Is It Too Late to Buy Bitcoin? (Expert Predictions)

In this guide, we’ll walk through whether it’s too late to buy Bitcoin, how it compares to traditional assets like the S&P 500, and why long-term fundamentals still matter.

Is it too late to invest in Bitcoin now? 

Many investors still see long-term upside in BTC. Demand continues to grow among institutions, investors, and even governments. 

While Bitcoin has seen significant appreciation in the past decade, it’s still worth investing in BTC if you believe in its core value proposition. Bitcoin’s total supply is limited to 21 million coins, meaning that it still functions as ‘digital gold’ and a hedge against inflation. 

It’s unlikely you will see the same returns as a BTC investor in 2011. However, BTC still has the potential to appreciate in price, especially as more and more investors and institutions buy into the ‘digital gold’ narrative.

Why should I invest in Bitcoin today? 

Here’s why investors all over the world believe in the long-term potential of BTC: 

• Scarcity: Bitcoin’s fixed supply means it is immune to inflationary monetary policy and can be a hedge for USD and other fiat currencies. This is why Bitcoin is often called ‘digital gold’. 
• Decentralization: No government or central authority controls the Bitcoin network, which means transactions cannot be censored. 
• Portability: Bitcoin can be transferred globally in minutes, without intermediaries and with low fees. 
• Adoption: BTC is being accepted by institutions across the globe. Major asset managers like BlackRock have launched Bitcoin ETFs. Meanwhile, President Trump has announced that the US would hold BTC in a crypto strategic reserve. 
• Diversification: BTC often moves independently from equities, meaning that it can be a great way to diversify your portfolio! 

Currently, the market cap of gold is more than $23 trillion. Meanwhile, the market cap of BTC is just over $2 trillion. If you believe that Bitcoin could be worth more than gold in the future due to its technological advantages, buying now could make sense as a long-term strategy. 

It is important to note that Bitcoin is highly volatile, and you should never invest more than you can afford to lose. 

What do experts predict will happen with Bitcoin?

Analysts from Fidelity and ARK Invest have projected that Bitcoin could surpass $1 million per coin by the end of the decade. 

It’s important to remember that these estimates are based on extreme best case scenarios, which may include the following: 

• Continued institutional adoption
• Sovereign nations buying BTC as part of their reserves 
• A decline in trust in fiat currencies due to inflation

Remember, even price forecasts from experts are often inaccurate. But these projections do show that some analysts believe that BTC still has significant room to grow. 

How do I invest in Bitcoin?

If you’re looking to buy Bitcoin, here’s how you can get started. 

1. Use a reputable platform: Coinbase, Kraken, and other exchanges allow you to sign up in minutes and get started trading BTC and other cryptocurrencies. 
2. Transfer to a cold wallet: It’s recommended to transfer your BTC to a cold storage wallet for security reasons. Wallets like Ledger store your private keys offline, reducing your chances of losing your BTC to a hack. 
3. Consider dollar-cost averaging: Some investors buy fixed amounts of BTC on a regular schedule. For example, you can set up a recurring buy of $100 of BTC a month (which means you can accumulate holdings over time, and don’t need to worry about the perfect time to buy). 
4. Track your tax obligations: If you decide to sell your BTC, you should keep tax obligations in mind. Crypto tax software like CoinLedger can help you report your capital gains and losses accurately.

Is Bitcoin riskier than the S&P 500?

BTC is riskier than the S&P 500. 

The S&P 500 is a broad index of large U.S. companies and is historically one of the most stable long-term investments available. Bitcoin, on the other hand, is a relatively new and volatile asset.

It’s important to remember that higher risk correlates with higher returns. Bitcoin has outperformed the S&P 500 in the past 10 years. 

Still, it’s important to note that Bitcoin has been significantly more volatile than the S&P 500. 

To balance risk and reward, many investors choose to hold both: allocating a smaller percentage to Bitcoin for growth potential while maintaining broader exposure to equities.

Is BTC better than the dollar? 

While the U.S. dollar remains the dominant global reserve currency, it is subject to inflation. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the dollar supply has increased dramatically, raising concerns about long-term dollar debasement.

On the other hand, Bitcoin’s supply is fixed and predictable, which means that many investors see it as a better choice for storing wealth in the long-term. Because of the supply cap, it’s unlikely that BTC will lose value due to inflation. 

It’s important to note that Bitcoin is significantly more volatile than the dollar. That means BTC may be riskier if you need financial flexibility in the short to medium term. 

Should I have invested in Bitcoin in 2011?

While investing in BTC in 2011 would have yielded astronomical returns, hindsight is 20/20. 

In 2011, Bitcoin was still a niche technology. It was difficult to purchase, few exchanges existed, and public trust in the asset was low. Even among early adopters, many believed that it was a passing fad. 

At the time, mainstream outlets regularly predicted Bitcoin’s collapse. Despite that, Bitcoin’s price has grown from under $1 to more than $120,000. 

While the opportunity to enter at the earliest stage has passed, Bitcoin can still be an appealing investment due to its long-term potential.

To see how much you would have made if you invested in Bitcoin in 2011, check out our Bitcoin profit calculator. 

Is Bitcoin a scam?

Bitcoin is not a scam. 

The network is maintained by thousands of independent nodes, and every transaction is recorded on a public ledger (the blockchain). It has operated continuously since 2009 without security issues. 

Scams have occurred around Bitcoin — including with cryptocurrency exchanges and unrelated crypto projects — but the Bitcoin protocol itself has proven resilient and secure over time.

Bitcoin is currently held by some of the world’s biggest financial institutions, and soon will be held by the US government. 

What if Bitcoin crashes again? 

It’s very likely that Bitcoin will crash again. 

Remember, BTC is highly volatile. In its history, it has experienced multiple crashes of 70% or more, followed by recoveries to new all-time highs.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to avoid market crashes. That’s why it’s recommended to never invest more than you can afford to lose and keep a clear head during market downturns to avoid panic selling. 

In conclusion 

It’s not too late to buy Bitcoin. While BTC can be volatile, it still has growth potential and can be a valuable hedge against inflation.