operate seamlessly across multiple chains. This functionality unifies BTCFi use cases and provides greater flexibility for DeFi integration.

pSTAKE relies on Babylon’s robust security-sharing protocol that leverages Bitcoin’s battle-tested 

 (PoW) network. By converting BTC into slashable assets, Babylon deters malicious behavior, ensuring the safety of staked assets.

The pSTAKE Finance team has achieved remarkable milestones, including several innovative solutions, and outlined the following ambitious plans for the future.

The year 2024 was a transformative one for pSTAKE, marked by significant achievements in both product innovation and ecosystem growth. The protocol launched its Bitcoin liquid staking solution on Babylon, becoming the first such platform to accept native BTC deposits. This was accompanied by the introduction of a noncustodial Bitcoin staking product tailored for institutions, reinforcing pSTAKE’s commitment to security and flexibility.

Key integrations with Binance, Bybit, OKX and Bitget have enabled seamless Bitcoin staking through pSTAKE’s 

 wallets, while support for both UniSat Wallet and Leather Bitcoin wallet has further expanded accessibility. These efforts have fueled remarkable development, with pSTAKE achieving 9X growth in 

The PSTAKE token also reached new heights, debuting on 

 and Blast. The “Stake PSTAKE, Earn BTC” feature launched on Base L2, with over 6.4 million tokens staked, showcasing strong user engagement. Additionally, PSTAKE became the first BTCFi token to launch on Binance Alpha, setting a benchmark for the sector.

Looking ahead, pSTAKE is poised to solidify its leadership in the BTCFi ecosystem with a product-led growth strategy. The focus will be on offering two distinct solutions: a simple fixed-yield product for retail users, and a tailored Bitcoin LST for institutions and 

. This approach ensures that pSTAKE can address diverse user needs while still driving sustainable growth. Key objectives for 2025 include the following.

With its clear vision and ambitious road map, pSTAKE is well-positioned to lead the BTCFi revolution, empowering users to unlock the full potential of their Bitcoin assets.

The PSTAKE token drives governance and incentives within the pSTAKE protocol. By holding and staking PSTAKE, users play an active role in guiding the protocol's future, thereby contributing to its security and long-term success. The token also rewards core contributors for their efforts while discouraging harmful actions that could undermine the system.

Launched with a total supply of 500 million tokens, PSTAKE's distribution is carefully designed to prioritize decentralized governance and provide fair incentives for key contributors who drive the protocol forward.

 $0.12611 by 2025, $0.079072 by 2026 and $0.156502 by 2030, indicating a promising rise over the long term. DigitalCoinPrice is slightly more optimistic, 

 of $0.0981 by 2025, $0.12 by 2026 and $0.25 by 2030. 

However, Gate.io is weighing in with more conservative estimates, forecasting an average price of $0.0479 for 2025, $0.05197 for 2026 and $0.10 by 2030. These outlooks reflect the different factors considered by each platform, but all of them signal that PSTAKE could see steady growth in the years ahead.

While these projections offer a range of perspectives, several fundamental drivers could influence PSTAKE's future value:

Looking to trade pSTAKE Finance tokens? Bybit now offers the PSTAKE/USDT Spot trading pair. To get started, simply create an account on Bybit, fund it with cryptocurrency and navigate to the 

PSTAKE Finance presents a unique solution by enabling liquid staking across multiple blockchains. Backed by Binance Labs and supported by major investors like Sequoia Capital, DeFiance Capital and Galaxy Digital, the protocol aims to address the liquidity issues associated with staking by issuing YBTC, which can be traded or used in DeFi applications. This innovation allows every day retail users and institutions to generate yield on their Bitcoin, positioning pSTAKE as a key player in BTCFi. Its road map includes further integrations , TVL growth, and increased accessibility to the PSTAKE Token and its staking utility, adding to its growing appeal.

Price forecasts for PSTAKE show potential long-term growth, with estimates ranging from $0.0479 in 2025 to $0.25 by 2030. The protocol’s solid partnerships and decentralized governance model further strengthen its prospects. Its strategic approach to tokenomics and its expansion into key blockchain ecosystems firmly position PSTAKE to become an essential tool for crypto investors looking to maximize their returns while maintaining flexibility. 

