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Should I sell my Bitcoin now that the price has doubled in just one year?
A lot of Bitcoin owners no doubt have been asking themselves that question of late, given the rapid rise in the Bitcoin price since early December.
In the past four weeks the price of Bitcoin rocketed 48%, from $775 to $1,150, until pulling back yesterday (Thursday) into the $950 range. Today (Friday) the digital currency has slipped further to about $900. But the Bitcoin price is still 16% higher than it was Dec. 1, and more than double the price on Jan. 1, 2016.
Returns like that typically have investors thinking it may be time for some profit-taking. After all, how often does an investment double in one year?
Those who bought at much lower prices - the digital currency traded below $300 through most of 2015 and below $500 through the first five months of 2016 - may also be tempted to sell their Bitcoin now.
Related: How to Buy Bitcoins - The Money Morning Guide
It's hard to argue with profits of between 100% and 200%.
And anyone remotely familiar with Bitcoin remembers what happened the last time Bitcoin traded over $1,000, in the fall of 2013. The Bitcoin bubble burst, causing huge losses for those that bought at the top as the price skidded to below $200 over the next year.
Fears that will happen again make a compelling case that it's time to sell Bitcoin.
But another major collapse isn't likely...
Don't Sell Bitcoin Out of Bubble Fears
Much has changed in the past three years. The 2013 episode was brought about by a combination of media hype, wild speculation, a lack of oversight, and thinly traded markets.
For one thing, most Bitcoin trading back then was done on the troubled Mt. Gox exchange, which imploded in early 2014. Today's Bitcoin exchanges are much better run. The Winklevoss twins' Gemini exchange, for example, is fully compliant with government regulations.
On the Chinese Bitcoin exchanges, where most Bitcoin is traded, the volume is 37 times higher now than it was then, creating a more stable market better able to determine prices.
Finally, Bitcoin has become more mainstream. In 2013 the digital currency was still dominated by technophiles, libertarians, and those who used the anonymous transactions in criminal pursuits. Since then a much larger and more diverse array of users have joined the Bitcoin community, including venture capitalists, the big banks, and rank-and-file citizens from around the world.
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In addition, it's worth noting that since bottoming in early 2015, the Bitcoin price trend has moved higher. Although there have been pullbacks after other spikes, each time the price of Bitcoin has consolidated at a significantly higher level.
For example, in late May-early June, the Bitcoin price jumped from $450 to more than $750. In the weeks that followed, the price of Bitcoin remained volatile but never fell below $550. Eventually it consolidated around $600.
The current sharp pullback is most likely the beginning of a similar process, with the Bitcoin price consolidating at a significantly higher level than where this rally started.
Still, the impulse to sell Bitcoin is strong when you've doubled or tripled your money.
Here's why investors should consider hanging onto Bitcoin despite their big gains...
Why Selling Bitcoin Now Could Be a Mistake
About the Author
David Zeiler, Associate Editor for Money Morning at Money Map Press, has been a journalist for more than 35 years, including 18 spent at The Baltimore Sun. He has worked as a writer, editor, and page designer at different times in his career. He's interviewed a number of well-known personalities - ranging from punk rock icon Joey Ramone to Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak.
Over the course of his journalistic career, Dave has covered many diverse subjects. Since arriving at Money Morning in 2011, he has focused primarily on technology. He's an expert on both Apple and cryptocurrencies. He started writing about Apple for The Sun in the mid-1990s, and had an Apple blog on The Sun's web site from 2007-2009. Dave's been writing about Bitcoin since 2011 - long before most people had even heard of it. He even mined it for a short time.
Dave has a BA in English and Mass Communications from Loyola University Maryland.
Where can I buy bitcoins in Canada ? Is it sold in any bank yet?
Hi Robert,
Thanks for reading Money Morning. Banks aren't selling Bitcoin in Canada (or anywhere that I know of). That may change someday but for now investors need to buy their Bitcoin elsewhere. Today there are more than 20 options for Canadians to buy Bitcoin.
-Dave Zeiler, Associate Editor, Money Morning
You don't mention the other crypto currency Eutheria, or Ether, which I've heard is a better product than bitcoin and has been tested extensively. What;s the story on that?
Hi George,
Thanks for reading Money Morning. At this point, there are hundreds of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin is still by far the largest by market cap. Some of the other cryptos I believe will emerge as niche solutions as time goes on. Ethereum is one of the more promising ones. See my response to James below. :-)
-Dave Zeiler, Associate Editor, Money Morning
Any thoughts on Etherium? Bitcoin had a huge jump based on Chinese instability, but Etherium seems to have better ease of use as a blockchain. Not sure if it will be successful as a cryptocurrency, would enjoy your thoughts.
James,
Thanks for reading Money Morning. I wrote about Ethereum last spring. It does have some advantages over Bitcoin, but I see the two co-existing. Ethereum has had its growing pains, though.
-Dave Zeiler, Associate Editor, Money Morning