However, as with any investment, there are inherent risks, and past performance isn’t indicative of future results. Investors should carefully consider their risk tolerance and 

pSTAKE Finance champions the solution of BTCFi yields with Bitcoin Staking on Babylon across various blockchains. Its future-focused road map and strong partnerships make it an intriguing option for investors seeking passive income in the crypto space. However, as with any investment, investors should tread with caution.

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pSTAKE Finance (PSTAKE): Higher Yields With BTC Liquid Staking

Dive into Story, a Layer 1 blockchain built to tokenize global intellectual property (IP), a multitrillion-dollar industry.

Despite the fact that global intangible assets' value 

 in 2023, existing blockchains aren’t suitable for efficiently handling intellectual property (IP) management. Story aims to change this with the world's first 

 (L1) chain that’s been specifically built for IP. In this article, you’ll learn what Story is, who founded and invested in the project, how it works and what its ecosystem looks like. Let's get started!

 is a Layer 1 blockchain network built purposely for intellectual property (IP). Tapping into a multitrillion-dollar industry, it tokenizes IP, such as 

, AI models, songs and image rights, and embeds attributions, royalty agreements and usage terms directly into its chain. As a decentralized and transparent solution for intellectual property management, Story offers IP holders enhanced IP protection, seamless collaboration and access to new revenue opportunities. The project's intentional blockchain comes in especially handy in today's increasingly AI-powered economy.

The Story protocol aims to provide an effective solution to the lack of rightful compensation for IP owners who share their work online. Even if their works become valuable and popular, original creators are not fairly rewarded or even credited for their ideas. Artificial intelligence (AI) models are trained on (and produce) copyrighted data, yet the current IP system can't keep up with the massive popularity of AI-generated media. To avoid discouraging creators from sharing their ideas with the world, Story has implemented built-in protections in its L1 chain to automatically credit IP owners, and to ensure they receive fair compensation for their work.

Story was founded in 2022 by Jason Levy, Jason Zhao and Seung Yoon Lee to address the growing challenges between IP, creativity and AI.

To date, Story has raised $134.3 million in funds across three rounds. Its most notable investors include Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Samsung Next, Mirana, Polychain Capital and Endeavor. Among these backers, a16z has played the most significant role, with the venture capital fund leading all three of the IP blockchain's funding rounds.

 software development kit (SDK) and is fully compatible with the 

. Its purpose-built blockchain leverages the unique 

 to enable anyone to on-ramp their IP to Story. Once registered on-chain, IP Assets (IPAs) are represented in the form of blockchain-based ERC-721 NFTs. If intellectual property resides in the off-chain world, owners can first mint their NFTs and then register them afterward. Each IPA consists of an on-chain NFT and an associated IP account in 

Despite being on-chain, Story enforces IPA terms and minted License Tokens via an off-chain legal contract called the 

 (PIL). Together with the Proof-of-Creativity protocol, PIL makes all registered IP programmable, enabling automated licensing and rights management via Story. It’s a real, off-chain legal contract that defines specific license terms for the legal licensing of IP Assets.

Story uses a wide range of modules for managing and enforcing IP rights, including the following.

You can find out more about how Story works by visiting the project's 

 of the Agent Transaction Control Protocol for Intellectual Property (Agent TCP/IP). It’s an experimental framework that enables agents to trade IP with each other. Examples include training data, investment strategies, creative style and more, which agents can exchange and monetize autonomously. Born as the result of a weeklong sprint at Story's skunkworks AI Agent Lab, Agent TCP/IP was developed in collaboration with organizations and individuals, such as Virtuals, Zerebro's ZerePy and ai16z's Eliza.

Story's ever-growing ecosystem includes numerous partners and participants. With use cases ranging from art and AI models to storytelling and fashion, some of the most notable players in Story's network are the AI storytelling platform Sekai, the Mahojin Remix AI Layer , the Color IP marketplace and the intellectual property-focused Telegram Koni Story mini app. You can learn more about Story's ecosystem 

Story takes a unique approach to intellectual property management, addressing key challenges in attribution, licensing and fair compensation in an AI-driven economy. With its purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain, the platform enables creators to tokenize and protect their IP while unlocking new revenue opportunities.

Backed by nearly $135 million in funding and supported by major investors like a16z crypto and Samsung Next, Story is well-positioned to take a leading role in the evolution of digital rights management. As it moves toward its mainnet launch in Q1 2025, Story’s innovative features and ever-growing ecosystem are set to redefine the way we create, license and monetize intellectual property.

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Story: The World's First IP Blockchain

Experienced traders who become Copy Trading Gold&FX Master Traders share their trading expertise, allowing Followers to automatically copy their positions.

Want to monetize your trading expertise and build a following in the forex and commodities markets? Bybit's Copy Trading Gold&FX platform enables skilled traders to earn profit-sharing rewards by letting others automatically copy their trading strategies.

But what exactly is a Master Trader, and how can you get started? This guide breaks down what Gold&FX Master Trading is, its benefits, key requirements, how to apply — and whether it's the right path for your trading career.

–based copy trading system that enables investors to automatically replicate the trading strategies of experienced traders across forex, commodities and market indices.

With MT5's professional infrastructure, Master Traders can execute positions that are automatically copied by their Followers while earning up to 15% profit share from successful trades. This creates a mutually beneficial environment in which expertise is rewarded while newer traders access established strategies.

Who Is a Bybit Copy Trading Gold&FX Master Trader?

A Gold&FX Master Trader is an experienced trader who shares their trading expertise on Bybit's MT5 platform, allowing Followers to automatically copy their positions in forex, indices and commodities markets. Master Traders can earn up to 15% profit share from their Followers' successful trades, with shares distributed weekly.

Benefits of Being a Bybit Copy Trading Gold&FX Master Trader

Master Traders on Bybit Copy Trading Gold&FX can earn the following benefits.

Master Traders are able to monetize their expertise by earning up to 15% profit share from their Followers' trades. Since success and Follower growth directly increase earning potential, this creates opportunities for substantial passive income.

The platform implements a High water mark (HWM) principle for profit distribution, releasing rewards only when trading results surpass previous performance peaks. Profit shares are calculated weekly and distributed every Sunday at midnight (MT5 server time, which is UTC+3 during DST, UTC+2 during Standard Time).

Master Traders have access to a comprehensive suite of traditional financial markets, including forex pairs, commodities and indices. This diverse range of trading instruments enables them to diversify strategies and broaden trading opportunities across multiple asset classes.

Master Traders can start with one Follower, and scale up to 300 concurrent Followers as they demonstrate consistent performance. This progression allows Master Traders to build their reputations, increasing profit-sharing income as they prove their expertise.

The MetaTrader 5 platform delivers institutional-grade infrastructure with 

, comprehensive market analysis features and high-speed execution capabilities. This trading environment enables Master Traders to execute strategies and analyze market opportunities with professional precision.

Master Traders can adjust their profit-sharing ratio at any time to optimize strategies based on market conditions and Follower engagement. The platform handles all technical aspects of 

, allowing Master Traders to fully focus on executing trading strategies.

What to Know Before Applying to Be a Bybit Copy Trading Gold&FX Master Trader

Following are the key requirements and considerations for becoming a Master Trader.

How to Apply to Become a Bybit Copy Trading Gold&FX Master Trader

The application process consists of two main phases: submitting your application, and setting up your MT5 account. Carefully follow the steps below to become a Master Trader.

 and log in to your Bybit account. If you don’t have a Bybit Subaccount, click on the profile icon, select 

and create a new Subaccount, following the on-screen instructions.

: After you’ve created a Subaccount, hover your cursor over the 

. This will take you to the Master Trader application page.

: Read the Master Trader Agreement carefully, and check the box stating 

I have understood and agreed to the above agreement

: Fill in the following required information:

: Review all information, and check (✓) the box to agree to MT5 Terms and Conditions. Then, click on 

: In the confirmation window, review the information and click on 

: Once your application is successful, you’ll receive an approval email. Open it, and click on the 

 link in the email to create a new password.

 to set your MT5 Account password. If you haven’t already done so, set up Google Authentication on your Gold&FX Master Trader Subaccount by following this 

: Select the type of password you’d like to reset. The pop-up window has two options:

 and click on the download icon to install MT5 on your device. 

: Set up Google Authentication for your Gold&FX Master Trader Subaccount (if you haven’t already done so). Then, follow the security setup guide provided by Bybit.

: Once you’ve successfully downloaded MT5, launch the application, and log in with your credentials. Then, verify access to trading features.

Congratulations! You are now a Gold&FX Master Trader. Switch to your Gold&FX Master Trader Subaccount and MT5 Account to start Copy Trading.

Should You Apply to Be a Bybit Copy Trading Gold&FX Master Trader?

Applying to become a Gold&FX Master Trader is worth considering if you:

Before applying, carefully evaluate your trading experience and commitment level. While no prior performance record is required, your success as a Master Trader will depend upon maintaining consistent returns and building trust with your Followers.

Bybit Copy Trading Gold&FX transforms trading expertise into a scalable business opportunity through its Master Trader program. With detailed platform resources, profit-sharing potential and room for growth, Bybit Copy Trading Gold&FX provides a clear path to building a meaningful presence in traditional financial markets.

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Bybit Copy Trading Gold&FX Master Trader: Your Path to Elite Earnings

Bitcoin

Investing

Bitcoin has been a lucrative investment for many, but its volatility makes it prudent to delve into comprehensive research and employ risk management strategies when investing in it.

 launched in January 2009, it’s turned many people into millionaires and has even created a handful of billionaires through their well-timed buy and sell transactions. More than that, Bitcoin has gained prominence as the future of 

 (DeFi) and has been adopted by many as a functional currency. Based on its astounding 

, Bitcoin is by far the most prominent cryptocurrency today and is often the focus of investors' interests.

Nevertheless, as is true with all digital currencies, Bitcoin is highly volatile, presenting investors with the chance for extraordinary profits as well as the significant risk of substantial loss. Bitcoin's price dropped by over 10% in August 2023 to $26,000, making it the worst month for the year. Additionally, Bitcoin's price plummeted to $16,000 in 2022, 75% below its all-time high of over $69,000.

With these factors in mind, we’ll explore whether Bitcoin is a good investment in 2023.

Bitcoin is the world's first successful cryptocurrency, created by a pseudonymous individual(s), 

, in January 2009. Developed as an alternative to fiat money, its decentralized nature empowers users with control over their wealth without relying on centralized institutions such as banks.

Bitcoin achieves decentralized consensus through its use of the 

 (PoW) consensus mechanism, which involves competing miners using the power of computers to solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate and confirm transactions and add them to the blockchain. This PoW mechanism ensures the integrity and security of the network.

Bitcoin is distinct from traditional investment options that you may be more familiar with, such as stocks and commodities. Unlike corporate stocks, which represent ownership in a centralized business entity that generates revenue from its products or services, Bitcoin isn’t a tangible, raw material. Instead, its core function is as a decentralized digital currency.

From a utility perspective, Bitcoin presents a transformative potential in the financial world by leveraging decentralized 

 to validate and secure its transactions. For example, Bitcoin transactions occur directly between users, without needing a third-party intermediary such as banks, which helps facilitate smoother, faster cross-border transactions. In addition, transactions recorded on the blockchain are immutable, which means they cannot be altered or reversed. These characteristics offer a high level of payment security and help to prevent fraud.

Yet, while Bitcoin is increasingly employed as a medium for purchasing goods and services, its adoption for such real-world transactions remains in its early stages. Some individuals may use Bitcoin for real-world transactions or as a potentially lucrative investment, but those in the broader crypto community mainly invest in Bitcoin to support the evolution of the crypto industry and the wider adoption of digital currencies.

There’s a fixed supply of Bitcoin’s native token, BTC. Specifically, the maximum supply is locked at 

. Currently, 19.48 million BTC are in circulation. Because of the limited supply of BTC tokens, Bitcoin’s value is solidly rooted in the fundamental economic principle of supply and demand. As demand for BTC increases, upward pressure raises the price. However, when demand decreases, the price of BTC correspondingly decreases.

Fiat currencies, which are widely used around the world, are also subject to price fluctuations based on supply and demand. However, banking systems can create more money, such as by extending credit to borrowers. In addition, governments can print more money. Both of these activities play a role in the value of fiat currencies, but these factors aren’t at play in determining Bitcoin’s value.

As a digital currency, Bitcoin has a few key characteristics.

With a fixed supply of BTC and with most of those tokens already in circulation, the scarcity of BTC plays a direct role in the value of this digital asset. In addition, Bitcoin has a halving event approximately every four years, after which the reward received by the network's miners is halved. After the 

, the payout to miners will be cut from the current 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC.

Halving plays a key role in contracting supply, and has historically had a profound impact on Bitcoin’s price. For example, the 2012 event took BTC’s price from $12.53 to $126 just five months after the halving. In 2016, the price went from $650.87 to $763.91, and in 2020, Bitcoin's price rose from $8,852.62 to $11,286.54.

Some strategy advisors suggest purchasing BTC roughly six months before a halving event and holding it for at least six months afterward. However, while BTC’s price has historically increased after halving events, it’s crucial to understand that all crypto investments are risky. There is no guarantee that the next halving event will yield the same impact on price as the previous ones.

 that entails solving complex mathematical equations to verify transactions, thereby consuming a substantial amount of electricity. This results in high operating costs because electricity drives the equipment necessary to mine Bitcoin — and to mitigate the heat that the mining machines produce. The combination of immense energy consumption and resultant high costs of Bitcoin mining creates a steep entry barrier to newcomers, ultimately driving up the price of Bitcoin.

As of Sep 12, 2023, Bitcoin remains the largest cryptocurrency based on 

, the second largest cryptocurrency, boasts a market cap of $189.95 billion. While Ethereum hasn’t yet surpassed Bitcoin's market cap, some crypto enthusiasts believe that the so-called 

Ethereum's recent transition from PoW to 

 (PoS) network, known as The Merge, positions it as a front-runner in the realm of 

 platforms. Those monitoring the possibility of a Flippening note that Ethereum has already surpassed Bitcoin’s number of transactions and amount of transaction fees paid — significant indicators of its growing utility and adoption.

Nonetheless, Bitcoin’s market cap has continued to rise alongside Ethereum’s, and the upcoming halving event will likely reinforce Bitcoin’s dominance.

The value of Bitcoin is heavily influenced by public interest, and both word of mouth and media coverage drive public interest. Interest in Bitcoin investing tends to accelerate rapidly when the price is trending upward. As more people invest in Bitcoin, the price increases further. Eventually, such speculation and grand hopes of getting rich quickly lead to a 

Short-term investors looking for a quick profit complete Bitcoin transactions rapidly at the first sign of a mass selloff, hoping to lock in what profit their Bitcoin investment has produced. 

Historically, the media has picked up on rapid rises in the price of Bitcoin. This can create an even greater frenzy in Bitcoin investing, even among those with minimal interest in the cryptocurrency market. However, just as the media begins to cover stories about rapid price increases, it also reports price drops —which contribute to panic selling, resulting in tremendous price decreases. In this way, public interest and media coverage can both feed into Bitcoin price surges and declines. 

A Closer Look at Bitcoin's Historical Performance

For cryptocurrency investors wondering if Bitcoin is a good investment, a review of its historical performance can be helpful.

In recent years, inflation and the printing of more U.S. dollars have contributed to increased interest in investing in the cryptocurrency market, due to Bitcoin's reputation as 

Bitcoin's strong market cap, investor demand and scarcity drove it to reach its all-time high of $69,000 in 2021. However, the volatility of the cryptocurrency market has yielded sharp declines in BTC’s price as well. For example, in November 2022, BTC fell to a low of $16,000 after the 

 brought about by several crises, most notably the 

Throughout its history, Bitcoin's price has been substantially influenced by overbuying and overselling. Those who invest in Bitcoin often focus heavily on market sentiment and media influence. However, volatility represents opportunities for significant profits among short-term investors. Additionally, Bitcoin’s price grew by an astounding 37,000% between 2013 and 2023, making it a potentially lucrative long-term investment as well.

As with other digital currencies, Bitcoin’s price took a deep plunge in 2022. Specifically, its market value declined by 65% in 2022, falling to $16,000 in November. Numerous macroeconomic factors took their toll on the crypto market in 2022, particularly the FTX debacle and the Terra/Luna crash.

The very first catalyst was the Terra/Luna crash in May 2022, when the third largest stablecoin, 

 (UST), depegged from the U.S. Dollar, dropping to a price of $0.035 on May 9. A few days later, its sister token, 

, which was meant to help maintain the price of UST, fell in value from almost $80 to barely a few cents. When Terra/Luna collapsed, it produced a 

The crypto market faced another devastating crisis in November 2022 with the collapse of one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, FTX, which filed for bankruptcy due to a combination of liquidity crunch, large withdrawal volume and fund mismanagement. The FTX downfall resulted in an estimated 

The ripple effects of these two crises raised the overall 

 (fear, uncertainty and doubt) as investors began to view crypto as a highly volatile and speculative asset, contributing to lower risk tolerance.

On Aug 1, 2023, the price of BTC was $29,233. It then fell to $26,042 on Aug 19. Several factors 

For example, SpaceX had reportedly sold a substantial amount (or possibly all) of its Bitcoin holdings, amounting to $373 million, early in the month. Additionally, the expectation of another Fed interest rate hike in the near future and increasing government bond yields may have contributed to negative crypto sentiment. Outside of the U.S., the devaluation of the Chinese yuan and the property crisis brought about by the downfall of Chinese property giant Evergrande produced downward pressure on Bitcoin's price.

While BTC is currently priced lower than its high of $30,000 in early 2023, this may actually be positive news for those interested in investing in it. Bitcoin has had numerous price dips throughout its history that have always been followed by substantial price increases. Given that a halving event will occur in April 2024, the current price dip could represent a fantastic opportunity to buy Bitcoin for a future profit.

Before investing in BTC, however, it’s essential to conduct both 

 to make more informed investment decisions. Bitcoin’s historical performance doesn’t necessarily guarantee that its price will rise again in the future, and numerous factors may create upward or downward pressure on its price. In addition, given the volatility of the crypto market, investors must practice caution by investing only what they can afford to lose.

Given Bitcoin’s volatile nature, it’s wise to proceed prudently with your investment in order to mitigate the risk of financial loss.

One way to reduce your risk exposure is to allocate a small portion of your total portfolio to your Bitcoin investment. Generally, a 1% allocation is a relatively low-risk investment, while investing up to 30% of your portfolio exposes you to a much more sizable loss if you sell Bitcoin at an inopportune time. Also, consider extending your portfolio to include stocks, bonds, real estate and other types of assets.

Buying low and selling high is the key to profiting from any investment, but this tack is particularly challenging in a highly volatile market. A proven way to tackle this challenge is with 

. Rather than investing a large amount at one time and hoping you hit the dip at its lowest point, you can make smaller purchases at regular intervals. 

It’s also essential to choose the right 

 to store your Bitcoin (hot wallet vs. cold wallet). A hot wallet is accessible on your phone or computer via the internet, and is typically provided by crypto exchanges. In contrast, a cold wallet lets you store your crypto assets offline. The accessibility of a hot wallet appeals to many investors, but the enhanced security of a cold wallet has considerable benefits as well. When choosing a cryptocurrency exchange for your Bitcoin transactions, it’s important to research the type(s) of wallet it supports. 

 allow investors to profit from investing in Bitcoin without actually needing to own the volatile asset. A Bitcoin ETF is a pool of funds from numerous investors that tracks and mirrors Bitcoin pricing, and is traded on prominent stock exchanges. Nevertheless, because Bitcoin ETFs are traded freely on an exchange, similar to stocks, their pricing can sometimes diverge from Bitcoin's actual net asset value.

 facilitate the purchase of Bitcoin, exchange Bitcoin for fiat currencies and are commonly located in major population centers worldwide. These ATMs function in the same way that traditional ATMs do, so you can expect absolute convenience with their speed and ease of use. However, they charge steep transaction fees of up to 20%, and offer little to no customer support when problems or questions arise.

As the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, Bitcoin is available for purchase on numerous cryptocurrency exchanges. Each cryptocurrency exchange has unique features and benefits that can directly affect your investment experience. One leading exchange is Bybit, highly regarded for its security measures. For example, Bybit has enhanced security functions to ensure the 

. Bybit also offers over 100 different cryptocurrencies, and more than 300 

Bybit’s intuitive dashboard makes it easy to buy Bitcoin. After 

, you can complete secure, quick purchases and trades without hassle. In addition, you can hold your bitcoins in an attached wallet or 

Is Bitcoin a Good Investment? [2024 Edition]

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards